Review of a new policy stimulating resilient sustainable small-scale farming through privatization of animal health services in South Africa

The 2030 National Development Plan of South Africa identified livestock farming as one of the vital strategies to alleviate poverty, secure livelihoods, and improve food security in rural communities. To build sustainable resilient inclusive livestock value chains, the South African government has undertaken a review of the rules regulating animal health technicians (AHTs), to widen their scope of practice to enable them to provide primary animal health care services as independent service providers. The National Policy Development Framework of South Africa has identified a lack of data driven policy decision making and limited stakeholder engagement as shortcomings in the development of effective policies. This paper sought to provide evidence that is research based, practise informed, and participatory to enable an informed policy formulation with regard to privatization of AHT services in South Africa. Stakeholder engagement workshops were held in North West and Eastern Cape provinces. Findings from stakeholder engagements revealed that approval of the legislation on independent AHTs will provide an opportunity for AHTs to deliver animal health services needed by smallholder famers (SHFs). As the industry is unable to absorb all unemployed AHT graduates, this legislation will assist towards creation of decent jobs. To ensure a stable and conducive environment for independent AHTs, it is recommended that the new policy be properly introduced to SHFs and that these businesses should be registered with the relevant statutory body to ensure compliance and ethical conduct.