South Africa’s fresh produce industry could enjoy a substantial boost thanks to the release of Fruit South Africa’s Fruit Industry Plan (FIP).
The strategic framework is the result of a comprehensive and inclusive process which started in 2004, to develop a structure for the fruit export industry based on the Sector Plan for Agriculture.
The FIP was presented to South Africa’s minister for agriculture, Lulama Xingwana, and deputy minister of trade and industry, Elizabeth Thanethe, at a media session in Pretoria this week.
The FIP’s strategy is to “create a united, non-racial and prosperous fruit industry”, according to Fruit SA, by enhancing equitable access and participation, improving global competitiveness and profitability and ensuring sustainable resource management.
Broad-based black economic empowerment and land reform, rural development, human resource development, building relationships with government, research and development, information and technology transfer, improving logistics and infrastructure and market development are key areas addressed in the new framework.
The document’s primary aim is to tailor various strategies to ensure practical application within the fruit sector, whilst recognising that the industry is export-focused, technology, capital and labour intensive and requires long-term investment.
The FIP was conducted by a multi-disciplinary task team, led by Professor Andre Jooste, via an inclusive process based on interactive workshops held throughout the country involving all industry stakeholders.
Proceedings were guided by a Fruit SA steering committee, comprising government, business and labour representatives, and funded by the four primary members within Fruit SA - the Citrus Growers Association, the Deciduous Fruit Producers’ Trust, the Sub-tropical Growers Associations and the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum. A number of sector organisations as well as the departments of trade and industry and agriculture also helped see the project through.
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