The dominant message about South Africa’s agriculture in the past few months has been of a thriving sector, having grown by 13.4% year on year in 2020 and expected to grow a further 7.6% in 2021.
Following extensive feedback on my previous article, Why do wine farmers even bother with it all?, numerous wine farmers shared their solidarity and highlighted the profound emotional connection they have to their industry and their land. As well as the pressures they are under to ensure the sustainability of their farms. This insight prompted me to delve further into a production factor that is often overlooked.