Bumper summer crops push SA food inflation down to 1.4% in June

[Paul Makube] Bumper summer grains and livestock supply recoveries pulled South Africa’s food price growth to its lowest level since 2011, keeping overall headline inflation in check, writes Paul Makube, senior agricultural economist at FNB Commercial...

Land reform must deliver productive land use, not just hectares

[Peter Setou] South Africa's land reform programme should be judged by its ability to create jobs, strengthen rural economies, and drive productive land use, writes Peter Setou, chief executive of the Vumelana Advisory Fund...

#WoolworthsYouthMakers2026: First-generation farmer Nthato Motlana is growing more than fresh produce

[Robin Fredericks] First-generation farmer Nthato Motlana shares how Marapyane Farms is using sustainable agriculture to strengthen food security, create jobs and build a business rooted in community...

South Africa holds its own in the race for global fruit markets

[Fhumulani Ratshitanga] South Africa's fresh fruit industry exports more than 4.4 million tonnes of produce to over 100 markets worldwide each year. Remaining competitive, however, requires continued investment, collaboration and the ability to navigate a complex global trading environment...

#YouthMonth | Mosa Hope Mapheto is using agriculture to create opportunities in rural Limpopo

[Robin Fredericks] Mosa Hope Mapheto shares how agriculture is helping create opportunities for young people in rural Limpopo...

Food inflation at 17-month low softens energy cost pressure

[Paul Makube] Food inflation slowed to 1.6% year-on-year in May 2026, supported by strong crop and horticulture production, according to FNB Commercial senior agricultural economist Paul Makube...

South Africa must unlock agricultural productivity to fight food inflation

[Peter Setou] Peter Setou, chief executive of the Vumelana Advisory Fund, argues that South Africa’s growing dependence on imported agricultural inputs is placing added pressure on land reform beneficiaries and the country’s broader food production system...

Food inflation slowdown points to easing pressure on consumers

[Paul Makube] South Africa’s food inflation rate slowed to a 13-month low in April 2026 as strong grain, fruit and vegetable supplies helped offset mounting fuel price pressures, writes Paul Makube, senior agricultural economist at FNB Commercial...

Is South Africa’s land reform strategy too focused on restitution?

[Peter Setou] Peter Setou, chief executive of Vumelana Advisory Fund, examines whether South Africa’s land reform programme has placed too much emphasis on restitution at the expense of broader land redistribution and land tenure reform...

Middle East tension pushes up costs for Western Cape farmers

[Wandile Sihlobo] Farmers in the Western Cape face rising input costs due to the Middle East war, affecting winter crop planting amid previous replanting challenges and global commodity pressures...

SA agribusiness confidence falls sharply on disease and market concerns

[Wandile Sihlobo] South Africa’s agribusiness sentiment weakened in the first quarter of 2026, with the Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index dropping below the neutral mark as disease outbreaks, softer commodity prices and global uncertainty weigh on the sector, writes Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz...

SA agriculture posts 17.4% GDP growth overcoming obstacles

[Paul Makube] South Africa’s agriculture sector posts a 17.4% GDP rebound in 2025, supported by bumper harvests and record exports despite tariffs and livestock disease pressures...

How corporate South Africa can transform land reform into economic opportunity

[Peter Setou] Peter Setou, Chief Executive of the Vumelana Advisory Fund, says structured partnerships between communities and private investors can turn restored land into productive assets and close funding gaps in South Africa’s land reform process...

2025 – The year land reform faced its ultimate test

[Peter Setou] 2025 tested South Africa’s land reform programme like never before. From the enactment of the Expropriation Act to persistent institutional and funding challenges, the year revealed both risks and opportunities for reshaping land redistribution, restitution, and tenure reform...

#BizTrends2026 | Fruit SA’s Fhumulani Ratshitanga: The global certainty deficit and its impact on agriculture

[Fhumulani Ratshitanga] Fhumulani Ratshitanga, CEO of Fruit SA, explores how the growing global certainty deficit is reshaping South African agriculture...

#BizTrends2026 | FNB Commercial’s Paul Makube: Why agriculture is set for a strong 2026

[Paul Makube] Paul Makube, senior agricultural economist at FNB Commercial, outlines why South African agriculture is entering 2026 with renewed confidence...

#BizTrends2026 | Standard Bank South Africa’s Brendan Jacobs: What will shape agriculture in 2026?

[Brendan Jacobs] Brendan Jacobs, head of agriculture for business and commercial banking, Standard Bank SA, examines the key trends influencing South Africa’s agricultural sector...

Surging meat prices put a damper on December braais

[Paul Makube] South Africans face the highest meat prices in nearly eight years this festive season, driven by foot-and-mouth disease and supply disruptions, with beef, pork, lamb, and chicken all on the rise...

The 3 key drivers of Africa’s food-secure future

[Paul Makube] Africa’s food security hinges on three key drivers: trade infrastructure, improved inputs, and innovative financing. Coordinated action across these pillars can unlock the continent’s agricultural potential and resilience...

Food inflation falls further to 3.9% year-on-year in October 2025

[Paul Makube] South Africa’s food inflation slows to 3.9% in October 2025 as vegetables and cereals drive the decline...