National Agricultural Research and Development Strategy 2008.

The National Agricultural Research and Development Strategy 2008 is a sectorial policy. The mission of this research strategy is to guide and direct the generation, adaptation and application of knowledge and innovation for sustainable agricultural development to benefit society. In pursuit of this mission, the goal of the research strategy is to enhance the contribution of agricultural research towards attaining at least a six percent economic growth rate through sustainable agricultural productivity, sustained competitiveness to ensure food security and eradication of poverty in South Africa.
The policy objectives are: 1 Guide the Agricultural Research and Innovation System in the formation and operation of national agricultural R&D programmes; 2 Mobilise resources and enhance their effective use for sustainable agricultural R&D; 3 Guide the generation of knowledge and information in the agricultural sector; 4 Provide a framework for developing research capacity and expertise, funding for agricultural research and innovation, focusing national efforts to strategic priorities and areas of comparative advantage; and ensuring effective transfer of technology, information sharing and communication to the entire spectrum of the farming community; 5 Provide an institutional framework to enhance participation of all stakeholders in agricultural R&D; 6 Engender a culture of learning and innovation through human resource development and management; and to 7 Promote collaboration between the NARS components, regional and international research institutions to refocus on strategic priorities, innovation and adaptive research.
According to this research strategy, the aim in identifying new and emerging technologies in the South African context is not only to increase global competitiveness, but to ensure household food security and to assist the developing farmers in entering the mainstream. The proposed agricultural R&D strategies focus on the development of new and improved emerging technologies in the areas of sustainable natural resource management, biotechnology, information and communication technology, geographic information systems and earth observation technology, product differentiation, macro- and microeconomics of agriculture and value-adding processes, bioenergy, precision agriculture, animal and plant breeding and health, adaptations of crop varieties and animal breeds to climate change, as well as indigenous food crops.
In order to make agriculture more productive and sustainable, priorities are set, which include: technolegies to address conservation agriculture principles relating to soil organic matter decline, soil erosion and degradation, nutrient depletion, loss of biodiversity, prevention of invasion by alien species, maintenance of water quality and veld productivity, optimisation of water use efficiency under both irrigated and rainfed conditions, capturing and storing rainwater (rainwater harvesting) and restoration or creation of new balances in biotic communities; Geographic Information System-based technologies, natural resource inventories and adequate characterisation and monitoring; responsible handling of biosafety; etc.
In order to enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, key areas of technology development include: animal and plant health research to improve and develop new vaccines, diagnostic products, surveys and epidemiological studies, and capacity (human, institutional and financial), private/public partnerships and networks, adequate resourcing and infrastructure maintenance, knowledge maintenance and technology sharing and uptake; organic products (with emerging farmers in mind), indigenous products (such as rooibos tea and proteas) and health and homeopathic products (devil’s claw, traditional remedies, fat branded beef and omega 3 eggs); optimising the entire production chain from primary production systems, through postharvesting, storage and preservation, transport and marketing to value addition, both on and off farm; etc.
To increase the resilience of livelihood to disaster, the Policy proposes to stregthen the production (crop and livestock) efficiency under extreme weather conditions. It indicates that research to improve the production efficiency and profitability in crop and livestock farming is of key importance. Field level eco-physiological research on various crops, livestock and rangelands is urgently required in anticipation of the possible effects of global warming and climate change. New crop varieties and animal breeds capable of high yields under extreme weather conditions would be advantageous.