South Africa Alfalfa Hay Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

South Africa Alfalfa Hay Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

The alfalfa hay market in South Africa registered a volume of 1,318 000 metric ton in 2017, and it is expected to reach 2,047 000 metric ton by 2023, witnessing a CAGR of 7.49% during the forecast period. Alfalfa is grown mostly under irrigated conditions and as a dryland crop and is cultivated on a large scale in Jankempdorp, Hopetown, Jacobsdal, and Douglas regions of South Africa. South Africa holds a market share of 63.4%, in terms of rhe volume of hay. The use of alfalfa hay has become significant to poultry feed and animal feed in recent years, due to its crude protein content. Dependence on alfalfa hay for animal feed may continue to drive the alfalfa hay market, globally as well as regionally, over the forecast period.

South Africa's alfalfa (Lucerne) has been sort globally because of its quality and grading. From the Comtrade data, it is seen that South Africa exports 106337.198 tonnes of Alfalfa globally during 2018. It is also noted that the South African Lucerne is grade 1 certified by the National Lucerne Trust (NLT) under the National Lucerne Trust's new lucerne hay quality index (NLQI) which is used to grade the quality of the Lucerne depending on the amount of Protein and Fibre. The major importer of South African alfalfa is Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Botswana, Qatar, Namibia and so on.

Livestock is a major factor responsible for the growth of the alfalfa hay market because of the demand for high-quality hay which helps in increasing milk production in dairy cattle. Taking the alfalfa benefits such as high nutrient content with the high level of protein and fiber which helps in improving the reproduction, lactation, and growth of the livestock, the alfalfa market is expected to grow significantly. The demand for alfalfa hay is increasing significantly in China and is driven due to changing production practices in the Chinese dairy industry. This is essentially due to the increasing number of cows raised by modern dairy farmers who prefer using imported hay and commercial feeds.

As per the UN Comtrade report, it is seen that in 2018, china imported Lucerne worth USD 200,591 from South Africa to increase productivity and meet the demand for quality dairy and meat products due to stringent regulations imposed by the Ministry of Agriculture aftermath the melanin scandal. According to the regulations in China Ministry of Agriculture’s National Dairy Industry Development Plan for 2016-2020, 75% of dairy consumed in china should be produced domestically and only 15% is allowed for the import of dairy products. Increased demand and strict government regulations play a significant role in driving the import of quality alfalfa in china.

The South African alfalfa market is highly fragmented, with the presence of various domestic small- and medium-scale players. Alfalfa is known to have a rich history of cultivation, dating back to the seventeenth century, when the crop was introduced for being used as fodder in Northern Africa. Suitable cultivars are selected for South African climatic conditions. Alfalfa consumption is concentrated in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Botswana, Qatar, and Namibia.

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