EVENTS AND ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS

NAMC ATTENDS SAUFM 2024 CONFERENCE

The South African Union of Food Markets (SAUFM) convened its annual conference, which was held from 25 – 29 November 2024 in Durban, Province of KwaZulu Natal. The conference was hosted under the theme: ‘Local Economic Development through Food Security’. SAUFM is a body that is responsible for promoting the professional management of markets to benefit all participants in the fresh produce industry. Furthermore, it is also subjected to the transformation guidelines, statutory levies and other relevant policies on transformation within the agricultural sector, which are implemented by National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC).
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BEACON OF HOPE FOR THE IMPOVERISHED NORTHERN CAPE: THE STORY OF STATUTORY LEVIES IN THE RAISINS INDUSTRY

“Raisins South Africa is a beacon of hope in the Northern Cape and took it upon itself to ensure that graduate interns are placed within key sectors and with various partners in the agriculture sector.” Raisins SA realised that education plays a crucial role in the transformation as well as the country's economic growth of South Africa's agriculture industry, and that skills development should be treated as an investment, that is strategic to the raisins industry.
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ACCELERATING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AAMP

The National Planning Commission (NPC) in partnership with the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) convened a roundtable discussion under the theme: “Accelerating the implementation of the Agriculture and Agro-Processing Master Plan.” The session was held on Thursday, 31 October 2024 at Hatfield, Protea Hotel and the purpose of the roundtable discussion was to bring together different key stakeholders, including government representatives, the private sector, labour unions, farmer organisations, commodity groups, civil society and communities to jointly address and accelerate the execution of Agriculture and Agro-Processing Master Plan (AAMP).
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CASSAVA HAS POTENTIAL TO STIMULATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES, CREATE JOBS AND ENHANCE FOOD SECURITY

On 15 October 2024, the National Agricultural Marketing Council visited a new cassava venture in uMkhanyakude, northern KwaZulu-Natal, dubbed “Project White Gold”. The project has been initiated to grow the local economy and promote social transformation. The project was started Ms. Ndabezinhle Mabaso and Mr. Markus Froelich, the founders of AVCO Foods. The “White Gold” project is a catalyst for economic opportunities and social inclusion in rural KZN. By establishing a vibrant cassava value chain, the project creates jobs, skills development, and uplifts marginalized communities.
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OUR DAILY BREAD

Nelson Mandela stated at his inauguration: “Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all”. The Marketing Act of Agricultural Products, Act 47 of 1996 (MAP Act), brought an end to single channel marketing and the control boards in the agricultural sector. Role-players, however, realised the importance of reliable information for the functioning of a free market. Subsequently, the oilseeds, winter cereals, sorghum and maize sectors co-operated to establish the SA Grains Information Service (SAGIS), in November 1997.
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TRANSFORMING AFRICAN AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS: INSIGHTS FROM THE 2024 FANRPAN POLICY DIALOGUE

FANRPAN hosted a 2024 High-Level Regional Multistakeholder Policy Dialogue held in Malawi, in Lilongwe on 6 – 9 August 2024. The dialogue was aimed at discussing pathways for transforming African agrifood systems, focusing on developing actionable strategies and policy frameworks. The dialogue focused on policy actions, climate action, and food and nutrition security.
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THULANI NINGI’S PAPER SCOOPS ACCOLADE AT THE CONFERENCE

Economist in the Agro - Food Chains Unit and academically astute, Thulani Ningi, has made the waves at the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA) annual conference that was held at the Boardwalk Convention Centre in Gqeberha from 9 -11 September 2024. Ningi’s paper scored position 3 out of 39 papers he was competing with.
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NAMC VISITS HOUSE OF FIBRE AND OVK FACTORY IN GQEBERHA

National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) embarked on a tour to the Mohair and OVK factories in Gqeberha, a pivotal hub for the South African mohair industry. This visit aimed to foster collaboration, explore innovations, and enhance stakeholder relations within the agricultural sector. The Mohair and OVK factories are renowned for their role in processing and distributing high-quality mohair, a luxurious fibre obtained through the shearing of Angora goats.
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM FOSTA HEALTH PROJECT RESEARCH WEEK IN THE UK

In March 2024, a team of delegates from South Africa and stakeholders working on the Food Systems Transformation in Southern Africa for One Health  (FoSTA-Health)  actively participated in the Research Week activities hosted at the University of Leeds. Some of the discussions that were in the spotlight were food systems mapping, research planning, site visits, knowledge sharing, and funding exploration. Delegates included professionals from various sectors, demonstrating a commitment to transformative change in Southern African food systems.
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Dr Moses Lubinga (Manager: Agro-food chains), Mr. Thulani Ningi (Economist: Agro-food chains), Mr. Bhekani Zondo (Agricultural Economist: Trade Research) and Mr. Bernard Manganyi (Economist: Smallholder Market Access, delegates from the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) flew out of the country to Kigali, in Rwanda, to attend the 2nd International Business Models in Agriculture (IBMA 2024) conference.

RESHAPING AGRIBUSINESS MODELS: INSIGHTS FROM IBMA 2024 IN KIGALI, RWANDA

Dr Moses Lubinga (Manager: Agro-food chains), Mr. Thulani Ningi (Economist: Agro-food chains), Mr. Bhekani Zondo (Agricultural Economist: Trade Research) and Mr. Bernard Manganyi (Economist: Smallholder Market Access, delegates from the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) flew out of the country to Kigali, in Rwanda, to attend the 2nd International Business Models in Agriculture (IBMA 2024) conference.
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