Agriculture is one of the most resilient and adapting sectors within the South African economy. The sector’s adaptability and agility were demonstrated by a strong positive growth in the past three years despite the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 lockdown regulations, floods and the social unrest in parts of Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal province.

The Agricultural Research Council, in partnership with the National Agricultural Marketing Council, is conducting a study on cassava production in South Africa. Thus far, we have discovered that most cassava in the country is produced by small-scale farmers in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo for home consumption.

In December 2022, 24 of 28 food items had price increases that exceeded the South African Reserve Bank’s 6% inflation target, with onions (47.0%), followed by apples (32.7%), sunflower oil (28.1%), maize meal (27.0%) and Ceylon/black tea (24.3%) leading the way.