Opinion

The rural safety crisis in South Africa remains dire, with farm attacks and murders on the rise. Jacques Broodryk, chief spokesperson for community safety at AfriForum, talks about how the organisation’s farm watch initiative helps farmers protect their communities, improve security, and reclaim control over their farms.

From my time in the National Treasury, I’ve seen how agriculture’s role in economic planning is underestimated. Too often, it is viewed as a siloed primary sector of harvests and food security rather than a powerful tool for holistic development.

Zimbabwean farmer Stuart Brent was promised US$800 000 (about R14 million) compensation for improvements to property lost during the country’s land reform programme, but received less than US$8 000 (R138 000), turning his initial relief into disappointment.

Africa’s agricultural potential remains largely untapped, with post-harvest losses of key commodities exceeding 30% and continued reliance on imported processed foods. This deficit in local value addition undermines food security, erodes export revenue, and curbs job creation and industrialisation.

Since the Department of Agriculture held its seminar on the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan, which seeks to unlock inclusive growth in the sector, there has been some pushback from various corners.

Set in the hills of rural Eastern Cape, Tsolo Agriculture and Rural Development Institute focuses on animal health training. Located some 42km north-west of Mthatha, its work benefits the surrounding municipality, which is home to around 194 000 people.

Earlier this year, Dr Charl van der Merwe became manager of the Agbiz Grain desk. With nearly 30 years’ experience in grain handling, procurement, market analysis, and strategic development, he drives policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and industry representation.

While the South African livestock industry continues to struggle with foot-and-mouth disease, and considerable work is required to resolve it, other sub sectors are performing reasonably well.

Signal boosters are becoming essential in South African homes under the constant threat of load-shedding, while fibre broadband remains unreliable, expensive, and out of reach for most.

The spread of foot-and-mouth disease into some of the country's largest feedlots this year has once again exposed a systemic challenge that threatens to lock our farmers out of global markets, says Daneel Rossouw, head of sales for agriculture at Nedbank Agriculture.

Satellite Internet may sound futuristic, but in South Africa, it often falls short. Expensive hardware, unpredictable service, and regulatory hurdles make satellite-based providers a risky gamble for businesses and households.

Aside from training students in plant and animal production, Madzivhandila College of Agriculture in Limpopo provides soil and water testing services and supports the community with its agro-processing unit.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport SA (CILTSA) and the Institute for Customs and Freight Forwarding (ICFF) have signed a landmark memorandum of understanding.

Amid the forested valleys, pine plantations, and grassy hills of the Eastern Cape’s Amatole District is Fort Cox Agriculture and Forestry Training Institute.

Dr Sharon Nobuhle Lungu, an animal nutrition researcher at the University of Pretoria, says that although moringa offers benefits for sustainable farming and human health, its potential as a poultry feed additive remains largely untapped. She looks at the obstacles facing the industry and how they can be overcome.

Today, agriculture is driven by two global obligations: feeding a growing population and protecting our planet. The overriding message is clear: environmental, social, and governance strategies must enhance profitability.

In this first article in Farmer’s Weekly’s series on agricultural training institutions in South Africa, we look at Grootfontein College of Agriculture. This Eastern Cape institution has a strong focus on the sheep and goat farming industries.

On 6 August, I delivered the 11th Annual Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Lecture at the University of Limpopo. The theme was the role of agriculture in improving rural development.

It was vivid childhood memories of fishing the streams of Barkly East that lured Mike Burgess back to spend three glorious years in these dramatic highlands of the Eastern Cape.

Those in government will have to carefully allocate their resources and time, given the many urgent matters that currently demand their attention.