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Chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa.
Kenya faces a severe maize shortage due to drought, with a projected need to import around 2 million tonnes to meet its annual requirements. The country’s ban on genetically modified maize imports prevents it from accessing surplus white…
The recent news that SA’s citrus will now have even wider access to the Indian market is a welcome development.
SA’s agriculture is starting the second half of the year with profound uncertainty about the path ahead.
The season’s crop was planted in October 2025 and is currently being harvested.
The mood among South African farmers and agribusinesses remains downbeat, writes Wandile Sihlobo.
In an export-oriented sector, efficient logistics — ports, rails and roads — are everything.
The year is shaping up to be another period of mixed fortunes for South Africa’s agriculture, writes Wandile Sihlobo.
From an annual perspective, the FAO Food Price Index is 2% higher than a year ago, reflecting fears about the uncertain path ahead.
The SA Agricultural Machinery Association recently released its monthly agricultural machinery sales report for March 2026, writes Wandile Sihlobo.
This has been a horrific month for the Eastern Cape. The devastating impact of the recent floods on infrastructure, homes and human loss will continue to weigh on the province and the affected families.
SA must build on the positive sentiment evident in agriculture and agribusiness by implementing long-term plans and tackling the ongoing growth constraints in the sector.
I wasn’t planning to write much about the Eastern Cape’s agriculture but the excellent rains the province has been receiving have prompted me to say something about its potential agricultural fortunes.
For much of the past few weeks, we have focused on the summer grains and oilseed, the plantings of which have recently started across SA. But other equally essential crops are winter grains and oilseeds. After a reasonably good production…
While we are still at the start of the 2024/25 global grains and oilseed production season, with the southern hemisphere yet to plant in about two months, the International Grains Council (IGC) forecasts a decent harvest.
I attended the National Wool Growers Association’s 2024 Congress in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape on 12 June 2024, and emerged with optimism. The South African wool industry remains resilient after a few challenging times in recent years.
