South African Agriculture: A Year in Review

Agricultural leaders have applauded the work done by farmers in Mzansi amidst the many challenges they face locally and internationally, and wish them well for the coming year.

The MEC of agriculture and rural development in Mpumalanga, Khethiwe Moeketsi, expressed her gratitude to farmers, rural communities, partners, and environmental stewards for their hard work throughout the year.

“May this season bring peace, rest and joy to your families. Let us enter the new year with renewed commitment to growing our agricultural sector, empowering communities and protecting our environment,” she said.

Champions of food security

Echoing this sentiment, Free State MEC, Elzabe Rockman, described the season as a time for reflection on the department’s progress, thanking employees for their commitment to agricultural growth and recognising farmers’ contributions.

“To our dedicated farmers, farmworkers, farm dwellers and all who live and work on the land, we recognise your vital contribution and hard work. Your unwavering commitment and tireless effort, often far from the public eye, are the very foundation of our holiday tables and daily sustenance,” she said.

Agricultural Development Agency (Agda) chairperson, Dr Matthews Phosa, said the year has once again highlighted the resilience and commitment of farmers, who continue to produce under challenging conditions and play a vital role in feeding the nation and sustaining rural livelihoods.

“We are equally grateful to our members and partners for your continued trust and collaboration as we work together to unlock inclusive growth, strengthen value chains, and build sustainable market pathways for farmers.

“As we look ahead, Agda remains committed to stronger partnerships, innovative solutions, and shared futures for South African agriculture,” Phosa said.

Meanwhile, the minister of land reform and rural development, Mzwanele Nyhontso, said 2025 has been a year of deep reflection, transition, and renewed resolve as they navigate the complexities of the government of national unity.

“Despite these new political dynamics, our mandate remains singular: to return the land to its people and restore the dignity of the dispossessed. This year serves as a poignant milestone.

“The persistence of farm dweller evictions, particularly in areas such as the Western Cape Winelands, remains a blight on our nation. Let me be clear: the era of arbitrary evictions must end,” he said.

Challenges in land reform and animal health persist

Nyhontso added that the country needs to acknowledge that the land question remains an open wound. “While we celebrate historic successes such as the land restitution cases for the Mathonsi and Richtersveld communities, which reconnected people with their heritage, we cannot ignore the shadows that remain.

“In 2026, our focus shifts to land development support. Land without support is a hollow victory. We will scale up our packages for small-scale farmers, providing infrastructure, technical assistance, and market access to ensure that redistributed land becomes a source of sustainable livelihoods and food sovereignty,” he said.

Minister of agriculture, John Steenhuisen, reflected on the realities South African farmers faced in 2025, highlighting both the steep learning curves and the resilience shown across the sector.

According to the minister, the most significant learning curve of the year emerged from the ongoing battle against animal diseases, with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) standing out as the single greatest challenge. While acknowledging progress, the minister did not underplay the difficulty of managing FMD.

“Animal diseases are not that easy to control, and the foot-and-mouth disease has been the biggest challenge I’ve faced during the course of this year, and really trying to get on top of it,” Steenhuisen said.

Despite these pressures, Steenhuisen closed the year with a strong message of confidence in South African farmers, recognising their determination, diversity and work ethic.

“You are all out there, women, men, young, old, knocking the lights out, doing the best that you can and really showing the world that there’s nothing and nobody that can stand in the way of a South African farmer from achieving their goals,” Steenhuisen said.

A year of progress and partnership

Gauteng MEC for agriculture and rural development, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, has reflected on a year marked by hard work, learning and meaningful progress across the provincial agricultural sector, while extending appreciation to industry partners and media for their role in amplifying farmers’ voices.

“As 2025 draws to a close, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Food For Mzansi for being a trusted voice of the agricultural sector and for consistently telling the stories that matter, those of our farmers, agri-workers, innovators, and communities who keep our food system alive,” Ramokgopa said.

According to Ramokgopa, collaboration with farmers and value-chain partners enabled the department to strengthen household and community food production through the Zero Hunger Gauteng Campaign, expanding access to inputs, training and starter packs to help families grow food where they live.

The province also placed a strong emphasis on agro-processing and the promotion of “Made in Gauteng” products, creating new pathways for local producers to reach consumers, build brands and create jobs.

“Importantly, we continued to champion women and youth in agriculture, celebrating excellence and investing in skills that will sustain the sector for generations,” Ramokgopa said.

While acknowledging progress, she described 2025 as a year of important learning curves, particularly around climate risk. “We were reminded often by the weather itself that climate resilience is not optional,” she said.

Looking to the year ahead, the MEC called on stakeholders across the value chain to deepen partnerships and raise ambition. “To our farmers, thank you for your resilience, your early mornings, and your unwavering commitment to feeding our province.”

Ramokgopa urged agribusinesses, financiers, retailers, researchers and civil society to work more closely to unlock inclusive growth, reduce food waste and scale sustainable practices.

She emphasised that through collaboration, innovation and shared stewardship of the land and communities, it is possible to build a productive, climate-resilient and just food system that upholds the dignity of every farmer and ensures nourishment for all, while looking ahead to a focused and purposeful 2026.