Understanding the impact of US tariff retreat on South African Farmers.

The recent decision by the United States to scale back some of its steep Liberation Day tariffs has offered a modest but welcome reprieve to a portion of South Africa’s agricultural sector.

Yet despite this development, many producers remain exposed to tariff pressures that continue to threaten market access and competitiveness in one of South Africa’s most important export destinations.

As Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa and senior fellow in Stellenbosch University’s Department of Agricultural Economics, has observed, the latest move does little to address the broader vulnerability of the sector. “However, concern remains, since the recent modification only benefits a few agricultural industries and does not address the overall exposure of the sector to the US.”

Higher tariffs are effectively a tax on consumers in the importing country, and American households have been feeling the consequences through increased food prices since the tariffs were introduced earlier this year. Responding to these pressures, Washington has revised its policy by exempting a range of food items an acknowledgement that the original measures have had unintended and inflationary effects.

Among the products now exempt are coffee, tea, fruit juices, cocoa, spices, and a wide selection of fruit including avocados, bananas, coconuts, guavas, limes, oranges, mangoes, plantains, pineapples, tomatoes, various peppers, as well as beef and additional fertiliser products. For South Africa, this adjustment will particularly benefit exporters of oranges, macadamia nuts and fruit juice.

However, other key exports such as table grapes, wine, ostrich products and ice cream are excluded from the tariff relief and must still contend with elevated duties. This remains a concern for producers in regions such as the Western Cape, which depend heavily on the US market despite the relatively modest national share of agricultural exports heading to America. In 2024, the US accounted for around 4% of South Africa’s agricultural exports, valued at US$13.7bn.

South African exporters took advantage of a temporary pause in tariff increases in the second quarter of 2025, accelerating shipments and achieving a 26% year-on-year rise in agricultural exports to the US, reaching $161-million. But uncertainties remain as the country enters the table grape export season, where South Africa already faces a 30% import tariff significantly higher than the rates paid by competitors such as Chile and Peru, who face duties of roughly 10%.

If the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is not renewed, South Africa’s tariff burden could grow further, climbing to around 33% when taking into account the Most Favoured Nation tariff levels that applied before the Liberation Day duties were imposed.

Negotiations with the US continue, but progress is slow. Other major economies, including EU member states and Japan, are still subject to tariff rates of between 15% and 20% even after recent agreements, highlighting the global difficulty of securing meaningful tariff concessions. Complicating matters further are strained diplomatic relations between South Africa and the US, particularly as Washington continues to “spread misinformation about the lies of genocide in South Africa”.

For now, the tariff adjustments introduce only limited relief. Many agricultural industries remain exposed, but the sector continues to diversify exports elsewhere around the world. Improved access to the US market would complement South Africa’s broader ambition to expand global export opportunities and sustain agricultural growth.

Bananas remain central to the Roselands community, forming both a cultural identity and a core source of income.

Banana growers along KwaZulu-Natal’s coast are facing a devastating crisis as Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) tears through plantations, wiping out crops and threatening the livelihoods of rural communities.

The KwaNyuswa Agricultural Farm in Ramsgate has been hit especially hard, losing 3,000 banana plants since February 2025. The farm, which is community-owned, estimates its financial losses at around R500,000 – a blow that places 103 indirect beneficiaries at risk.

KwaZulu-Natal has long been fondly regarded as “kwelikabhanana”, a reflection of the province’s long-standing relationship with banana production. Bananas remain central to the Roselands community, forming both a cultural identity and a core source of income. At KwaNyuswa Agricultural Farm, a 25-hectare operation reclaimed in 2008, bananas have consistently been the flagship crop and the main revenue driver for the Roselands community trust.

That success, however, is now under severe threat. The highly destructive BBTV, which affects both banana and plantain plants, has rapidly spread across the region. The virus causes stunting and a characteristic “bunched” arrangement of newer leaves, which appear narrower and more upright than normal. Infected plants seldom produce fruit, making the disease catastrophic for farmers. Spread by the banana aphid or contaminated planting material, BBTV demands intensive labour for scouting and control—driving production costs sharply upward.

The severity of the outbreak prompted the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Nokuzola Capa, to meet banana growers from the Ugu District Municipality on 26 September 2025. On 12 November, she delivered agrochemicals to commercial, smallholder, and subsistence farmers battling the virus. Capa stressed that “the threat of BBTV in the Ugu District Municipality of KZN has been a persistent issue since 2015” and noted that the department had invested substantial resources in chemical support, adviser training, and community awareness.

These interventions have been welcomed by growers, but many say chemicals alone will not be enough. Sphephelo Ngubane, KwaNyuswa’s manager of farm operations and technical support, told Daily Maverick that replanting is essential for recovery. “We need items that are essential for the recovery of lost yields. This includes banana seedlings, MAP planting fertiliser, top dressing fertiliser, and irrigation input… [and a] packhouse revamp,” he said.

Ngubane emphasised that while the chemicals will help control aphids especially for small-scale farmers ongoing training, scouting, and record-keeping remain critical. “We continuously scout for new or primary symptoms… The most essential thing is to ensure field monitoring through scouting and record keeping… and to follow treatment protocols and recommendations by the research institutions such as ARC,” he said.

He added that more research is desperately needed, noting a lack of accessible information for farmers facing economically damaging diseases. Support from regional organisations such as the South Natal Banana Association has been invaluable, he said.

Ngubane concluded with a reminder of what is at stake for the South Coast: “Bananas are our community’s backbone. If we control BBTV now, we not only save a crop, but a whole rural community.”

Beekeeping protecting food security in South Africa.

