Unused crops could form the basis of climate-resilient agriculture in South Africa

For producers looking to diversify their business, the opportunity for growth does not always require participation in saturated primary commodity markets. South Africa offers a range of developing and underutilized crops, where growing demand, specialized production, and significant gaps between local supply and consumption create high value-added entry points.

According to data gathered by specialists, researchers, and farmers consulted by the organization Food For Mzansi, there are six types of raw materials worth exploring for agricultural expansion.

The developing cannabis sector in South Africa presents diverse opportunities in grains, fibers, flowers, and industrial materials. However, Ayanda Bam, CEO of Zageta Solutions, advises farmers to secure a target market before planting seeds.

Growing cannabis requires specialized genetics, local processing infrastructure, permits, and reliable buyers. A demand-driven strategy makes cannabis a viable option for farm diversification, especially for those willing to operate within a forming regulatory landscape. The key takeaway is to establish sales agreements and obtain processing permits before sowing.

A Western Cape producer, Roland Trout, views local flora as a premium opportunity, allowing farm diversification to align with growing global demand for organically grown flowers. Protea, fynbos, Watsonia, and Agapanthus are sought after by both local florists and profitable international buyers.

In 2021, South Africa exported cut flowers worth over 1.7 billion rand. Trout notes that well-managed protea groves can yield over 100,000 rand per hectare annually. Nevertheless, producers should start with trial plots to test local microclimates before scaling up.

Dry beans represent one of the most obvious shortages in the South African agricultural market. Lucia Ndlela, a PhD in crop science and researcher at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), highlights the suitability of this crop for both smallholder beginners and established commercial enterprises.

Approximately 70,400 tonnes of dry beans are produced annually in South Africa, while domestic consumption stands at around 114,000 tonnes. This means local farms only meet 61% of national demand. Closing this gap requires selecting appropriate varieties, proper soil preparation, and strict disease management.

Agronomist and PhD Hamond Motsi describes sorghum as a resilient crop with exceptional nutritional, cultural, and economic potential. Although 130,000 to 150,000 hectares are cultivated annually in South Africa, there remains significant potential for expansion in grain, feed, and sweet sorghum value chains.

Sorghum's superior drought resistance and lower resource costs compared to maize make it an ideal candidate for water-stressed regions and rising fertilizer expenses. Furthermore, growing consumer demand for gluten-free health foods opens new commercial avenues beyond traditional beer and cereal markets.

Essential oils offer another specialized, high value-added direction for farm diversification. Karen Swanepoel, CEO of the South African Essential Oils Producers Association (SAEOPA), notes that the industry in South Africa is small but steadily growing, offering commercial opportunities in crops such as eucalyptus, citrus, tea tree, buchu, rosemary, lavender, and pink geranium.

Instead of competing with large global producers on volume, South African producers can compete on oil quality, purity, and origin authenticity. Organic certification further opens pathways to premium export markets. Essential oil crops also allow for amelioration, and steam distillation generates additional income through hydrosols (floral waters). However, producers cultivating indigenous species must comply with environmental permits and Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) regulations.

Swanepoel emphasizes: 'The main opportunity lies in producing high-quality, fully traceable oils for specific markets, rather than just chasing raw biomass volumes.'

Growing pecans is not a short-term cash crop but, according to experienced producer Richard Ball, a multi-generational investment in heritage. Unlike perishable fruits or vegetables, pecans can be dried, stored, and strategically sold when prices are favorable.

However, pecan cultivation requires suitable deep soils, precise orchard planning, and long-term financial patience, as trees need 12–15 years to reach full commercial productivity.

In conclusion, the true commercial opportunity in niche agriculture lies where there is clear market demand, limited local supply, and a functional value chain supporting new entrants. Before planting anything, producers must thoroughly assess buyers, crop requirements, processing logistics, regulatory barriers, and startup capital. These crops offer strong paths for farm diversification for those willing to start small, test local growing conditions, and align production with market demand.

The South African agricultural sector is entering a period of consolidation as falling commodity prices, rising production costs, and limited consumer demand are expected to put pressure on producers. Nevertheless, opportunities for growth exist in export markets, productivity gains, and higher value-added products.

These findings were presented at the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy's (BFAP) baseline agricultural policy forecast presentation for 2026 in Pretoria. The report analyzes the sector's trajectory over the next decade, considering the long-term future of agriculture up to 2050.

Speaking at the main report, Minister of Agriculture William Aukamp stated that farmers possess the necessary knowledge to stimulate growth in the agricultural sector, and the government's role is to create a favorable environment. Aukamp emphasized that farmers are world-class and fully knowledgeable about their operations.

He insisted that the government should focus on removing obstacles rather than creating additional administrative burdens. The Minister assured that the government's responsibility is to facilitate farmers' work, and he personally commits to this.

Furthermore, Aukamp called for increased collaboration between industry and government, especially when there are disagreements, in addressing issues such as animal diseases, infrastructure, market access, and export growth.

BFAP Director and founder, Professor Ferdie Meyer, thanked BFAP partners for their support and contribution. In turn, BFAP Director and Commodity Markets and Futures Manager, Dr. Tracy Davis, noted that the forecast must be viewed in the context of an increasingly volatile environment shaped by geopolitical tensions, climate phenomena, animal diseases, changing trade conditions, and rising compliance costs.

Davis stressed the need to look beyond current market fluctuations and determine the fundamental direction of the sector's development. She also questioned how this direction could be influenced, changed, and how growth potential could be maximized in the future.

Despite the challenges, agriculture demonstrates resilience. Between 2011 and 2025, the sector grew at an average rate three times faster than the entire economy, even with weak economic development and repeated shocks.

