An evaluation of the competitiveness of the agribusiness sector in South Africa.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The objective of this paper is to conduct a comprehensive analysis on the competitiveness of the agribusiness sector in South Africa. Three instruments emerged from this viz the AGRIBUSINESS COMPETITIVENESS STATUS (ACS) index; the AGRIBUSINESS EXECUTIVE SURVEY (AES); and the AGRIBUSINESS CONFIDENCE INDEX (ACI). The framework developed in this paper combines quantitative and qualitative analyses to develop strategies to enhance the competitiveness of the sector. This study can act as a basis for strategic planning, policy development and strategic positioning by the agribusiness sector in South Africa and will allow for future monitory and anal) sis of competitive performance.

Keywords: Competitiveness, Confidence, Agribusiness, Porter Analysis, Relative Trade Advantage, Sooth Africa

INTRODUCTION

In today's global economy, where agribusinesses worldwide face an increasingly competitive trade and production environment, many questions are being asked about the competitiveness of the South African agribusiness sector. For example: "What is competitiveness?"; "How competitive are the sector?"; and, "How can it be measured practically?" The competitiveness of the agribusiness sector in South Africa furthermore depends on a number of technological, sociopolitical and economic factors. One of the most pervasive influences is that of the external environment, and in particular, the set of policies which operate in the market for agricultural goods. These factors have also a direct influence on the business confidence of agribusinesses in South Africa. Appropriate adjustments could therefore contribute to changing negative situations into positive status. It will however, be important to identify the particular set of factors which needs to be adjusted.

The main question to be answered by this paper is: "Can the South African agribusiness sector successfully compete on a sustainable basis within the global environment?" The result or outcome of being in a position to successfully compete will clearly be manifested in a number of propositions. These will include acceptable levels of profits and returns on resources invested in the South African agribusiness activities and the concomitant ability of such economic activities to consistently attract resources from other (non- agribusiness) economic activities to sustain the sector.

Five secondary questions are locked into this main question. The first question to be answered is: "How is competitiveness defined and measured?" The second question to be answered is: "How competitive is the South African agribusiness sector globally?" The third question that needs to be examined is: "What are the key success factors and what are the main constraints impacting on the competitiveness of the South African agribusinesses sector?" The fourth question to be considered is: "How favourable is the decision-making environment in which South African agribusinesses operates?" Knowing the state of competitiveness and the factors impacting on competitiveness the last question can be answered: "How can the competitiveness of the South African agribusiness sector be enhanced?" (I.e. the strategic approach to achieve and sustain competitiveness).