Views from the Citrus Growers Association
The citrus industry is set to have a record year with the estimate for exported 15kg cartons revised to 203 million, having opened the season at an expected 171 million – by all account an exceptional year. All partners have cooperated to make this a success, and most importantly the logistics flow and the ports also held up well overall.
This comes at a time during which policy discussions, government restructuring, trade issues, and future vision have been top of mind. We recently reported (see below) on the colloquium that the Department of Agriculture (DoA) held in August 2025, articulating the evolution of pesticides policy and highlighted that wherever policy ultimately lands, it must not negatively impact the access to tools for the agriculture industry. The Department of Agriculture formally separated from the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development as of April this year, following the reorganisation of government announced last year. The bulk of the current year was overshadowed by the change in US policy, with the imposition of reciprocal tariffs, with the other dominant issue South Africa’s G20 presidency, which ends next month. The citrus industry’s Vision 260 was conceptualised with the goal of exporting 260 million 15kg cartons by 2032, with an estimated 100 000 jobs created. Agriculture exports have been reported higher than expected, especially given the general headwinds and geopolitical tension.
With all this as background, one feels that there is an opportunity for a refocus and reorientation for policy to support the growth potential within agriculture. Government has since the advent of the US tariff issue spoken of diversification of markets but there has as yet, been no substantial clarity in terms of a “how” we are to achieve this as a sector. The additional volume imminently coming from our sector needs new and varied markets.
The contribution of agriculture to the economy continues to beg for a response from government to channel the positive momentum into a direction where all stakeholders are aligned, so that opportunities are created especially for Private Public Partnerships (PPP) as envisaged in the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP).
The positive sentiment from the season’s performance seems to be crowding out the negatives experienced, creating an air of optimism for the future. Optimism in agriculture often translates into further investment, or so the economists tell us! The AAMP is premised on a PPP approach, and with a bit of optimism in the air, the time to strike is now in terms of implementation.
A recent report by the Centre for Development and Enterprise rightly highlighted what it called South Africa’s “unemployment catastrophe”. Turning the hope offered by agriculture into jobs will only be possible if government and the private sector work together.
One of the long-standing criticisms of South Africa is that as a country we have fantastic plans, but we are often poor at executing them. Is it not time for the DoA to put its best foot forward to drive the initiatives envisaged in the AAMP?
The timing is certainly in favour especially with regards to exports as a focus to drive inclusive growth.
Reshaping South Africa’s pesticide policy
The Department of Agriculture arranged a first of its kind colloquium focussed on South Africa’s Pesticide Policy on the 21st and 22nd of August in Stellenbosch. This event brought together government officials from the Departments of Agriculture (DOA), Health, Employment and Labour, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, growers and grower associations, farm workers, the agricultural chemistry industry, academia and civil society members, amongst others.
The purpose of the colloquium was to facilitate an exchange of views, and collect inputs from various stakeholders, clarify responsibilities in pesticide management amongst the different role players, and ultimately develop proposals for updating the pesticide regulatory framework within a one health approach – integrating human, animal and environmental health. The DOA reiterated their commitment to working with all stakeholders during the regulatory framework development and intends to enable faster registrations of lower risk agrochemical solutions and more transparent tracking of applications. Such stakeholder engagement is necessary to close the gap between policy objectives and finding practical solutions that work at the ground level. This is particularly relevant for an industry supplying the local market and over 100 global destinations – each with different requirements for pest control and specifications with imported fruit.
The new policy direction places emphasis on wider Integrated Pest Management (IPM) adoption in the agricultural sector and less dependence on synthetic chemistry, or at least the most hazardous plant protection products. The phase out of certain plant protection products is imminent, and CGA welcomes an enabling environment and opportunity for modern technology to enter the South African agricultural industry. After all, this is very much aligned to the mandate given to RiverBioscience, a separate entity under the CGA established over 20 years ago, to provide effective IPM compatible solutions.
