South Africa has taken a significant step in expanding its agricultural exports with the departure of its first commercial shipment of locally produced plums to China, creating new opportunities for the country’s deciduous fruit industry. The inaugural consignment was officially launched at the Freshness First Packhouse in Franschhoek, where Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen and ...

South Africa has approved a new national framework for managing Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), introducing updated control measures aimed at improving outbreak response, protecting livestock farmers, and maintaining agricultural trade. The new regulations were approved by Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and will take effect once published in the Government Gazette. They replace the 2019 FMD Contingency ...

Standard Bank has mobilised R3.45 billion (approximately $208.1 million) over the past year to support climate-smart agriculture in South Africa, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable farming and strengthening the country’s resilience against climate change. The financing initiative is aimed at helping farmers adopt innovative technologies and sustainable agricultural practices that improve productivity while reducing exposure ...

South Africa has restarted large-scale maize exports for the first time since December 2023, marking a major milestone for the country’s agricultural sector as it heads toward a record-breaking harvest and improved export capacity. The Maydon Wharf Agribulk Terminal in Durban, operated by Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), is currently loading 40,000 tons of maize onto ...

South Africa has appointed Willie Aucamp as the country’s new Minister of Agriculture, replacing John Steenhuisen following changes within the Government of National Unity. Aucamp assumes leadership of the agriculture portfolio at a critical time for the sector, which is facing ongoing challenges related to Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and efforts to expand access to international ...

Land reform – Repositioning land reform in the minds of the youth is not about changing perceptions of land itself; it’s about changing realities on the ground. For years, public discourse has focused heavily on the act of land restoration and ownership. Yet, as land is being restituted, many young people are still struggling to ...

By Ovizikhungo Sicwetsha, Head of Transactional Banking for the mid-corporate segment at Nedbank Against a backdrop of geopolitical fragmentation, rising protectionism, and shifting demographic patterns, South Africa’s agricultural sector is both exposed to global volatility and uniquely positioned to benefit from new growth corridors. From a banking perspective, the central question is increasingly about financing: ...

Africa’s agricultural sector is entering a period of profound transformation, driven by climate change, market volatility and growing demand for food production. As these pressures intensify, traditional approaches to agricultural financing are increasingly proving inadequate, prompting calls for more innovative and resilient funding models. The issue has gained prominence across Southern Africa, where farmers, agribusinesses ...

As South Africa commemorates Youth Month, the Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank) is calling for renewed efforts to remove barriers that prevent young people from participating fully in the agricultural sector. The appeal comes at a time when youth unemployment remains one of the country’s most pressing socio-economic challenges. With ...

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – South Africa and Italy are strengthening agricultural trade, investment and technology cooperation through a new partnership aimed at expanding opportunities across the agricultural value chain, from primary production to agro-processing and export markets. Speaking at the inaugural South Africa-Italy Agribusiness Forum in Cape Town, South African Minister of Agriculture, John ...