South Africa is stepping up efforts to strengthen its beekeeping sector, with Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen reaffirming government’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s honeybee populations and the livelihoods that depend on them.

Speaking at the Beekeeping Awareness Field Day at Oude Raapkraal in Westlake, Cape Town, he described honeybees as “the farmers of the sky,” emphasising their essential yet often overlooked contribution to food security, biodiversity, and rural economies.

Addressing attendees, Steenhuisen highlighted that bees play a far greater role than simply producing honey. “They do not use tractors or ploughs, yet their work ensures that nearly 75% of our food crops bear fruit. In South Africa, bee pollination contributes more than R10 billion every year to agriculture,” he said. This pollination service directly supports the country’s food production system and indirectly fuels job creation across numerous agricultural industries.

Beekeeping, recognised under the Animal Improvement Act (Act No. 62 of 1998) as part of agricultural activity, is closely aligned with several national priorities. These include increased agricultural output, improved food and nutrition security, strengthened biosecurity measures, and improved market access for local producers. However, Steenhuisen warned that multiple threats including habitat loss, prolonged drought, and irresponsible pesticide use are putting bee populations at risk. “When the land stops flowering, bees go hungry, colonies weaken, and honey yields decline,” he cautioned.

He encouraged citizens and farmers to play a role in restoring bee forage. “Imagine if every farm, school, and roadside in South Africa became a bee garden – filled with indigenous plants, fruit trees, and wildflowers,” Steenhuisen said. He also stressed the importance of responsible pesticide management, warning that “spraying at the wrong time, during bloom, can kill thousands of bees overnight.” To mitigate this, the department is promoting integrated pest management and improved communication between farmers and beekeepers.

Beyond pollination, the Minister drew attention to the honey value chain, which holds significant economic potential. South Africa produces up to 2,500 tons of honey per year but consumes nearly twice that amount. As a result, domestic markets rely heavily on imports, with a large portion sourced from China. “We rely heavily on the imports of natural honey, with more than 80% of our imported honey coming from China… Since there is such a high demand for this product, we have seen an increase of very poor quality and sometimes adulterated honey,” Steenhuisen said.

To protect consumers and support local producers, the Department of Agriculture’s Inspection Services will conduct an operation in December to remove mislabelled or counterfeit honey products from shop shelves. Steenhuisen said these efforts form part of a broader initiative to build a trustworthy, competitive, and locally driven honey sector.

Progress is also being made in research and biosecurity. Key priorities include the development of a National Beekeeping/Apiculture Strategy, an American foulbrood (AFB) Management and Response Strategy, a national Bee Forage Strategy, and the finalisation of the Residue Monitoring Plan required for honey exports to the EU. The department has also revived the Honey Value Chain Round-Table Forum and re-established cooperation with the South African Bee Industry Organisation (SABIO). In addition, the Agricultural Research Council has been commissioned to conduct a national survey on AFB as part of its mandate to protect beekeeping and pollination services.

“Our task is clear - to protect these pollinators, nurture our beekeepers, and grow South Africa's honey industry into a model of sustainability and pride. Together, we can make sure that the hum of the honeybee continues to be the sound of life, abundance, and hope for generations to come.”

Uganda’s identity will feature prominently in Cotti Coffee advertising across major Asian cities.

Uganda’s coffee sector has recorded a significant milestone after local exporters clinched trade deals worth US$3mn during the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.

The event, held from 5–10 November, saw Uganda’s coffee take centre stage as four prominent exporters — Meg Rae Coffee, Kwezi Coffee, Inspire Africa, and Elgon Coffee — showcased both green and roasted varieties. Their participation was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), which coordinated the national pavilion under the theme “Agriculture–Tourism–Prosperity.”

Uganda’s stand quickly became one of the busiest in the agricultural hall, drawing interest from commercial buyers, roasters, retailers, and global logistics companies. Officials from MAAIF also held strategic engagements with Chinese traders and took part in discussions on digital innovation in the coffee value chain and import policies for developing economies.

A key highlight from the Expo was the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with Cotti Coffee, currently the world’s fastest-growing coffee retail chain with more than 7,500 shops across 28 countries. This partnership marks a transformative step for Uganda as it opens a direct link between Ugandan coffee farmers and one of Asia’s most dynamic consumer markets.

The MoU, signed between MAAIF and Cotti Supply Chain (Anhui) Ltd, focuses on promoting Uganda’s coffee brand throughout China and internationally. It includes provisions for joint marketing campaigns, farmer training initiatives, technology transfer, and investment in value addition  particularly in post-harvest handling and agro-processing to enhance quality.

In a statement, MAAIF emphasised that the partnership aims to “redefine how the world experiences Ugandan coffee,” ensuring farmers benefit from better market access and global visibility. Cotti Coffee executives praised Uganda as a reliable partner renowned for quality beans, ethical sourcing, and ideal growing conditions.

Uganda’s coffee exports to China have already surged by 190% in 2025, with beverages made from Ugandan beans trending across Chinese cafés and social media platforms. As China’s coffee market is expected to exceed US$45bn by 2030, this collaboration offers Uganda a powerful gateway into one of the world’s fastest-growing coffee economies.

Uganda was represented at CIIE by 28 exporters from the coffee and wider agricultural sectors. The government continues to invest heavily in coffee production through seedling distribution, farmer training programmes, irrigation expansion, research, and global branding.

Under the new partnership, Uganda’s identity will feature prominently in Cotti Coffee advertising across major Asian cities such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Singapore. This visibility is expected to drive export earnings, create new employment opportunities, and strengthen ties between Uganda’s rural farming communities and millions of coffee lovers across Asia.