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World Water Day on today highlights the vital importance of freshwater resources and responsible water management across all sectors, including agriculture.In South Africa, farming depends heavily on reliable water storage and efficient use to sustain food production and rural economies.
The poultry industry is not giving up on its drive to have South Africa’s 15% VAT removed from chicken portions. The organisation took its drive to parliament last week, with Izaak Breitenbach of the SA Poultry Association (Sapa) raising the issue during a joint meeting of parliament’s standing committee on finance and the select committee on finance.
South Africa's latest economic data shows that fresh produce prices are declining. According to the February 2026 Consumer Price Index (CPI) published by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), the cost of plant-based staples has decreased over the past year.
Global trade growth is expected to slow in 2026 after a stronger-than-anticipated 2025, largely driven by a surge in AI-enabling products and frontloading of imports to avoid new tariffs, according to the WTO's latest Global Trade Outlook and Statistics (released 19 March 2026).
South Africa took 15 years of negotiations to secure access to the Chinese market for its fresh fruit exports, as explained by Anton Kruger, former CEO of the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum (FPEF).Chinese authorities insisted on sending an inspection team to verify South Africa’s systems for managing plant diseases and mitigating risks — a standard requirement for market access.
South Africa faces a potential sharp cost-of-living squeeze in April 2026, with early forecasts pointing to diesel price increases of up to R7–R15 per litre due to global oil volatility, the ongoing Middle East conflict, and local under-recoveries.Diesel powers the country's logistics and agricultural backbone, so any major rise quickly flows through the economy:
Zimbabwe remained South Africa’s largest African agricultural export destination in 2025, with exports valued at R20.1 billion, driven by sustained demand linked to structural food supply deficits.Mozambique followed closely at R15.6 billion, supported by strong corridor connectivity and growing consumer markets.
Free State Agriculture (FSA), Sakeliga and SAAI will appear in the High Court on Tuesday, 24 March 2026 in an urgent application to prevent the government from blocking the private procurement and administration of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines.
Die 2026 Graan SA-kongres het een duidelike boodskap uitgestuur: voedselsekerheid kan nie los van boere se winsgewendheid bestaan nie. As produsente nie kommersiëel volhou nie, word die hele voedselstelsel kwesbaar.
South African motorists face significant pain at the pumps in April 2026, driven by a combination of the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran, a weakening rand, and incoming fuel tax increases.
South Africa’s fuel situation remains complex despite Sasol’s role as the world’s leading producer of synthetic fuels via Fischer-Tropsch technology (converting coal and gas into liquid fuels).Sasol supplies roughly 27–30% of the country’s domestic fuel needs through its Secunda plants (primarily coal-to-liquids).
South Africa’s wool industry is facing a major setback after China imposed a ban on imports of cloven-hoofed animal products (including wool) from the country, effective April 1, 2026, due to the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, and North West provinces.
South Africa isn’t facing just one price increase — it’s being squeezed from every side at once.Electricity tariffs rise. Fuel prices climb. Then everything quietly follows: municipal rates, water bills, insurance premiums, private security, transport costs, food prices, medical aid contributions, school fees — none of these are optional.
South Africa’s tax authority, SARS, is aggressively pursuing a massive R500 billion tax gap, marking a major shift toward stricter enforcement and higher collection efficiency.This is not about raising tax rates — it’s about closing loopholes, improving detection, and ensuring compliance across the board.
Die Taung-besproeiingskema-simposium (gehou in Taung, Noordwes) het ten doel gehad om volhoubare produksieparameters te ontwikkel ter ondersteuning van ekonomiese groei en landbouontwikkeling in die provinsie.Die skema, die grootste in Suid-Afrika, is in die laat 1930’s gestig deur sewe koöperasies en funksioneer hoofsaaklik met spilpuntbesproeiing
South African wine grape producers are regaining confidence as the 2026 harvest progresses, with the third crop estimate pointing to a larger vintage and strong quality indicators across several cultivars. By early March 2026, about three-quarters of the harvest was complete.
Die droë seisoen is bevestig as El Niño vanaf Junie met 'n 62 persent waarskynlikheid, volgens die Amerikaanse Climate Prediction Centre. Die Suidelike halfrond kan hoër temperature en droë toestande verwag. Weerkenner Johan van den Berg het meer.
South Africa is targeting a multibillion-rand pistachio industry, aiming to produce up to 60,000 tonnes annually and capture 5–8% of the global market within the next decade, potentially ranking among the world’s top six or seven producers.The ambitious vision was presented at a growers’ conference in Prieska.
