If you’re clocking a 9-to-5 job, it’s time to rethink your career trajectory. By 2035, experts predict that artificial intelligence (AI) and automation will transform the global workforce, with only 35% of traditional jobs remaining in their current form. The agricultural sector, a cornerstone of South Africa’s economy, is no exception. From robots harvesting crops to AI optimizing supply chains, farming is undergoing a seismic shift that demands adaptation.The rise of AI is already reshaping agriculture. Precision farming tools, like drones and IoT sensors, monitor soil health and crop growth with unmatched accuracy, reducing waste and boosting yields.
For instance, South Africa’s 2024-25 maize harvest hit 15.8 million tonnes, up 23% year-on-year, partly due to tech-driven yield improvements. Robots now handle repetitive tasks—planting, weeding, and harvesting—while AI algorithms predict market demands and streamline logistics.
By 2035, these technologies could automate up to 60% of current farm tasks, particularly in large-scale operations.But this isn’t a death knell for jobs; it’s a call to evolve. Roles in AI system design, data analysis, and tech maintenance are emerging, demanding skills in coding, robotics, and analytics. Smallholder farmers, who produce 70–80% of sub-Saharan Africa’s food, will need training to adopt affordable AI tools, like fertigation systems or mobile apps for market access. The R2 billion Soufflet Malt plant in South Africa, set to procure 125,000 tonnes of barley by 2028, exemplifies how tech investments create new opportunities, blending automation with local farming.
But this isn’t a death knell for jobs; it’s a call to evolve. Roles in AI system design, data analysis, and tech maintenance are emerging, demanding skills in coding, robotics, and analytics. Smallholder farmers, who produce 70–80% of sub-Saharan Africa’s food, will need training to adopt affordable AI tools, like fertigation systems or mobile apps for market access. The R2 billion Soufflet Malt plant in South Africa, set to procure 125,000 tonnes of barley by 2028, exemplifies how tech investments create new opportunities, blending automation with local farming.
The challenge? South Africa’s infrastructure—unreliable electricity, water scarcity, and port inefficiencies—could slow adoption. Government and industry must collaborate to bridge this gap, offering subsidies for tech training and upgrading rural connectivity. The 2025 Nampo Cape discussions underscored the urgency of such partnerships, with Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s visit signaling government support for agriculture’s tech-driven future.
Across South Africa, millions of unskilled workers—many toiling in agriculture, construction, or informal sectors—face a bleak future as artificial intelligence (AI) and automation reshape the job market. With unemployment already at a staggering 32.1% and youth joblessness at 45%, the projected loss of up to 44% of low-skill jobs by 2035 could be catastrophic for those without formal education or training. As African governments, including South Africa’s, consider funding Basic Income Grants (BIG) to support an increasingly “unproductive” workforce, the burden may fall on taxpayers and value-adding sectors like agriculture and mining, raising urgent questions about fairness and economic sustainability.
South Africa’s agricultural sector, a lifeline for over 800,000 workers, is rapidly adopting AI and robotics. From drones optimizing maize yields (15.8 million tonnes in 2024-25, up 23% year-on-year) to robotic harvesters and precision fertigation, technology is boosting efficiency but displacing manual labor. A 2024 study warns that a 1% increase in AI adoption could cut low-skill jobs by 18.6% short-term and 12% long-term, hitting rural communities hardest where smallholder farmers produce 70–80% of sub-Saharan Africa’s food. “The digital divide is real,” says economist Wandile Sihlobo. “Without access to training or infrastructure, unskilled workers risk being left behind.”
For workers, the message is clear: upskill or risk obsolescence. By 2035, careers in agriculture will pivot toward tech integration, sustainability, and value-added processing. Start exploring AI and robotics courses. The future of farming isn’t just about crops—it’s about innovation, resilience, and redefining work itself.
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