South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province is making progress towards its target of vaccinating 80% of the estimated 2.5 million cattle population against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), as authorities intensify efforts to prevent further outbreaks. KwaZulu-Natal has been among the provinces most severely affected by the FMD outbreak that began in 2021. The disease has placed significant pressure ...

South Africa is stepping up preparations at the Port of Cape Town ahead of the new deciduous fruit export season, as Transnet works to improve port efficiency and prevent a repeat of costly delays that affected fruit exporters last year. Delays during the previous export season reportedly cost South African fruit producers more than R4 ...

A likely extension of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) could provide important support for South Africa’s agricultural sector, allowing local farmers and agribusinesses to remain competitive in the US market alongside major agricultural exporters. The US Senate has supported extending AGOA for another two years, although the legislative process is not yet complete ...

Women are increasingly taking the lead in conservation, livestock farming and sustainable land management across South Africa’s communal rangelands, demonstrating how rural communities can combine agricultural production with environmental stewardship. As South Africa marks National Women’s Day on 9 August, the contribution of rural women to agriculture and conservation is receiving renewed attention. Their growing ...

South Africa is preparing to expand its soybean exports after forecasting its largest harvest on record, with China emerging as a promising new market following improved trade access for African agricultural products. According to Wandile Sihlobo, Chief Economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), the country’s growing soybean surplus could support exports ...

South Africa Tightens Import Rules for Low-Dairy Products South Africa has introduced new import regulations requiring importers of certain food products containing less than 5% dairy for human consumption to obtain a Veterinary Import Permit (VIP) before shipments enter the country. The new requirement, announced by the Department of Agriculture, forms part of measures to ...

South Africa has introduced a new digital portal to strengthen the country’s response to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) while supporting efforts to restore international confidence in its livestock exports. The Department of Agriculture’s new online reporting system allows livestock producers to apply for voluntary vaccination approval, submit vaccination records and improve disease traceability as government works ...

South Africa’s decision to leave interest rates unchanged has provided welcome relief for farmers and agribusinesses, helping to ease financial pressure at a time when producers continue to battle rising input costs and global economic uncertainty. The South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) opted to maintain the current interest rate, a move widely ...

22 July 2026: Johannesburg – South Africa’s land reform debate is too often reduced to statistics, with public discourse heavily focused on the number of hectares transferred, the pace of redistribution, and whether the programme has succeeded or failed against numerical targets. These statistics are important. They help the country understand the current state of ...

South Africa’s pecan industry is enjoying another successful season, with growers reporting strong export activity as international demand for the premium tree nut continues to increase. Early indications suggest the country’s 2026 harvest could once again reinforce its position as one of the world’s leading pecan exporters. Although the official crop estimate has yet to ...