There are a few critical policy areas that could have significant positive spin-offs for 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 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 entrant participants in the sector. This would be aimed at achieving the prime objective of delivering inclusive growth in the agricultural sector.
Land reform:The department of land reform & rural development was, quite frankly, dismal in 2025. 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 Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy, the South African government has about 2.5-million hectares of land.
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This land must be released to deserving beneficiaries with title deeds. The then agriculture, land reform & rural development minister, 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 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 that we were eager to partner with and support the programme. The department must revive such conversations and reconnect with farmers.
But the approach must not be the never-ending meetings, it must be more action-orientated. Export diversification:South Africa’s agriculture is export-orientated, with exports accounting for about 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 is a need to expand our 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 work from pre-Covid times, which were concluded in 2025. But those don’t take us any closer to the level of exports we require. South Africa must seek bilateral export markets in several Asian and Middle Eastern countries.
But at the same time we must work to retain the access we have in Africa, the Americas, the EU and the UK, among others. 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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