THE FUSE

South Africa’s poultry industry has undergone a significant recovery after spending almost a decade in serious distress. For years leading up to 2019, declining domestic production and rising poultry imports placed increasing pressure on local producers and weakened one of the country’s most important agricultural value chains. The impact extended beyond poultry farms because reduced production also lowered demand for locally produced grain, discouraged investment and contributed to the loss of employment opportunities. The industry faced growing difficulties in generating sufficient returns to maintain investment while continuing to supply affordable chicken to millions of consumers. The situation created an urgent need for government and industry to work together on a coordinated strategy capable of restoring competitiveness, supporting transformation and protecting the long-term sustainability of poultry production.