Trade within the Southern African Development Community is an issue holding back agriculture.
- Senior Fellow, Department of Agricultural Economics, Stellenbosch University
Previous rains and grain stocks could reduce the impact of the expected drought.
L’utilisation optimale et sécurisée des intrants agricoles est essentielle pour réaliser la sécurité alimentaire mondiale.
The optimal and safe use of agricultural inputs to increase food production is key to achieving global food security.
Incomplete and inaccurate official data provides fertile ground for radical statements.
Diversifying exports takes time; what needs to be in place to achieve this?
Holding the G20 presidency this year, South Africa is well positioned to push for new ways to boost agricultural productivity and enhance food security in Africa.
South Africa’s land reform minister should be distributing land owned by the government to black farmers rather than fussing about new laws.
China is South Africa’s biggest opportunity for agricultural exports.
The drought is driven by El Niño, an unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that shifts weather patterns.
What lies ahead for South Africa’s new government of national unity?
South Africa’s agricultural sector’s potential can only be realized if new government focusses on implementation of existing policies rather than coming up with new ones
Almost 25% of all farmland previously owned by white landowners has been restored, redistributed to black South Africans, or moved away to state ownership.
The whole southern Africa region has taken strain and will see a significant reduction in the volume of the crop produced.
South Africa’s biosecurity breaches signal capacity challenges in farm biosecurity measures and the country’s veterinary and related support services.
The Land Bank played a crucial role in the growth and development of South African agriculture. It can do the same for upcoming black farmers, but its business and funding model must be changed.
South Africa’s agriculture could do even better but is held back by power cuts and poor infrastructure
A third of South Africa’s farming income depends on irrigation. Disruptions in power supply put huge chunks of the country’s agricultural fortunes at risk.
South Africa’s focus should be on maintaining smooth relations with critical export markets while searching for new ones.
Year after year, challenges have distracted the country from its agricultural expansion goals.
Consensus is the first step towards solving problems - but it’s been hard to reach.
Based on official statistics, we conclude that the country has made more progress towards land reform than is generally suggested.
South Africa’s agricultural exports are vulnerable because of reliance on a few markets and weaknesses in domestic logistics chains.
If Russia keeps its word, the benefits will be immediate. Grain prices could soften as more grain supplies become available to the world market.
If China progressively increases production and becomes a consistent net exporter of maize, South Africa would have to explore markets elsewhere.
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