Agriculture can play a much bigger role in driving economic growth and improving food security across Southern Africa — but countries in the region need to make it easier to trade agricultural products across their borders. The focus on agricultural development at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) 46th summit in August 2026 reflected a ...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is strengthening agricultural statistics across Africa to help governments make better-informed decisions on food security, agricultural development and sustainable agrifood systems. During the 2024–2025 biennium, the FAO Regional Office for Africa expanded its technical support across 47 countries, helping improve national data systems and build ...

South Africa’s agricultural sector recorded its strongest first-quarter export performance on record in 2026, with exports reaching R67 billion (US$3.7 billion), according to the latest quarterly trade update from the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP). The sector generated a trade surplus of R33 billion (US$1.8 billion) during the quarter, accounting for approximately 40% ...

Southern African Development Community has emerged as Africa’s leading regional bloc in agricultural transformation after recording the continent’s highest performance score in the newly released 5th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Biennial Review Report. The report, launched by the African Union Commission’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment on May ...

Photo: FAO Mozambique /X Mozambique has officially launched the second phase of the Support to the Operationalization of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (STOSAR II), a strategic initiative aimed at transforming agriculture and agrifood systems across Southern Africa. The announcement was made on October 13 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries (MAAP), in ...

Tanzania’s escalating trade dispute with South Africa and Malawi took a sharper turn this weekend as officials confirmed a blanket ban on agricultural imports from both countries. The move, which affects avocados, maize, and citrus, has sparked concern across regional trade corridors. The Tanzanian government cites phytosanitary risks and unfair trade practices as justification, but ...

SADC Member States have strengthened their capacity to implement the International Plant Protection Convention’s (IPPC) Generic ePhyto National System (GeNS) following a hands‑on training under the European Union (EU)-funded Support Towards the Operationalisation of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (STOSAR II) Project. The week‑long workshop held in Johannesburg, equipped plant health officials with the skills, ...

The second annual meeting of the Coordinating Unit for Animal Production and Health (CUFAPH) under the FAO Subregional Office for Southern Africa (SFS) was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, bringing together 30 national animal health experts from across Southern Africa, regional organizations, and FAO technical staff. CUFAPH is a multidisciplinary platform established in 2020 to ...

Amid growing food insecurity and malnutrition across Southern Africa, parliamentarians are stepping up to drive legislative solutions. From 22 to 24 July 2025, parliamentarians from across the region – are gathering in Johannesburg, South Africa, for a high-level meeting and training organized by the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization ...

Image: iStock The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) is seeking a partnership with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in the areas of agriculture, science and research. This follows a meeting between Professor Patrick Okori, the executive secretary of RUFORUM, and Dr Judith Kateera, the acting executive secretary of the SADC. ...