Die vooruitsigte vir reën in die Wes-Kaap bly op langer termyn ongunstig tot minstens Junie 2026, hoewel ’n vinniger ontwikkeling van die verwagte El Niño-verskynsel die toestande vanaf Mei kan verbeter.
South Africa is experiencing localised diesel shortages at several petrol stations across provinces including Gauteng, North West, Free State, Northern Cape, and Western Cape, with reports of empty 50ppm diesel pumps in key agricultural and transport corridors like Paarl, Saldanha, Beaufort West, and Swellendam.
Die 2026 Graan SA-kongres in Bothaville het een duidelike boodskap uitgestuur: voedselsekerheid kan nie los van boere se winsgewendheid bestaan nie. As produsente nie volhoubaar wins maak nie, word die hele voedselstelsel kwesbaar.
South Africa’s agriculture has the greatest potential for job creation in labour-intensive irrigated horticulture, according to a recent News24 study.Experts estimate the sector could generate up to 200,000 new jobs over the next decade, mainly in horticulture and agro-processing.
Flooding in Limpopo is severely impacting citrus and other horticultural production following persistent heavy rainfall since January 2026, with growers reporting major pressure on yields, fruit quality, and field operations.
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50 key international headlines capturing major global agriculture and farming trends as of Friday, March 20, 2026:
- Iran Conflict Triggers Historic Fertilizer Supply Crisis; Global Prices Surge 40%+ in Two Weeks
- Strait of Hormuz Closure Forces 60% of Tanker Traffic Around Cape of Good Hope
- USDA March WASDE: Global Corn Ending Stocks Revised Up to 295 MMT Amid Export Uncertainty
- Soybean Futures Rally 8% on Fears of South American Planting Delays and Fertilizer Shortages
- Wheat Production Forecasts Cut in Australia and Ukraine Due to Dry Conditions
- China Releases Emergency Grain Reserves as Domestic Feed Prices Hit Multi-Year Highs
- Argentina Sunflowerseed Output Raised 30%; Palm Oil Futures Surge on Biodiesel Mandate
- EU Calls for Emergency Dairy Support as Milk Prices Collapse Under Global Glut
- UK Farmgate Milk Prices Down 40% Since October; Dairy Farmers Warn of Mass Exits
- Brazil Safrinha Corn Planting Delayed by Excessive Rainfall in Mato Grosso
- Global Food Price Index Rebounds 6% in February on Cereals, Oils, and Dairy
- FAO Warns 42 Countries Face Acute Food Insecurity; Conflict and Weather Dominate
- Precision Agriculture Market Projected to Reach $59 Billion by 2034 at 10.7% CAGR
- Battery Storage Costs Drop 22% in 2025; Renewables Now Dispatchable in Key Markets
- South Africa FMD Outbreak Reaches All Nine Provinces; Nearly 1,000 Cases Confirmed
- Private-Sector Court Challenge Against SA Government Over FMD Vaccine Access Escalates
- US Supreme Court Limits Trump Tariffs; Agricultural Exporters Gain Temporary Relief
- China’s Car Imports Share Rises to 27%; SA Automotive Industry Faces Existential Threat
- Nelson Mandela Bay Loses 41,000 Jobs in 2025; Auto Sector Collapse Accelerates
- VW SA Faces Make-or-Break Investment Decision on New Pick-Up Line in Kariega
- Nissan Exits SA Manufacturing After 60+ Years; Facilities Sold to Chery
- Eastern Cape Allocates R2.7bn to Agriculture in 2026 Budget; Focus on Commercialisation
- Gauteng and Western Cape Petrol Stations Report 50ppm Diesel Shortages
- Central Energy Fund Projects Diesel Up R7+/ℓ and Petrol R4+/ℓ in April
- Rand Plunges to R17.20/USD; Record Weekly Outflow of R41.3bn from Bond Market
- SA Consumer Food Inflation Slows to 3.7% in February; Meat Remains Key Risk
- Winter Rainfall Outlook Unfavourable for Western Cape Until at Least June
- Slow El Niño Development Keeps Southern Africa Dry; Corn Belt Forecasts Mixed
- SA Pistachio Sector Targets 60,000 Tonnes/Year and 5–8% Global Share by 2035
- Karoo Pistachios and Fedgroup Push Patient Capital Model for Perennial Crops
