Despite their small direct share of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), agriculture, forestry and fisheries are vital to South Africa and its economy. These sectors furnish some of the most important material needs of South Africans such as food and fibre, while providing large numbers of employment and self-employment opportunities. However, there is a widespread perception that these sectors are not fulfilling their potential, particularly in terms of job creation. What constrains these sectors from meeting their potential? Indeed, what accounts for the fact that employment in some of these sectors continues to decline, and what can be done about it?

The Integrated Growth and Development Plan (IGDP) has been developed to provide a long-term strategy for the growth and development of South Africa’s agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors, so as to enable them to address key national priorities and outcomes. The purpose is to develop a common vision encompassing all three sectors, and to develop an integrated implementation framework which allows common issues to be addressed in unison, and specific issues to be addressed in separate policies and strategies. The IGDP is furthermore a response of the Minister to the national goals outlined in the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) document, adopted July 2009, and stated through the 12 Outcomes identified during the January 2010 Lekgotla.

Published by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries