WANDILE SIHLOBO: Agriculture needs action to sow success
Argentina is a strong example of how state action can transform a country’s agricultural sector, writes Wandile Sihlobo
At this year’s International Grains Council conference in London, I sat in admiration as Jesús Silveyra from Argentina’s agriculture ministry presented his country’s ambitious 2020 development plan for the agricultural sector. Silveyra highlighted six important points: Argentina plans to increase its grains and oilseeds production by 50%, increase beef production by 15%, increase forestry production by 80%, increase agro-processing capacity by 8% and improve the rail and road network from outlying areas. All these plans are intended to increase the country’s market share in export markets. What made Silveyra’s address more interesting is the fact that Argentina has already made great strides in global agricultural markets. It is the leading global producer and exporter of lemons, soya meal and oil; the second-largest global producer of peaches; the third-largest global exporter of maize, milk powder and garlic; the fifth-largest global exporter of tea and peanuts; and the 14th-large...
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