- Eastern Cape Hands Over Tractor, Shed and Water Project to Qhimirha Farmers
- SA Wine Grape Harvest Outlook Improves; Third Estimate Shows Larger Crop
- Wool and Mohair Sector Gains Momentum in Eastern Cape With New Infrastructure
- Container User Forum (CUF) Launched to Fix SA Port and Logistics Bottlenecks
- Mulilo vs Eskom Grid Access Case Set for April 9–10; Highlights Renewable Constraint
- André de Ruyter Warns Load-Shedding Return Likely by 2029 Without New Capacity
- Battery + Renewables Only Viable Short-Term Solution, Says Former Eskom CEO
- Global Smart Farming Drones Market to Reach $17.5bn by 2033 at 18.5% CAGR
- Earthworms Praised as “Nature’s Plough” for Soil Health and Sustainable Yields
- UK Dairy Crisis Deepens; 40% Farmgate Price Drop Threatens Mass Exits
- OECD/FAO: Global Fresh Dairy Demand to Rise 11% Per Capita by 2033
- Sappi–WWF uMkhomazi Catchment Partnership Clears 191 ha Invasives, Protects 20,000 ha
- Citizen Scientists Collect Water Quality Data in Landmark Landscape Stewardship Project
- Case IH Unveils New Short-Wheelbase Puma Series With AGCO CVT at Agritechnica
- Massey Ferguson Showcases MF 5S and MF 3 Speciality With AGCO Continuous Transmissions
- Vision Investments Denies Blame for Tongaat Hulett Collapse; Points Finger at Government
- IDC Provides >R2bn to Tongaat Hulett; Battles BRPs Over Liquidation Move
- Agri Sector Confidence Plummets to 49 in Q1 2026 on FMD and Export Bans
- Private-Sector Coalition Sues Agriculture Minister Over FMD Vaccine Restrictions
- Ramaphosa: Cape Sea Route “Always Existed”; Used by Van Riebeeck to Plunder
These reflect the dominant themes as of March 20, 2026: Middle East war disruptions, fertiliser/energy crises, FMD escalation, rand volatility, grid constraints, job losses in manufacturing, horticulture job potential, and cautious optimism in some sub-sectors like wine grapes and pistachios. Markets remain highly volatile.
FERTILIZER
- End-February: just over $500/t Middle East.
- Last week: +27% to $625/t.
- This week: +9%, approaching $700/t (e.g., Algeria >$730/t FOB; Egypt >$700/t).
- Few physical trades—sentiment dominates in low-demand period.
- India: ~500,000 t trapped from recent tender; urgent new tender expected, adding massive upward pressure.
- Brazil: CFR +$65/t near $700/t; minimal buyer interest.
- US: +10% ahead of spring; domestic capacity insufficient for peak, affordability concerns vs. crop prices likely curb demand.
- Ammonium sulphate: +20% (cheaper N alternative); Chinese $180/t → $220-240/t; Brazil landed ~$280/t granular (potentially $300/t soon); speculation China may impose export minimums.
- Ammonium nitrate: Sharp rises; Russian straight AN near $400/t FOB; European CAN up €40 to ~€400/t.
- DAP: India CFR +$60/t to $760/t; Europe +$100/t >$900/t CFR.
- MAP: Brazil CFR nearing $800/t.
- Saudi Ma’aden (20% global MAP/DAP exports) halted; China out until Q3.
- OCP (Morocco) limits to long-term off-takers due to sulphur/ammonia risks.
- Demand destruction probable at these levels; little new supply to offset Saudi loss.
- Brent crude: ~$70/bbl pre-war → over $100/bbl (despite reserve releases).
- LNG/natural gas: European TTF nearly doubled to ~$17-19/MMBtu (US Henry Hub stable ~$3.3/MMBtu).
- Shipping: Rates up from insurance/bunker hikes.
- Rand: -6%+ vs. USD, worsening SA/local costs.
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Hahaha, it's over! This cow is crazy! pic.twitter.com/ncoQeJMdGE
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Africa's longest road project, the 56,683 km-long Trans African Highway, will pass through South Africa 🇿🇦, Sudan 🇸🇩, Cameroon 🇨🇲, Tanzania 🇹🇿, Mozambique 🇲🇿, Uganda 🇺🇬, Algeria 🇩🇿, Nigeria 🇳🇬, Zambia 🇿🇲, Djibouti 🇩🇯, Angola 🇦🇴, Kenya 🇰🇪..... Show more. pic.twitter.com/fmcXGoLA9B
— Africa First (@AfricaFirsts) March 21, 2026
