NERPO, as a development commodity organisation, has a constituency representing 3 million smallholder farmers. Initiatives are therefore financed through public funds and not by members.
NERPO membership has been structured according to the district municipalities. Individual members are not accepted, but only legal entities, such as co-operatives, private companies, associations, NPCs, trusts and so forth at a district level. District livestock associations then apply for membership to represent the needs of its members.
To qualify, the association should consist of at least ten livestock farmers, who should all be South African citizens. A once off joining fee is charged.
National Emergent Red Meat Producers' Organisation of South Africa has clear communication and information channels, which include a monthly newsletter and website. Provincial leaders conduct quarterly visits to the district association members to ensure all farmers are informed of what is happening at the organisation level and to identify and address the needs of the farmers at ground level.
The organisation has been engaging members through virtual communication since the outbreak of Covid-19, which has been difficult, but members have been adapting quicker to these forms of communication than expected. NERPO has also recently launched a NERPO YouTube Channel that will act as a source of information sharing mechanism going forward.