Just got sent this by someone about to board a flight, saying they will read it! 😎🚀 The book is available in all major bookstores and ebook platforms, if you haven't read it, folks.
Challenges like these have long pushed us to advocate for improved seed cultivars, the adoption of technology, and improvements in land governance and infrastructure, among other things, to support Africa's farming sector.
Australia is one of the countries that helps us supplement our domestic wheat needs (South Africa). So, it is always important to observe developments in their wheat industry. This chart shows the production prospects. South Africa imports half of its annual wheat needs.
India has seen an impressive increase in rice production and now dominates global rice supplies. India now accounts for 29% of global rice production. The global rice harvest is estimated at 543 million tonnes in the 2026-27 season, down 1% year-on-year. China is the second-largest producer.
South Africa exported 20,813 tonnes of maize last week, with about 27% to Botswana, 22% to Zimbabwe, and the rest to other neighbouring countries.
South Africa’s 2025/26 COTTON crop is forecast to be 16% up in total planted hectares compared to 2024/25. Total production is forecast to rise by 26% to 78 738 bales.
SOUTH AFRICA EXPORTED 50,998 TONNES OF MAIZE LAST WEEK. About 60% went to Vietnam, 13% to Zimbabwe, and the rest to neighbouring countries.
South Africa has 168 million chickens. Here is the provincial view.
SOUTH AFRICA EXPORTED 66,188 TONNES OF MAIZE LAST WEEK. --About 77% of the exports went to Vietnam and the rest to neighbouring countries. --In the 2026-27 marketing year, South Africa could export roughly 3 million tonnes of maize. This would be up from 2 million tonnes in the past season.
Folks, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Mr Nhleko’s new book, “The Invisible People”.
This is how we consume our avocados in South Africa. About 82% is fresh avocados and 18% are processed to mainly oil and guacamole.
Folks, Farming is fashion! If you don’t believe me, next year go to the KAROO WOOL FESTIVAL in the Eastern Cape. It is one of the few areas where one can truly appreciate the entire value chain of the sheep industry.
So, folks, whenever I talk about SORGHUM, I often hear how much people enjoy it and how nutritious it is. But the truth is that we are just not BUYING many sorghum products. DEMAND FOR SORGHUM IS WEAK, and now farmers are planting less of it.
MAP OF DECIDUOUS FRUIT PRODUCTION AREAS IN SOUTH AFRICA The Western Cape is the largest apple-producing area in South Africa and, together with the Eastern Cape province, accounts for more than 95% of apple production.
I am grateful to the people who have read my newsletter over the past year. These views are encouraging. I write this regular newsletter on agricultural economic and trade matters, mainly focused on South Africa and the region. You can subscribe for free to receive it in your mailbox.
The increase in South Africa’s pork production has played a notable role in reducing pork product imports as a share of our annual consumption. Since the 2010s, we’ve seen a notable increase in domestic pork production.