Market diversity is essential for SA’s agricultural exports amid geopolitics and trade risks

POST-APARTHEID era trade agreements like the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and numerous other multilateral and bilateral trade agreements have contributed to a significant increase in agricultural exports from $22.4 billion in 2004 to $125 billion in 2023.

- DR SIMPHIWE NGQANGWENI

Due to the recent rate of output growth, increased efforts through the implementation of the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP), industry-specific master plans, and various transformative initiatives, the agricultural sector seeks to position itself to increase further as a new generation of farmers enters the commercial space.

This calls for the exploration of new markets, but it is crucial to emphasise that while the country navigates the global arena to open more markets, markets must be diversified as possible in order to lower the risk associated with trade disputes.