First Goat Committee Meeting Held in Pretoria

The National Agriculture Marketing Council (NAMC) hosted its first section 7 goat committee meeting in Pretoria on Friday, 21 July. The NAMC is the organisation entrusted to oversee the deregulated agricultural environment as per the Marketing of Agriculture Products Act of 1996 (MAP).

As per section 7 of the MAP act, the NAMC could establish a committee to address issues hampering the growth and development of the goat industry in South Africa. A committee was established, to assess the advantages of formalising the goat commodity industry to provide services such as disease and health control, training, production, and market development in the goat industry.

Mohair South Africa was invited to join this committee, which will function until the end of February 2024. The committee needs to clarify the terms of reference namely:

• Quantify the size of the goat industry in South Africa.

• Determine the industry’s different role players.

• Assess the impact of live goat imports from Africa into South Africa.

• Identify the required support for the goat industry and request assistance from the state.

• Assess and advise on the pros and cons of establishing an organised goat commodity.

The committee will consolidate a report, which needs to be approved by the NAMC council. Thereafter it will be presented to the Minister of Agriculture for review and implementation.