2021 promises to be another good year for South Africa’s agricultural sector, at least from a production front.

 For many years, South Africa has prided itself as the most food-secure country in the African continent and has also ranked relatively well with its peer BRICS countries.

South Africa’s agricultural sector has been largely insulated from the Covid-19 shock as it has remained in operations since the onset of the lockdown.

Over the past two decades SA’s agricultural output growth and rise in trade surpluses have been inspiring, successes that give me much optimism.

 In our interactions with various agribusinesses since the start of the year, one issue that consistently comes up, in addition to the usual concerns around land reform policy, is trade. Whether one speaks to beef, wool, fruit or wine producers, increased access to new markets and efficiencies within the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development in this regard is a constant theme.

Global agricultural indices typically have to contend with several challenges in the quest to provide a valuable measure of any particular subject.

 This past week, we held a hybrid session with some colleagues and Agbiz members joining us at Pretoria's offices, while others joined online.

South Africa’s Crop Estimates Committee mildly lifted its forecast for 2020/21 summer grain and oilseeds production from last month by 1% to 18,7 million tonnes (this compared with 17,6 million tonnes in 2019/20 production season).

South African agricultural stakeholders want to increase exports to BRIC(S) countries

Despite a vibrant agricultural sector, there are a standard list of challenges that SA agribusinesses commonly cite — land-reform policy, droughts and infrastructure are among the most frequently cited. However, a growing challenge facing firms — particularly those in beef, wool, fruit and wine — is the need to identify new markets.

Despite a vibrant agricultural sector, there are a standard list of challenges that South African agribusinesses commonly cite – land reform policy, droughts and infrastructure are amongst the most frequently cited.

 The weather will be the main focus in South Africa's agriculture for both summer and winter crops, and to a lesser extent, horticulture in the near term.

Chapter 6 of the National Development Plan (NDP) sets out the parameters for an integrated and inclusive rural economy.

 South Africa's agricultural sector is currently in the process of finalising the sector Master Plan. The final consultations with constituencies of various social partners, comprising industry, government, labour and civil society, will soon begin, after which the Master Plan will be signed off. This document will serve as a guide for inclusive growth in the sector.

The “fruits” of South Africa’s good harvest in 2020 and the prospects of another good season in 2021 continue to benefit the allied industries.

 South Africa's agricultural sector remains a net exporter, with exportable volumes of various commodities growing each year, weather conditions permitting.

 On 13 May, Ms Thoko Didiza, Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, delivered her Budget Vote Speech.

On Wednesday morning, Statistics South Africa reported much higher figures for consumer food price inflation than some had expected. In April 2021, the country’s consumer food prices were at 6,7% year-on-year, the highest level since July 2017.

Maize was South Africa’s fifth largest exported agricultural product in value terms in 2020.

In regular seasons a sizeable domestic maize harvest would ordinarily lead to a decline in prices. But SA’s 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 maize production seasons have not been ordinary.