Newly appointed Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen is pushing a renewed focus on structural reforms, biosecurity and improved trade relations with other countries as the Democratic Alliance leader takes charge of the department as part of the Government of National Unity (GNU).

In an exclusive interview with Engineering News & Mining Weekly, Steenhuisen highlights that other prioritised areas are more road-to-rail shifts in agricultural logistics, and the more widespread adoption of technology to reduce crime and increase productivity.

Some agri-economists are optimistic that he will be able to advance the prospects of the industry, a mainstay of growth for the South African economy, having grown by 13.4% and created 21 000 new jobs in the first quarter of this year. Since 2008, its growth rate has averaged 7.5% a year.

Industry bodies, such as the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) and Agri SA, welcomed Steenhuisen's appointment in July and his subsequent maiden Budget vote, which the organisations say is focused on valuable interventions and relentless implementation.

Agri SA said a noteworthy aspect of the budget was the allocation of R1.7-billion to support more than 6 000 small-scale farmers.

The Minister says there is no need to "reinvent the wheel" and will therefore focus on driving the implementation of the Agriculture and Agroprocessing Master Plan (AAMP), which he deems a solid framework on which inclusive growth in the sector can be based.

Steenhuisen emphasises the importance of blended finance to reduce barriers for small-scale farmers, as well as access to markets. There are also "massive" opportunities for small-scale produce to be procured by hospitals, schools and prisons to improve food security in the country.

In the spirit of modernising the sector, he highlights the importance of strong partnerships between sectoral bodies and departments to foster a more efficient and effective regulatory environment.

Some of the legislation governing the agriculture sector dates back to 1947, but "the world has moved on" and Steenhuisen wants to ensure that legislation aligns with newer products and technologies.

The AAMP will be reviewed on a continuous basis to determine which aspects have been working and which ones have not, and where improvement is required, he adds.

The Minister says the plan will evolve over time in a way that ensures the achievement of its objectives, including bigger value chains, more opportunities for small- and large-scale farmers, better biosecurity and expanding export markets.

Steenhuisen cites beef exports to the EU as an example, which he deems "a huge opportunity" for growth and foreign earnings, particularly if South Africa can demand higher prices on the back of high levels of biosecurity.

Other concerns in the agriculture sector involve logistics - "a key problem" - with road transport not only being costly but also resulting in goods being damaged because of potholes, or rural areas not having access to main roads at all, he explains.

Steenhuisen is confident that efforts by the GNU to facilitate more private-sector participation in the rail industry bode well for agriculture and its transport system, with his department ready to collaborate with other government bodies to improve agriculture corridors and ports in the country.

Another crucial area of collaboration will be addressing the high crime rate, which the Minister says disproportionally affects people in rural areas, where most farming activities take place.

Steenhuisen attributes the high crime rate to a lack of effective policing and implementation of a rural safety plan: "Technology [is enabling] farmers to patrol large areas to not only deal with farm attacks but also stock theft. Farmers are implementing sniper cameras . . . to identify number plates and better track down people who have been in and out of certain areas - which can be a deterrent for criminals."

He adds that, with technology "...