Addressing the agriculture, food security, and climate change nexus is an economic imperative

WHILE South Africa faces many social and economic challenges, such as food insecurity and high unemployment rates, agriculture remains a vital economic sector for our growth, development and sustainable livelihoods.

- JANSE RABIE

The stakes are exceptionally high as the effects of climate change continue to ripple across various economic sectors. Addressing this crisis is no longer about environmental stewardship but an imperative to ensure equity, resilience, and prosperity for all South Africans.

Our agricultural sector is already bearing the brunt of a rapidly changing climate including as a result of disruptions in value chains which the sector needs to operate with optimally productivity. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and storms are now commonplace.

These disruptions reduce yields, shift growing seasons, and exacerbate pest and disease outbreaks, significantly impacting both crop and livestock productivity. For livestock farmers, heat stress, water scarcity, and a rise in vector-borne diseases pose direct threats to animal health and productivity with catastrophic impacts

Farmers, rural communities, and policymakers face an urgent challenge: how to sustainably safeguard our food systems and livelihoods against the relentless impacts.

The duality of South African agricultural sector

The agricultural landscape in South Africa is distinctly dualistic, highlighting significant disparities in productivity and resilience. Despite being positioned mid-tier globally in food security, the country experiences profound inequality within its agricultural sector.

According to a Statistics South Africa 2022 Report, approximately 107 112 households rely primarily on agriculture for income (a decline of nearly 20% since 2016).