As South Africa’s agribusiness landscape faces unique challenges, urgent policy reforms in land distribution, export strategies and biosecurity could make all the difference. There are a few critical policy areas that could have significant positive spinoffs to South Africa’s agricultural growth if implemented effectively. The prioritisation of implementation itself would also be refreshing.
Let’s face it, we have spent the recent past enjoying growth delivered by technological adoption, farmers’ and agribusinesses’ effectiveness and efficiency and favourable climatic conditions, rather than a strong policy-driven growth agenda. And by this I am not minimising the government’s efforts in various programmes and the stability they provide for the sector. But I am framing it this way to make a point that we can do better.
We are now at the start of the year, with an opportunity to redefine the path ahead in a manner that supports agribusinesses, farmers and new participants in the sector. This would be aimed at achieving the prime objective of delivering inclusive growth in the agricultural sector. The starting point should be: Land reform:The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development has, quite frankly, been dismal in 2025.
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We did not see any meaningful progress on land reform beyond a few high-level policy statements that sought to spark more conversation rather than implementation. Under the Pro-Active Land Acquisition Strategy, the South African government has roughly 2.5 million hectares of land. This land must be released to deserving beneficiaries with title deeds.
The then minister of agriculture, Thoko Didiza, had an elegant approach to releasing this land through a Land Reform Agency, which was supported by organised agriculture and the Land Bank, among others. The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development must refocus on this approach. The failure to release this land adds to the continuous frustration of the minimal contribution of black farmers to commercial agricultural output.
At the time, Didiza was looking to establish the agency, and we had so much goodwill from various large commercial farmers with whom we were eager to partner and support the programme. The department must revive such conversations and reconnect with farmers. The approach, though, must be more action-oriented than endless meetings.
Export diversification:South Africa’s agriculture is export-oriented, with exports accounting for roughly half of output in value terms. We export to a range of markets across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the EU, the UK and the Americas. Still, there remains a considerable need to expand export markets into new areas.
The Middle East and Asia are among the fastest-growing economies, with large populations, and South Africa still has low penetration in these markets. In 2026, there should be an increased focus on this area. We celebrated a few export protocols last year, the result of many years of pre-Covid era work.
But it has not taken us any closer to the level of exports we require. South Africa must seek bilateral export markets in several Asian and Middle Eastern countries. At the same time, we must work to retain the access we have in Africa, the Americas, the EU and the UK.
Review SACU: Some countries may be reluctant to engage deeply with South Africa on trade due to the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). To potential partners, the customs union often appears opaque and unpredictable. Many are interested in South Africa itself, not the wider region.
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