SA Rooibos exports to China go tariff free
The South African Rooibos Council (SARC) has welcomed China’s decision to introduce tariff-free access for Rooibos imports from African countries, describing it as a major opportunity to grow exports in the world’s largest tea-consuming market.
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Sucking pests: the silent threat to soya bean crops
With the expansion of soya bean cultivation in South Africa, growers must prioritise biocontrol for pest risk mitigation. Gustav Venter, technical lead of Insecticides at Syngenta, says the often-underestimated threat of sucking pests in soya bean crops can be managed with early scouting, identification, and thorough chemical control with integrated pest management.
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Flower to freight: an inside look at commercial litchi production
Local litchi producers compete with Madagascar and Mauritius during the counter-seasonal summer harvest. To meet global demand, production chains must stay efficient, says Jaco Henery, production manager at Komati Fruits, who explains how they manage their harvest for exports.
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Precision and discipline drive success on Northern Cape raisin farm
Albertus van der Merwe, Raisins South Africa’s Most Improved Grower of the Year in 2025, balances multiple farming ventures while maintaining precision, performance, and a people-focused approach.
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Optimism grows as SA’s 2026 wine harvest outlook improves
South Africa’s wine industry is heading into the final stretch of the 2026 harvest with renewed optimism, as improved crop estimates and encouraging early quality indicators point to a stronger season than initially expected.
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South Africa targets multibillion-rand pistachio industry
South Africa is aiming to develop a multibillion-rand pistachio sector, with ambitions to produce up to 60,000 tonnes annually and secure 5–8% of the global market within the next decade. The country could become one of the top six or seven producers worldwide.
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Wise spending is crucial for grain farmers’ survival
Amid shrinking grain incomes, double-digit input cost increases, and uncertain weather, farmers should make every hectare count, says Swartland agricultural economist Suzanne Lureman.
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Homegrown innovation is the key to Africa’s agricultural future.
For Africa to thrive, it must enhance its scientific capacity, foster regional collaboration networks and create innovations suited to local realities. Africa’s long-term agricultural resilience must be rooted in its own research and innovation systems. That was the strong consensus that emerged during a recent panel hosted by Corteva Agriscience in Johannesburg. The high-level discussion…
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Soil erosion: Prevention is far more effective than cure
With the current focus on regenerative farming, we seem to have forgotten about an old threat: soil erosion. In many ways, it’s the exact opposite of regeneration. While erosion is a natural process, mismanagement can cause soil built up over millions of years to be washed or blown away in a day, often irreversibly. Back…
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Glyphosate disrupts honey bee gut bacteria
Weed killer’s microbiome effects could contribute to honey bee decline, researchers say.
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