Agriculture Minister Senzeni Zokwana says agriculture contributes 2.7 percent to GDP but it could be higher - around five to seven percent.
He said a sense of "brotherhood" was needed between fellow farmers to produce to the maximum and help the economy.
Zokwana acknowledged several problems in the sector, including foot and mouth disease, citrus black spot and medicine for ill animals.
Animal diseases could lead to exports of red meat being banned.
Zokwana suggested that farmers pay less for medicine for sick animals as it was expensive.
There was also a scarcity of vets in the sector.
