Agriculture
Agriculture is the sector encompassing the cultivation of crops, the rearing of livestock and the production of food, fibre and other biological products through farming activities. It forms a foundational component of economies worldwide, providing sustenance, raw materials for industry and employment for a significant portion of the global population. The sector includes subsistence farming, commercial crop production, horticulture, viticulture, animal husbandry, aquaculture and forestry-related activities. In Africa, agriculture remains a dominant employer and contributor to GDP in many countries, with smallholder farmers producing much of the continent's food alongside large-scale commercial operations focused on export commodities such as coffee, cocoa, tea, cotton, citrus and grains. The industry is heavily dependent on natural resources, particularly water and arable land, and is vulnerable to climate variability, drought and changing rainfall patterns. Key drivers include population growth, urbanisation, technological advances in irrigation and mechanisation, and evolving trade policies. Challenges facing the sector include water scarcity, soil degradation, access to finance and markets, and the need for sustainable practices to balance productivity with environmental stewardship. Agriculture intersects with water governance, energy supply and land-use planning, making it central to broader debates on food security and rural development. The sector's resilience and modernisation are critical to economic stability and poverty alleviation across the continent.
Agriculture Updates
Agriculture boasts Q2 trade surplus of $2.14bn
By: Marleny Arnoldi 28th October 2026 South African agriculture recorded a trade surplus of $2.14-billion in the second quarter of the year, marking an 11.6% year-on-year improvement.... →
Whose vision of development counts? South Africa’s Amadiba communities made maps of what matters
26th October 2026 South Africa’s Mpondoland, on the east coast, is known for its red sand dunes and coastal forests. Here, the Amadiba people have lived sustainably... →
SA: Cyril Ramaphosa: Address by South African President, during the SA Youth National Leadership Convening (22/10/2026)
23rd October 2026 It is a social challenge. It is a human challenge. And it is a challenge that goes to the very heart of our nation's future. Every young person who... →
SA: Cyril Ramaphosa: Address by South African President, opening remarks at the Virtual Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government (21/10/2026)
23rd October 2026 We undertook to accelerate industrialisation, develop local infrastructure, transform agriculture and harness our minerals to drive the development... →
New famine risk haunts war-torn Sudan with El Niño-driven drought
By: Reuters 23rd October 2026 Across Sudan, farmers who have struggled to harvest their crops since a civil war flared in 2023 are now battling a new enemy that could plunge the... →
South Africa's trade with China surges after duty-free deal
By: Reuters 22nd October 2026 South Africa's trade with China has surged this year since Beijing introduced a zero-tariff scheme for qualifying African exports in May. Chinese... →
Agri bodies appreciate diesel relief and climate funds in latest budget, caution on long-term priorities
By: Marleny Arnoldi 22nd October 2026 Industry body Agri SA has welcomed Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s announcement of temporary fuel price relief worth R10-billion in the 2026... →
Minerals Council welcomes fiscal progress, calls for accelerated structural reforms
By: Martin Creamer 21st October 2026 The Minerals Council South Africa welcomes the commitment in the 2026 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) to fiscal sustainability and... →
SABS publishes draft AI standards for public comment
21st October 2026 The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has published a series of draft standards on artificial intelligence (AI) for public comment. The... →
Daily Podcast – October 20, 2026
By: Thabi Shomolekae 20th October 2026 Making headlines: DA urges public comment on draft bill to stop ‘unfair’ electricity price hikes; Ramaphosa says South Africa must prepare for... →