Finding effective alternatives to conventional chemistry is very challenging and it takes time to bring products to market. A predictable and timeous regulatory environment is critical for the agricultural sector and will encourage investment in South Africa’s agrochemical industry. New solutions will help South African agriculture remains competitive and continue to grow through exports and earn the much-needed foreign currency to facilitate economic growth. The citrus industry is committed to ongoing collaboration between the various stakeholders and participating in the new regulatory framework – we thank DOA for further opportunities to get into discussions on the practical implementation of the policies.
Public private partnerships and exports
Agbiz presented a very positive view of the agriculture sector for the second quarter when it recently reported a growth in exports. This was despite the year being dominated by discussions on tariffs and geopolitical issues, and disappointing GDP figures. It is very heartening to read of such a positive outcome, but it also demands that policy responds accordingly by seizing the immediate opportunities – especially by utilising the recent reconfiguration of government, where we saw the Department of Agriculture (DoA) separated from the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development (DLRRD).
Agbiz reported, quoting Trade Map, that agricultural exports totalled US$3.71 billion in Q2, up 10% from the same period a year ago. The exports list was mainly dominated by citrus, apples and pears, maize, wine, nuts, fruit juices, dates, pineapples, avocados, grapes, and wool, among other products. In the immediate environment, the biggest risk facing exports are sanitary and phytosanitary risks. The DoA can refocus itself – as a separate, honed department – to deal with matters that would facilitate an increase in exports. We have all read about foot and mouth disease, which seems to be running amok, impeding the exports of animal-derived products. This obviously affects agri exports. We also need to be aware of any potential future risk that may enter our country for our own industry. Some investment has been made to improve the management of these risks with the installation of the Biosecurity Hub housed at the University of Pretoria. The Biosecurity Hub convened a Biosecurity Summit which provided a platform on which we can build.
With the difficulties identified, we should call on government to embrace the idea of public private partnerships (PPP) to bolster state capacity. The CGA’s Citrus Research International (CRI) offers the potential to assist government in setting up risk management systems that will protect us as a country from phytosanitary threats.
Additionally, they should also be called upon to assist government in fast-tracking the opening of new markets as we seek to expand exports. Following a PPP-type framework, we should champion the inclusion of participants from industry and academia in government teams sent abroad to negotiate the opening of new markets. This will allow government to benefit from existing skills in the short term while state capacity in certain sectors are being improved.
Identifying the right opportunities for change in trade
In his book titled Clear Thinking, Shane Parrish writes about self-accountability and makes a very important observation: self-accountability is the strength of realising that even though you don’t control everything, you do control how you respond to everything. Our response is a decision and a choice that we make, and it is very important that, as we do so, we use our strengths to mitigate risks. The opposite only makes us appear to be victims and seem powerless!
2025 has so far been a year in which the international trade environment – within which we operate as a country and as citrus industry – has changed significantly. This change was, and still is, largely beyond our control. We depend on our counterparts in these negotiations as we seek to conclude a trade deal on favourable terms with the US administration. “Favourable” in the real sense of the word, as we do not threaten US producers and jobs because we are counter-seasonal to US citrus producers.
However, what we have been in control of, as Parrish teaches us, is how we respond and adapt to the changed environment. It reminded me of a proposal we made in one of the earlier newsletters where we advocated for the use of sidebar discussions with G20-member countries and invitees visiting our country. This would be to address shifts in market access and exchange offers to soften the blows from reciprocal tariffs.
Let’s hope that while we pursue market diversification, as government has suggested, we also use the opportunities before us to fast-track new market access opportunities based on sidebar talks. Beyond the headwinds we face in 2025, we still have 2026 ahead of us. Will we look back and say we took advantage of opportunities we had, or will we regret not seizing opportunities we were offered? Only time will tell.
Boitshoko Ntshabele, CEO, Citrus Growers Association
