An analysis of the livestock sub-sector confirmed that most communal farmers keep cattle for a variety of reasons, which often do not include their potential for a steady financial income. The main objective of this programme is to increase the income of communal cattle farmers by assisting them to realise higher prices for their cattle – through information around grading, classification, market systems and abattoir procedures, and the facilitation of access to formal markets.
Cross-border African shopping and trading activity is a significant social and economic phenomenon. It is important that the substantial contribution that this sector is making to the economy is understood and that steps are taken to create an enabling environment for the continued growth in cross-border shopping and trade in South Africa.
One of the objectives of ComMark's agri-business programme is to connect emerging farmers and big business to unlock their potential. This is particularly challenging in rural areas, where limited infrastructure increases the costs of doing business. These difficulties are exacerbated by the perception that emerging farmers are not entrepreneurial or receptive to change, and therefore that there is not much money to be made in these areas.
Wool is a sustainable cash resource for farmers, but lack of local knowledge on increasing yields and quality limits production and its benefit as an income generator. The development of small-scale wool production is the focus of a ComMark-funded NWGA initiative, which seeks to increase the income of wool producers in communal areas by developing commercial market arrangements favourable to sustainable wool products.
While there are sub-sectors within the agricultural sector which perform well and show growth patterns that promise to meet national objectives, others have not received the same levels of support from government programmes, and for these and other reasons remain uncompetitive. A series of diagnostic studies, carried out by NAMC, identified factors which have constrained these sub-sectors and aims to assist in unlocking their potential for growth.
Failed land reform farms have become an increasingly common and depressing feature of rural South Africa. ComMark promotes a more proactive role for the private sector and initiatives that are built upon experience, combined with a wide range of innovative land and agricultural reform models.
The high quality of Mozambique's fish and seafood – especially its prawns – is internationally recognised, particularly by consumers in the EU. This market absorbs more than 80% of all Mozambique fisheries exports and in 2006 an estimated 8,000 tons of Mozambican fish and seafood was sold in Europe. As a least developed country, Mozambique enjoys duty-free access to the EU under the Cotonou Agreement. While trade preferences such as these enhance the overall competitiveness of Mozambique in the EU market, it does not guarantee market access.
Achieving and demonstrating that private standards are being met is a costly exercise for developing country farmers. However, without this investment they have no choice but to sell their product locally. To help Southern African farmers lower these costs and access export markets, DFID launched a project with ComMark in 2006. ComMark has been able to provide the Letsitele project with technical assistance and support to raise the standards of food safety management.
