By Ntambo Mabuza
As part of its 2025 Congress last week, the voice of organised agriculture, AgriSA, brought together dozens of farmers, agribusiness representatives, and other industry stakeholders to reflect on the future of agriculture. Formerly known as the South African Agricultural Union, founded in 1904, AgriSA has evolved in both spirit and structure to represent the interests of farmers in the post-1994 democratic dispensation.
The 2025 AgriSA Congress adopted the theme “Atlas for the Future of Agriculture,” which AgriSA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Johann Kotze said symbolises more than a map — it is a strategic framework for guiding the sector through a period of transformation and uncertainty. “[An atlas represents] a guide through familiar territory, a shared record of where we have come from, and a chart of the responsibilities that lie ahead,” Kotze explained.
Over the past 30 years, the agricultural sector has doubled its output while making significant contributions to the national economy and employment creation. Data shared with delegates at the Congress highlighted that the sector is not only weathering the storms of rising input costs and the crippling impact of foot-and-mouth disease but continues to grow. With a 15.8% growth rate recorded in the first quarter of 2025, the sector outperformed traditional anchor industries such as manufacturing, mining, electricity, and construction by substantial margins. Exports of agricultural products also rose by an impressive 6%, valued at R61 billion in the same period.
Speaking via video link, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen attributed this performance to the dedication of farmers. “My job as Minister of Agriculture is not to farm — that’s up to you and your members. It’s my job to create an enabling environment that allows you to succeed,” he said. Ahead of the adoption of Congress resolutions and the election of a new AgriSA leadership, delegates heard expert inputs on a wide range of issues — from biosecurity and carbon trading to
the diversification of international markets for agricultural products. Yet, the risk with high-level speeches and presentations is that the lived realities of farmers can often be overlooked.
Fortunately, the Congress programme provided space for farmers to share their achievements, challenges, and insights. One farmer described how changing weather patterns due to climate change had resulted in the loss of crops for three consecutive seasons. A sugarcane farmer from KwaZulu-Natal described how unusual floods had destroyed her crops and eroded the fragile road infrastructure critical for transporting goods to market.
However, it was the spirited address by Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO, Busisiwe Mavuso, that left the strongest impression on delegates. Her speech highlighted not only the lobbying and advocacy role that organisations such as AgriSA play in policy-making but also their active role in developing sustainable solutions for the daily challenges facing farmers.
Tackling the “elephant in the room” — South Africa’s political and governance environment —Mavuso called for the need to “de-risk the economy from politics” through decisive policy reforms that enable the private sector to address the country’s mounting socio-economic challenges. She cited progress in the energy and transport logistics sectors as examples of where private-sector participation can stabilise critical infrastructure.
Mavuso further referenced the State Capture Commission and the Madlanga Commission, highlighting how politically driven ineptitude and graft have crippled economic performance. She argued that creating legal and operational space for the private sector in key sectors like energy and transport would help ensure that when politics fail, the economy does not suffer. “We need institutions that function independently and are not affected by political turmoil,” she said.
Also addressing the Congress was Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, Mooketsa Ramasodi, who urged recognition of both the sector’s achievements and the government’s role in supporting growth. He noted that the sector’s success over the past 30 years has been aided by policies that deregulated and liberalised formerly state-controlled agricultural entities.
DG Ramasodi cautioned that while increasing the private sector’s role is important, policy- makers must not lose sight of rampant inequality, poverty, and unemployment in South Africa. “It is also important that while we celebrate these developments, we examine their outcomes from a food security perspective, which remains concerning. We must ensure that food is sufficient, affordable, and accessible to all,” he said.
