Beyond tariffs and currency swings: The case for building farms that last
By Dawie Maree, Head of Information and MarketingWinter grain and livestock farmers in the Southern Cape are navigating a world where disruption has...
GDP growth undergoes a material moderation in 2Q26
By Thanda Sithole, FNB & WesBank Senior EconomistReal GDP growth moderated materially to -0.2% quarter-on-quarter (q/q) (seasonally adjusted) in 2Q26, from a downwardly...
From Farm Records to Credit: Making African Agriculture Bankable
BY : Christopher Burke Senior Advisor, WMC AfricaA farmer may have delivered cocoa, maize, coffee or milk to the same buyer for years. A...
Farmers Face Fresh Cost Squeeze as Diesel Prices Climb 50%
By Paul Makube, Senior Agricultural Economist, FNB CommercialSouth Africa’s sharp September fuel-price increase has arrived at a sensitive time for agriculture, just weeks before...
Following the Water: Tracing Climate Change from African Rivers to the Ocean
A conversation with 2026 Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Research Grant finalist Dr. Gabriel Akoko Juma
Water does not recognise the boundaries we have drawn on maps.Rain...
OPINION: The BPO Advantage — Turning Packhouse Seasonality Into Year-Round Efficiency
By George Bofilatos, Solutions Specialist at Programmed Process Outsourcing (PPO)Ask any manager in an agricultural packhouse about peak season, and the response is often...
Food inflation at a 16-year low on bumper harvests in July 2026
By Paul Makube, Senior Agricultural Economist, FNB Commercial South Africa’s headline inflation slowed to 4.3% year-on-year (y/y) in July 2026 from 5.0% y/y in June,...
Labour-market weakness raises questions over household resilience
The labour market weakened further in 2Q26, reinforcing the view that household spending power remains constrained. South Africa’s official unemployment rate increased to 33.6%...
Beyond Beans and Seeds: Regulation through African Export Value Chains
Christopher Burke Senior Advisor, WMC AfricaCoffee, cocoa and sesame are regularly cited as commodities moving from African farms to overseas consumers. The description captures...
Securing South Africa’s Agricultural Future Through Water-Wise Practices
By Dr Jennifer Balatedi Molwantwa, CEO, Water Research Commission (WRC)As the CEO of the Water Research Commission, I have the privilege and the sobering...