South Africa's agricultural industry trusts grew to a combined R2.76 billion in 2024/25, up about R154 million or 5.91 percent from R2.60 billion a year earlier, according to the National Agricultural Marketing Council's (NAMC) latest Status of Agricultural Industry Trusts report.
The trusts were set up under Section 26 of the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act of 1996 to keep industry assets permanently and spend the investment returns on research and development, transformation, market access, farmer and skills development and competitiveness.
Despite economic pressure, most trusts grew. The Maize Trust added the most, about R120 million or 11.11 percent, followed by the Mohair Trust with R29 million (9.15 percent) and the Meat Industry Trust with R5 million (7.46 percent). The National Lucerne Trust grew fastest in percentage terms, by 21.48 percent.
NAMC chief executive Dr Simphiwe Ngqangweni said stronger assets increase the trusts' capacity to fund research, transformation, innovation, market development and skills across the value chain, in line with the Agriculture and Agro-Processing Master Plan. The trusts pay for agricultural research, farmer support, bursaries, transformation projects, technology transfer and market expansion in horticulture, livestock and field crops, he said.
Photo: EricFuchs / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Source: Food for Mzansi
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