Crop production is expected to face significant short-term pressure following a strong cycle of production and prices. Commodity prices have dropped sharply while high resource costs narrow profit margins. BFAP forecasts that some of the acreage expansion achieved during the high-price period will be reversed, although only about half of the nearly 700,000 hectares added is expected to be lost.

Yield increases in crops such as maize, soy, sunflower, and rapeseed have helped producers remain viable at lower prices. Davis linked this growth to the adoption of conservation agriculture, irrigation, precision technologies, investment in machinery, and improved seed varieties. Most major cereal crops have also transitioned to being net exporters. According to Davis, future growth will increasingly depend on productivity, as acreage expansion remains relatively stable, and commodity prices are expected to rise slower than inflation.

Sugar remains under pressure due to a significant reduction in planting area over the last decade. BFAP expects stabilization at a lower level, while bioenergy may provide an alternative source of demand.

According to Davis, livestock prospects are more positive due to reduced feed costs, which improves profitability. International meat prices have also risen: the FAO meat price index is up 18% compared to five years ago and 4% compared to the previous year. Animal diseases remain the main constraint on export growth. BFAP forecasts annual meat production growth of approximately 1.5%–2%, with faster growth possible if disease risks are reduced and access to premium export markets is improved.

Poultry remains the country's largest meat sector and a net importer, although local producers have reduced imports of mechanically deboned meat. The next step, according to Davis, is the transition from import substitution to export. Beef is increasingly moving towards premiumization, with higher-value cuts making up a growing share of exports.

Horticulture remains a key driver of growth: production is expected to increase by over 20%, and exports by approximately 24% over the next decade. Growth will mainly depend on yield improvements, orchard maturation, variety enhancement, and meeting export standards, while water resources and rising input costs remain constraints. Port delays also pose a risk to fruit exporters. With weak domestic consumer demand, export markets will remain crucial for the sector's future growth.

BFAP analyst Khani Baloyi highlighted the importance of including often overlooked farmers in the narrative of sectoral transformation. She noted that over 100,000 households produce for sale, and about two million households engage in subsistence farming, yet much of this activity remains unregistered and undervalued. Baloyi concluded that as a sector, they must better tell the story of transformation.

Amidst ongoing winter weather sweeping across South Africa, a potent combination of a cold front and an upper cut-off low brought severe cold, snow, and damaging winds. Although social media circulated videos showing dramatic snowfalls and some farmers reported isolated livestock fatalities, many producers expressed relief as the most intense extreme conditions subsided.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) indicated that the nation experienced typical yet harsh winter conditions this past week. Wet, frigid, and windy weather affected the southern regions of Free State, Northern Cape, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga, as well as the interior areas of Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

Despite the seriousness of the official warnings, reports gathered from farmers on the ground suggested that agricultural damage remained mostly localized. Eben du Plessis, who is a sheep farmer and a spokesperson for Eastern Cape Agriculture, observed that the weather proved to be a mixed outcome rather than a complete catastrophe for local producers.

Du Plessis stated that the snow had cleared, though the cold persisted. He mentioned experiencing good snowfall alongside icy winds and some rain in his area, noting that he had not heard of any major issues, although he did lose six lambs born during the cold. He added that roads were open and they were prepared for spring.

For those cultivating crops in the region, the increased moisture was beneficial. Thulani Magida, a crop farmer located in the Eastern Cape, confirmed that the weather did not harm his operations. He explained that receiving 30 mm of rain was advantageous for his cabbage crop and allowed him to begin preparing the land for September plantings.

In the Free State, Llewellyn Louw, a poultry farmer in Jacobsdal, managed to avoid substantial storm damage when gale-force winds struck his farm, causing only a roof sheet on his poultry structure to bend while the remainder of his operation remained sound. Similarly, Bongeka Vilakazi in KwaZulu-Natal reported that the rain did not significantly impact them, causing only minor damage to their yard.

Even as the immediate atmospheric danger lessens, specialists caution that severe winter weather events create lasting effects on soil health, necessitating active management by farmers. Hamond Motsi, a soil scientist, elaborated that different weather extremes affect soil in unique ways, but heavy rainfall frequently incurs hidden expenses.

Motsi detailed that heavy rain results in soil erosion, which means the removal of topsoil. Since this soil contains essential nutrients and applied fertilizers, these elements get washed away. Furthermore, heavy rain causes leaching, pushing nutrients below the reach of plant roots, thereby creating a sustained negative influence on both current and future harvests.

Regarding snowfall, Motsi pointed out that the main hazard stems from extremely low temperatures rather than the snow itself. He clarified that because snow occurs during winter, farmers typically do not cultivate crops that are highly vulnerable to such low temperatures.

To protect soil structure and sustain land productivity following severe weather, Motsi recommended that producers adopt preventative conservation methods. He stressed that employing permanent soil cover, returning crop residues to the fields, and utilizing crop rotation are crucial actions to mitigate erosion and nutrient leaching during heavy downpours. The protective layer formed by plant residue helps absorb the force of raindrops and keeps the soil anchored.

For those raising livestock, managing grazing land after winter storms is equally important. Motsi advised that farmers must implement a proper grazing rotation strategy in grazing fields. Systematically moving animals between different camps allows pastures time to recover, and moving livestock before the grass is entirely depleted helps keep the soil protected.

As conditions improve across the interior, Motsi urged farmers to remain alert, regularly inspect their fields for signs of nutrient loss or erosion, and continue obtaining updates from dependable weather services as the season shifts toward spring.