Agriculture remains one of the most important pillars of South Africa’s economy, supporting food security, rural livelihoods, and export earnings. However, the sector is increasingly operating under pressure from climate volatility.
Recent floods across parts of the country have once again exposed the vulnerability of farming infrastructure, livestock, and production cycles.
According to Caesar Balona, head of risk intelligence and engineering at Old Mutual Insure, the agriculture sector is experiencing a structural shift in risk patterns driven by climate change.
“Farmers are no longer dealing with isolated weather events. What we are seeing is a sustained increase in climate variability, more intense rainfall events, prolonged drought cycles, heat stress on crops and livestock, and infrastructure damage that compounds over time,” he said.
Integrated risk strategy builds resilience
Balona added that the flooding events have highlighted how quickly capital investment on farms can be disrupted.
“When extreme weather hits, the impact is rarely confined to a single area. It affects production, infrastructure, transport routes, livestock systems, and water management simultaneously. Recovery is therefore not linear; it is systemic, and often far more complex than anticipated.”
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This requires a stronger emphasis on risk intelligence, early warning systems, diversified farming practices, infrastructure maintenance, and financial preparedness, all working together as part of a broader resilience strategy.
“Our internal climate-risk modelling does also help inform, guide and enhance these initiatives, ensuring that interventions are targeted where they can have the greatest impact,” Balona said.
He explained that resilience is not a single intervention but a combination of planning, protection, adaptation, and collaboration across multiple parts of the agricultural value chain.
Protection, preparedness, and long-term planning
Balona emphasised that the long-term sustainability of the sector will depend on coordinated action between farmers, the private sector, and the government.
“No single stakeholder can address these risks alone. Farmers bring production expertise and land stewardship. The private sector contributes risk analysis, capital support, and innovation. And the government provides infrastructure, regulation, and policy direction. When these elements are aligned, resilience becomes achievable at scale.”
He pointed out that the agricultural community is one of continuity and responsibility. “Farming is generational. It is built over decades of investment, resilience, and commitment. But climate risk does not respect that timeline.
“That is why the focus must be on protection, preparedness, and long-term thinking to ensure that farming players can withstand shocks and continue operating for the next generation.”
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