Nonhlanhla Gwamanda

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).

The insights and data on the Market Research and Market Intelligence on the State of Food Security in South Africa was presented to the delegates at the conference. NAMC was represented by Ms Nonhlanhla Gwamanda, Senior Economist in the Agribusiness Development Division.

NAMC has a responsibility to investigate the applications of statutory measures and make recommendations to the Minister of Agriculture for approval. Statutory measures are reviewed at least every two years

The statutory levy income and Trusts’ funds are used to pay the following activities: administration (not more than 10%), consumer education, industry priorities in research and development, market access (both domestic and international), and transformation (at least 20%).

It is important to note that the Trusts use the same guidelines in funding transformation. In accordance with the NAMC’s transformation guidelines, agricultural Trust funds and statutory levy funds are essential for financing transformation in South Africa’s agricultural sector.