We have seen a right mix of rain and sunshine in recent weeks across South Africa, which bodes well for all agricultural subsectors – field crops, horticulture and livestock.

The year 2020 had been a challenging one for agriculture and as we headed into 2021 there was some trepidation about the year ahead and what it held in store for us.

SA does not have a shortage of farming skills. The country is among the world’s leading nations in producing several horticultural commodities and a continent leader growing field crops such as maize and soya beans.

The beleaguered Land Bank snuck through a horrible set of results shortly after the market closed early at 12pm on New Year’s Eve, revealing an annual total comprehensive loss of more than R2.8bn for the year ended March 31 2020, while non-performing loans almost doubled to 18.1% of total gross loans.

I started writing for Business Day regularly in 2016. My intention at the time was to ensure that the developments in the SA agricultural economics don’t go unnoticed, especially events with broader implications on food prices, jobs, broader sustainability and growth of the agricultural sector.

You have argued that governments should use the post-COVID environment to think differently about agriculture. What should be done differently?