South African agriculture has undergone significant transformation since 1980, shaped by political, economic, environmental, and technological shifts.
From the challenges of apartheid-era policies to the opportunities of a democratic, export-driven economy, the sector has navigated turbulent times while achieving remarkable growth. Below, we explore the key changes in farming and agriculture over the past four decades, highlighting advancements, challenges, and the path toward sustainability and inclusivity.
Just a short summary-
1. Political and Policy Shifts In the 1980s, South African agriculture operated under apartheid policies that heavily supported white commercial farmers through subsidies, marketing boards, and price supports, while marginalizing black farmers. The focus was on food self-sufficiency, driven by fears of international sanctions, leading to surpluses that were exported at high costs to consumers, with over 2 million people underfed despite this policy. By the mid-1990s, the transition to democracy brought significant policy changes. The deregulation of the agricultural sector, including the removal of marketing boards by 1998 and the end of subsidies like interest rates and exports, exposed farmers to global competition. This shift, coupled with South Africa’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995, challenged the sector but also opened new export markets.
Land reform became a priority to address historical inequities, with over 80% of agricultural land owned by white farmers in 1994. Programs like the Restitution Programme, settling 83,205 land claims by mid-2024, and the Land Acquisition Strategy aimed to redistribute land, with targets to acquire 102,025 hectares for redistribution (50% for women, 40% for youth, 10% for people with disabilities). However, the inclusion of black farmers in commercial agriculture remains limited, with black farmers contributing less than 10% of commercial output, hindered by inadequate support, skills, financing, and land tenure. The Expropriation Act of 2025 has sparked debate, with concerns about its impact on investment, though no property seizures have occurred.
2. Economic and Export Growth Since 1994, South African agriculture has more than doubled in value and volume, driven by technological advancements and export growth. By 2024, agricultural exports reached a record US$13.7 billion, positioning South Africa as the world’s 32nd largest agricultural exporter and the only African country in the top 40. Key markets include Africa, Europe, and Asia, facilitated by trade agreements. Horticulture, field crops, and livestock have all contributed to this growth. For example, citrus exports to the U.S. rose 26% to $161 million in Q2 2025, and rooibos exports, despite a new 30% U.S. tariff, remain vital.
However, global competition and the removal of apartheid-era protections made crops like wheat and cotton less viable, with planted hectares dropping to one-third and one-tenth of their late-1980s levels, respectively, due to cheaper imports. Despite this, diversification into soybeans, avocados, nuts, and wine has strengthened the sector, with over half of produce now destined for export markets.
3. Technological Advancements Technological innovation has been a cornerstone of agricultural progress. The adoption of improved genetics, seed cultivars, vaccines, agrochemicals, and fertilizers has boosted productivity. Mechanization, including tractors and advanced equipment, has reduced labor needs, with employment in agriculture dropping from over 2 million in the 1970s to under 700,000 by 2014. Digital technologies, such as Farmonaut’s satellite-based farm management solutions, provide real-time data on crop health and soil moisture, optimizing yields and resource use. Precision agriculture, like BeeHero’s AI-driven pollination monitoring, has enhanced efficiency, particularly for crops like almonds, blueberries, and apples.
Veld fires, exacerbated by dry conditions and climate change, have increased in frequency and severity, destroying crops, grazing land, and infrastructure, raising production costs and contributing to food price inflation (4.7% in June 2025). Sustainable practices, including water conservation, crop rotation, minimal tillage, and integrated pest management, are being adopted to mitigate these impacts.
Despite progress, inclusivity remains a challenge. Government programs and private partnerships have struggled to integrate emerging black farmers into commercial agriculture, with limited access to skills, finance, and land tenure. The agro-processing master plan and agri-parks model aim to support smallholder farmers, but success is limited. Initiatives like Cotton SA’s workshops for smallholders, who planted 3,375 hectares in 2025, highlight efforts to address these gaps.
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