At last week’s meeting of the poultry master plan executive oversight committee — co-ordinated by the ministries of trade, industry & competition and agriculture, land reform & rural development — the following appeared in their committed action plan:
“Discussion in progress for retailers’ commitment to minimum procurement spend from black producers, for exampleI think all clear-thinking South Africans would support reasonable moves to increase black ownership of the industry, but local poultry producers, who are well represented on this committee, would be committing suicide by giving up more than 40% of their business, never mind the huge job losses that would result.
For years local poultry spokespeople have trashed imports as being of inferior quality, yet when suggestions were made by importers for independent, identical tests on quality and safety of local and imported chicken, no response was forthcoming from local manufacturers.It cannot be the imported 13% of consumption when they are apparently prepared to sacrifice more than 40% of their retail sales.JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments.
Source: News Formal (newsformal.com)