In political economy, there is something called “flooding the zone”.
Roughly explained, this refers to a deluge of information that diverts people’s attention from what should be a priority. In South African agriculture, we are fortunately not facing such a barrage of overwhelming information.
Still, we must be vigilant and reflect thoughtfully on risks affecting the sector. Recently, the focus has been on trade matters and the US tariffs, understandably so because the US is a valuable market for the country’s agriculture.
The US reciprocal tariffs are imposed during the citrus industry’s export season, making it crucial for us to prioritise these issues. Equally, concerns about the sustainability of the GNU and the fiscal problems that dominate the domestic conversation are warranted, as these shine a sharp spotlight on South Africa’s political future and economic renewal.
Still, we must not allow other important domestic issues affecting the sector to be drowned out by political noise. One such area is the continuous effort to control animal diseases. South Africa has made enormous progress after challenging years of avian flu, African swine fever and foot and mouth disease.
However, we continue to learn about outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and several lingering cases in the Eastern Cape. This means animal health should remain a priority for local agricultural authorities and organised agriculture.
Listen to the podcast for more insights.
Richard Humphries, Sam Mkokeli, Nelisiwe Tshabalala and Amanda Murimba produce this podcast
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