Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Zuko Godlimpi, speaking at an Executive Oversight Committee meeting in Bronkhorstspruit last week, said the next phase of the plan is aimed at deepening localisation, expanding exports and ensuring broader participation across the poultry value chain.
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South Africa is intensifying efforts to boost domestic poultry production and reduce reliance on imports, as government and industry stakeholders formally committed to implementing Phase 2 of the Poultry Masterplan.
Speaking at an Executive Oversight Committee meeting in Bronkhorstspruit last week, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Zuko Godlimpi said the next phase of the plan is aimed at deepening localisation, expanding exports and ensuring broader participation across the poultry value chain.
The renewed commitment was signed by a wide range of stakeholders, including the South African Poultry Association, Association of Meat Importers and Exporters, Emerging Black Importers and Exporters South Africa, Food and Allied Workers Union, as well as major producers such as Astral Foods, Rainbow Chicken, Country Bird Holdings and Daybreak Foods. Farmer representation also included the African Farmers Association of South Africa.
Godlimpi said the overarching goal remains clear: to significantly reduce chicken imports by scaling up local production capacity.
“The long and short of it is that we do not want to import chicken from other countries anymore. We want local companies to grow more chickens. Part of what we are doing is to ensure that the chicken is produced by as diverse a group of South Africans as possible,” said Godlimpi.
“We want big commercial South African farmers to produce and supply South Africa with chicken alongside small and rural farmers.”
The Poultry Masterplan, first launched as a public-private partnership, has already delivered measurable gains during its initial phase. The core pillars of Phase 2 include to achieve exports of cooked meat and local demand increase strategies, ensure effective trade measures, ensure biosecurity measures for local and export markets, and transformation of the entire value chain of the poultry industry, among others.
According to government, South Africa’s poultry slaughter rate has increased to 23 million birds per week, while imports have declined to 22% of domestic consumption. Export performance has also improved, with a reported 9% growth.
The poultry industry is the largest contributor to the agricultural sector with a total annual gross value of production of almost R87.95 billion (R72.09bn meat and R15.86bn eggs) in 2024.
The industry accounted for 19.1% of the total agricultural gross value and 44.4% of animal products gross value. In the period 2019 and 2025 aggregate chicken meat inclusive of fresh, frozen, whole, cut into pieces and offal displayed a 9% growth in exports.
These gains, Godlimpi argued, demonstrate the effectiveness of coordinated action between government and industry.
“The achievements of the first phase bear testimony to what we can do when we work together,” Godlimpi said.
“It means that if we maintain these levels of local production and export performance we are close to shutting down the possibilities of foreign chickens coming to South Africa. It will not be easy, but with the kind of resilience that you have shown, there are possibilities that we can get it right.”
However, he cautioned that sustaining momentum will require resilience and deeper collaboration across the value chain, from feed production to processing and distribution.
Phase 2 of the Masterplan is designed to build on these foundations. Key priorities include expanding exports—particularly of cooked poultry products—stimulating local demand, strengthening biosecurity measures to safeguard production, and improving access to international markets.
The plan also places strong emphasis on transformation, with targeted support for black-owned enterprises and emerging farmers. At the event, certificates of excellence were awarded to a range of black-owned poultry businesses, including contract growers, hatcheries, feed mills, abattoirs and processors.
Government sees these achievements as evidence that transformation and industrial growth can go hand in hand. Godlimpi highlighted the importance of partnerships between established commercial producers and smaller entrants, supported by public sector interventions.
“The achievements of these black farmers also confirms the amount of ground that we can cover when big commercial farmers are working together with small farmers, with the support of government and its agencies,” Godlimpi said.
He added that this collaborative model should be replicated across South Africa’s 52 district municipalities to unlock broader agricultural development and rural economic growth.
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