Netafim's precision drip irrigation is a game-changer for Kenyan farmers, saving up to half the water and cutting energy costs. It delivers nutrients directly to the plant's roots, ensuring higher yields and better crop quality, even in dry seasons.

In Deelpan, North West, a community-driven farming model is reshaping lives. Seriti Institute’s Multi-Functional Agri-Node (MFAN) has improved food security, created hundreds of jobs, and built resilience through climate-smart farming.

Grain farmers, are you ready for a new income stream? A pilot for the Smart Climate Ag programme successfully issued over 26 000 verified carbon credits to three maize farmers. Farmers receive 100% of the carbon-credit sales revenue.

The South African citrus industry had a bumper 2025 season, and there are even brighter days ahead. The US has granted new tariff exemptions for SA oranges, helping farmers stay competitive and boosting job creation.

The global demand for nutrient-rich dandelion greens and herbal supplements is on the rise. Experts say farmers can tap into this lucrative market by selling fresh leaves or value-added products like caffeine-free coffee substitutes from roasted roots.

Precision agriculture is key to modern farming. Pannar Seed’s Panagri™ research programme utilises tools like yield maps and satellite imagery to analyse crops, inputs, soil, and weather. This helps farmers make smarter, data-driven decisions for better returns. 

South Africa’s wine industry isn’t just about vineyards; it’s about people, creativity, and transformation. At the Gastrotour project workshop in Stellenbosch, stakeholders explored how innovation and digital tools can boost wine tourism and empower workers across the value chain.

Woolworths' exceptional cheese range triumphed at the World Cheese Awards, taking home 10 awards. Competing against over 5 000 cheeses, their local suppliers earned five bronze, one silver, three gold, and an outstanding super gold.

Is your soil truly alive? Healthy soil is non-negotiable for crop performance and farm resilience. Learn from lead agronomist Dikgang Molebatsi why soil organic matter is crucial for water retention, nutrient supply, and a strong soil structure.

At the Climate Change and Agriculture Summit, leaders called for a shift toward climate-smart farming and indigenous crops. Experts warned that South Africa’s food security depends on small-scale farmers who can adapt, innovate, and rebuild resilience in the face of extreme weather and rising costs.

South Africa’s agriculture sector continues to shine in 2025. Favourable weather, strong overseas demand, and improved port efficiency have boosted agricultural exports, led by citrus, maize, wine, nuts, and fresh fruit.

Africa loses over a third of its locally produced food before it even reaches consumers. At next week’s African Agri Investment Indaba, Bühler Southern Africa will reveal how smart silo technology can change that, reducing post-harvest losses through real-time monitoring and automation.

The 2025 National Master Dairyman Awards united South Africa’s dairy champions at Lanzerac Estate in Stellenbosch, honouring 25 finalists for their vital contributions and celebrating three exceptional winners shaping the future of the industry. The annual competition also celebrates winners across multiple categories for excellence in breeding genetically superior animals, utilising performance recording, and applying rigorous testing methods. This year, the awards introduced a new category, the ARC Correctional Services Master Dairyman of the Year, highlighting correctional services managers who are pioneering farming initiatives within correctional facilities. Farming hope behind bars…

Kyle-Jones Middleton left a corporate career to lead African Joy Farm, blending business acumen with a 20-year legacy. He's redefined modern agriculture, cultivating not just maize and pecans, but a vision of black excellence in farming.

Heavier rains and high heat are increasing the threat of animal diseases like African Swine Fever and lumpy skin disease, while foot-and-mouth disease continues to wreak havoc across South Africa. Farmers are urged to check their herds regularly and maintain strong biosecurity measures.

This week in agriculture: don’t miss the GastroTour workshop, a hands-on pig production short course and Agri Skills Transfer’s open days. Want your event featured on the Food For Mzansi weekly calendar? Email info@foodformzansi.co.za. It may be a quieter week on the farming calendar, but there are still some important events to add to your schedule. From hands-on pig production training and a GastroTour workshop and the launch of the ASSAf Food Safety Forum, there are plenty of opportunities to learn, connect, and stay ahead in agriculture. Also, don’t forget. Early-bird tickets for the 2026 Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba are now on sale.

Move over, boring lunchboxes. There’s a new kid in town! South Africa’s leading pork producer, Eskort, has just launched Kiddos, the country’s first-ever pork range made especially for children aged 3 to 13. Think of it as protein with personality — YUMarrific, CHOMPalistic, SCRUMPtiously MUNCHeous food that’s as fun as it is flavourful. The new range is designed to make mealtimes magical for little ones while keeping things easy for busy parents. With six playful products, Flingas, Tootsies, Smashies, Wim Wams, Tonkies and Cheesy Wiggles, Eskort Kiddos is all about turning ordinary eating into a mini adventure.

Climate change is hitting smallholder farmers in Africa hard, from droughts to floods. Picture-based insurance, AI verification, and flexible weather coverage could protect livelihoods. Experts now urge South Africa’s G20 presidency to lead the way in expanding these innovations.

Pesticides are essential for protecting crops, but how you move them to, on, and from your farm matters just as much as how you store them. Every Saturday, Food For Mzansi shares practical tips for farmers and farm workers and this week, it’s all about safe pesticide transportation according to the law.If a pesticide has a UN number printed on its label, it’s classified as a regulated or dangerous good, according to CropLife South Africa. While commercial transport of these products is heavily controlled, bona fide farmers get exemptions under the National Road Traffic Act — as long as certain conditions are met.

Civil society groups are demanding Parliament act on failed farmworker equity schemes, citing wasted funds and a lack of transparency. Despite R700 million in public funding, many workers say they’ve seen no dividends or ownership benefits.

Just days after his sudden death at 42, North West farmer Nkosana Mtimkulu was posthumously awarded the New Entrant to Commercial Agriculture 2025 award, a national honour presented at last night’s Agricultural Writers SA (AWSA) Awards at the Bergland venue outside Worcester. Mtimkulu built Amanhle Farm into a thriving enterprise. He also mentored young farmers and created opportunities for women in agriculture, leaving a legacy that will continue to inspire the sector. After leaving a corporate career in 2010, Mtimkulu pursued dairy farming. He later pivoted to grain production. Amanhle Farm now produces non-GMO popcorn maize, wheat, and small white beans.

Once dreaming of a corporate title, Zanele Twala found her true purpose in the soil of Hammanskraal, Tshwane. Specialising in staple crops and Boer and Saanen goat crossbreeding, her agribusiness, KahoyaLefa, is a hub for mentorship and local employment.

Khula! and Kagiso Trust are teaming up to unlock the potential of 500 small-scale farmers across SA. Many farmers know how to farm, but not always how to run a business. This partnership provides the essential business, financial, and tech skills needed to access competitive markets.

A lack of financial track record and stringent bank requirements are stopping promising agripreneurs and emerging farmers from scaling. A vital dialogue by Absa and Agda highlighted the need to align policy intent with commercial finance realities.