The director-general of the department of agriculture, Mooketsa Ramasodi, will deliver the keynote address at the 2025 Agricultural Transformation Lekgotla, taking place on Wednesday, 13 August 2025 at Batter Boys in Pretoria.
Under the theme “Redefining South Africa’s agricultural future,” the one-day event will confront one of the most pressing issues in the sector: the slow pace of meaningful transformation. Three decades into democracy, the structure of South African agriculture continues to reflect historical inequalities, with black farmers still vastly underrepresented across nearly every major commodity.
Recent figures shared by Agbiz chief economist Wandile Sihlobo and agricultural economist Professor Johann Kirsten paint a sobering picture. Black producers currently contribute just 4.7% of South Africa’s maize, 3.1% of soybeans, and 1.3% of wheat.
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Even in higher-value sectors such as citrus and deciduous fruits, black farmers remain on the margins, accounting for only 12.8% and 10.2% of production respectively. In cattle farming, their contribution sits at 34%, signalling persistent structural barriers that prevent equitable participation in the agricultural economy.
Few gains for black farmers despite years of promises
This lekgotla, hosted by Food For Mzansi, aims to move beyond rhetoric. It is a platform for open, often difficult conversations between farmers, policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, funders, and development organisations. The goal: to examine why transformation has stalled, and what practical, urgent steps are required to reshape the sector.
“Transformation in agriculture cannot remain a vague aspiration. The data is damning, and we need to ask why so little has changed,” says Food For Mzansi co-founder Ivor Price. “This event is about convening people who are serious about change and willing to help drive it.”
Delegates will hear from voices across the agricultural value chain, including producers and commodity leaders who will share hard-earned insights into the sector’s transformation challenges and opportunities.
With Ramasodi setting the tone in his keynote, the event is expected to spark candid dialogue around land access, access to finance, inclusion in commercial value chains, and the policy interventions needed to level the playing field.
The 2025 Agricultural Transformation Lekgotla is open to farmers and agripreneurs seeking to understand and influence the direction of the sector, as well as academics, policymakers, investors, and farmer support organisations committed to realising agricultural equity in South Africa.
Tickets are priced at R575 and include access to the full programme of discussions, networking opportunities, and engagements that will shape the future of inclusive agriculture.
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