South Africa’s pig industry is well geared to conquer the disruptions in global agriculture brought on by the war in Ukraine, says South African Pork Producers’ Organisation CEO Johann Kotzé.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is currently having a massive impact on global grain prices with the two countries being the biggest suppliers of wheat for animal feed worldwide. But although pig farmers might feel they’re on a slippery slope, Kotzé says Mzansi’s pork industry is well built to withstand upheaval.
“South Africa is not exempt from global disruptions; we are directly and indirectly impacted by such events. [But] over the years, the South African pork industry has learned how to cope with difficult circumstances and adapt to change.
“Currently, the South African pig industry is well geared to conquer the disruptions in the global agriculture landscape,” Kotzé says as head of Sappo, the mouthpiece of pork producers in South Africa.
He does believe that the prevailing conflict has reiterated the interdependence of countries that underpin globalisation – and the ripple effect it has across the global economy.
“From my perspective, radical change will continue to unfold and will challenge the entire value chain on what it means to be globally competitive.”
The industry is teched up
According to Sappo, Mzansi’s pork industry gets its edge from welcoming technological innovation.
Kotze says this has given the local industry the opportunity to be world-class players in biosecurity, food safety, pig genetics, infrastructure development and production efficiencies.
Another advantage comes from local farmers’ resilience. Where war anxiety has ripped through various parts of the world, Kotzé believes that the industry and other role-players need to be fearless in these difficult times and unintimidated by challenging circumstances.
“[Don’t] lose focus on what we can do well. We need to zone in on what we can change and be the best in the protein category. Let’s understand and embrace the radical changes in the world and conquer with a positive mindset. Let’s farm the future.”
Update on foot-and-mouth disease
Meanwhile, Sappo reports that two new outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) were identified in the Potchefstroom district in North West.
Backward and forward tracing is currently being done in an attempt to establish where the FMD could have originated, and to trace to where it may have spread.
“There are two active cases of FMD in Limpopo. One is in the disease management area (DMA) declared in 2019, and the second outside, to the north of the Limpopo DMA.”
Cases of FMD have also recently been identified in KwaZulu-Natal. Two of the cases are a considerable distance outside of the province’s DMA. “Thus, consideration is being given to expand the DMA to include this new area. Vaccination is now being practised in KwaZulu-Natal’s affected area in an endeavour to bring the outbreak under control,” Sappo says.
The KwaZulu-Natal department of agriculture and rural development recently instituted a five-year ban on the movement of cloven-hoofed animals within three districts in the province.
Sappo has implored its members to be vigilant and to practise strict biosecurity on their farms. “There is no insurance for dread disease outbreak on a farm – the cost of an audit is far less than the cost of disease.”
ALSO READ: SA faces uphill battle to regain FMD-free status
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