viewpoint

The Future of Livestock Farming in 2027 – Can Red Meat Still Be Affordable? What’s the Difference Between Brown and White Eggs? The multidimensional world of winemaking The quiet erosion: What has happened to subsistence farming in South Africa? Will Climate Change Make Wine Healthier - or Less Healthy? Rising CO₂ is making African savanna grasses grow more – what this means for grazing, fire and carbon storage Uncertainty is high as the 2026-27 summer crop season starts World Farming Agriculture and Commodity news - 05 October 2026 WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- Farm Attacks: South Africa Needs Facts, Better Data and Real Action OVK –vennoot vir die moderne boer

VIEWPOINT -The Role of Commercial Farming in South Africa Regarding Food Security and Climate Change

Commercial farming plays a vital role in South Africa’s economy and food security.

WEEKEND- VIEWPOINT -South African Farmers Must Unite to Protect Their Industry and Food Security

South African farmers, the backbone of the nation’s food security, face growing challenges that demand unity and proactive resistance against external interference in their industry.

The Future of Agrichemical Companies in South Africa Amid Growing Concerns Over Pesticide Side Effects

South Africa, the largest user of pesticides in sub-Saharan Africa, stands at a crossroads as agrichemical companies face mounting scrutiny over the environmental, health, and economic impacts of their products.

Viewpoint - General

SouthAfrica’sagriculturalsectorisaparadox—atapestryofresilienceandvulnerability,opportunityandneglect.Asanationwithfertilesoils,diverseclimates,andalegacyoffeedingbothitselfandtheworld,itholdsimmensepotentialtoleadinsustainable,inclusivefarming.Yet,asanobserverofitstrajectoryin2025,Iseealandscapewhereambitionisoftenoutpacedbyinertia,andwherethepromiseoftransformationrisksbeingovershadowedbysystemicchallenges.Here’smytakeonwhereSouthAfricanagriculturestands—andwhereitcouldgo.

TheStrengthWeOverlook

Let’sstartwiththegood.SouthAfrica’sfarmersarenothingshortofremarkable.Fromthesun-drenchedvineyardsoftheWesternCapetothemaizefieldsoftheFreeState,they’veturnedacountrywithonly13%arablelandintoanetfoodexporter.In2023,agriculturalexportshitR200billion,withcitrus,grapes,andnutsleadingthecharge.Commercialfarmers—some35,000strong—drivethissuccess,leveragingexpertiseandinfrastructuretocompetegloballydespiteminimalsubsidies,ararityamongagriculturalpowerhouses.

Buttherealuntappedgemisthe2millionsmall-scalefarmers.Oftensidelinedassubsistenceplayers,theysustainruralcommunitiesandholdthekeytobroaderfoodsecurity.TheAgricultureandAgro-ProcessingMasterPlan(AAMP)rightlyseestheirinclusionasagame-changer,envisioningthemasvitallinksinagro-processingvaluechains.ImagineaSouthAfricawheresmallholdersthrivealongsidecommercialgiants,producingvalue-addedgoodslikerooibosteaextractsororganicbeefforexport.It’snotapipedream—it’sapossibilitywe’refrustratinglyslowtoseize.

TheShadowsWeCan’tIgnore

Yet,forallitspotential,SouthAfricanagricultureisasectorunderstrain.Landreform,amoralandpracticalnecessity,remainsaquagmire.Decadesafterapartheid,redistributioncrawlsalong,leavingemergingfarmerswithouttitlesorsupporttocultivateeffectively.TheAAMP’sR1.5trillionpricetagfortransformationdwarfsgovernmentcoffers,especiallyasfiscalprioritiestilttowardEskom’swoesandtheJustEnergyTransitionInvestmentPlan(JET-IP).WiththeUSpotentiallypullingitsJET-IPfundingunderTrump’sfossil-fuel-firstagenda,climate-smartagriculture—crucialforadaptingtoworseningdroughts—maystallfurther.

Thenthere’stheenergycrisis.Loadsheddingisn’tjustaninconvenience;it’sachokeholdonirrigation,coldstorage,andprocessing.Farmers,bothbigandsmall,areforcedtosinkcapitalintosolarpanelsorgenerators—coststhaterodemarginsinanalreadytoughmarket.Addrisingfertilizerprices,drivenbyglobalsupplyshocks,andyou’vegotarecipeforstagnation.TheAAMP’sAgri-Parksandinfrastructurepromisessoundinspiring,butwhere’stheexecution?Toooften,plansgatherdustwhilefarmersfendforthemselves.

APathForward:PragmatismMeetsVision

I’mnotpessimistic—justimpatient.SouthAfricacan’taffordtosquanderitsagriculturaledge.TheAAMP’smulti-stakeholderapproachisastart,unitingAgriSA,smallholderadvocates,andgovernmentinarareshowofsolidarity.Butitneedsteeth:acleartimeline,privatesectorincentives,andawillingnesstoprioritize.Whynotfast-tracklandtenureforsmallfarmersandpairitwithmicro-loanstailoredtotheirneeds?WhynotleanharderintoAgriTech—drones,AI,digitalmarketplaces—toleapfroginefficiencies?

TheG20presidencyin2025isagoldenopportunity.SouthAfricacouldshowcaseamodelwhere“sustainability”isn’tjustabuzzwordbutasystemthatliftsemergingfarmerswhilekeepingexportsrobust.TaptheJET-IP’s$13.9billion(orwhat’sleftofit)forsolar-poweredirrigation.Courtprivatecapitalwithtaxbreaksforagro-processinghubs.Andforgoodness’sake,fixtheports—exportdelaysareasilentkiller.

TheBottomLine

SouthAfricanagricultureisasleepinggiant,butit’srestless.It’sasectorthatcouldemploy

WEEKEND VIEWPOINT -Respect, Civilization, and the Need for True Dialogue in South Africa.

Civilization and respect for others are what South Africa urgently needs.

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- When leaders attack followers for choosing not to follow them - South Africa

In an environment where everybody is always in agreement, somebody is not thinking.

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- Consumer Demand for Organic and Natural Foods Continues to Grow

Consumer demand fororganic, natural, and non-GMO foods continues to strengthen, with younger generations driving much of the market growth.

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- We reached this settlement because we spoke with each other, not about each other.

Over the past month in our weekly viewpoint, we have repeatedly called for greater unity among all farming organisations, companies, and individual farmers.

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- Eskom's Rising Electricity Prices Are Driving South Africans Towards Solar Power

For many years, South Africans have faced annual electricity price increases from Eskom while also enduring load shedding, power station failures and uncertainty over the country's electricity supply.

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- : Who Really Profits from Your Grocery Bill?

South Africans, like consumers around the world, are paying very high prices for food, vegetables, fruit, and everyday groceries.

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- : Why Giving Women in Agriculture a Platform to Voice Their Opinions Matters in South Africa

Women form a vital backbone of South Africa’s agricultural sector.

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- : South Africa’s Foot-and-Mouth Disease Fight: Progress Made, but Farmers Still Carry Vaccine Costs

South Africa’s long-running foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crisis appears to be moving toward better control, yet farmers continue to bear the financial burden of vaccines.

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- : South Africa’s wildlife is a renewable commodity

The South African wildlife industry is built on five models: breeding, local and international hunting, products including taxidermy, tourism, and mixed farming. Diversifying across these makes wildlife farming sustainable.

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- : Money Is No Longer Money – It Is Just a Numbers Game

Money is no longer the tangible thing we once knew. It has become a pure numbers game.

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- : Loyalty To Your Brand Is One Of The Most Important Things You Can Have

Farmers are some of the most loyal people when it comes to brands.

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- :From Communal Land To Market Shelf: What Really Determines Fruit And Vegetable Quality In South Africa

There is growing interest in whether fruit and vegetables grown on former communal land in South Africa can be trusted, especially when that land was previously thought to be unsuitable for cropping.

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- What Farming Families Must Do to Survive a Future South Africa

South African farming families face a harder road ahead than many are willing to admit.

VIEWPOINT- The Technology Farmers Cannot Farm Without

Technology has become an increasingly important part of modern agriculture, but farmers are not adopting technology simply because it is new.

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- Agriculture Master Plan Must Deliver Results

South Africa’s Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan is once again under the spotlight, with Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp saying government needs to move faster if the plan is to deliver real results for farmers and the agricultural sector.

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- Farm Attacks: South Africa Needs Facts, Better Data and Real Action

The debate around farm attacks in South Africa has once again highlighted a much bigger question:how safe are the country's farming communities, and are we doing enough to protect the people who live and work in rural areas?

VIEWPOINT -The Role of Commercial Farming in South Africa Regarding Food Security and Climate Change

WEEKEND- VIEWPOINT -South African Farmers Must Unite to Protect Their Industry and Food Security

The Future of Agrichemical Companies in South Africa Amid Growing Concerns Over Pesticide Side Effects

Viewpoint - General

WEEKEND VIEWPOINT -Respect, Civilization, and the Need for True Dialogue in South Africa.

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- When leaders attack followers for choosing not to follow them - South Africa

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- Consumer Demand for Organic and Natural Foods Continues to Grow

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- We reached this settlement because we spoke with each other, not about each other.

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- Eskom's Rising Electricity Prices Are Driving South Africans Towards Solar Power

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- : Who Really Profits from Your Grocery Bill?

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- : Why Giving Women in Agriculture a Platform to Voice Their Opinions Matters in South Africa

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- : South Africa’s Foot-and-Mouth Disease Fight: Progress Made, but Farmers Still Carry Vaccine Costs

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- : South Africa’s wildlife is a renewable commodity

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- : Money Is No Longer Money – It Is Just a Numbers Game

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- : Loyalty To Your Brand Is One Of The Most Important Things You Can Have

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- :From Communal Land To Market Shelf: What Really Determines Fruit And Vegetable Quality In South Africa

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- What Farming Families Must Do to Survive a Future South Africa

VIEWPOINT- The Technology Farmers Cannot Farm Without

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- Agriculture Master Plan Must Deliver Results

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- Farm Attacks: South Africa Needs Facts, Better Data and Real Action

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