Farmer's Weekly

Farmer’s Weekly is an agricultural magazine based in South Africa, targeting the whole of Southern Africa. The magazine is committed to advancing the interests of the region’s farmers and its agricultural industry by serving as a mouthpiece for the industry and by keeping its readers informed of the latest developments in the agricultural sector.

My three ‘simple’ wishes for 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Unlocking Africa's agricultural superpower • Lilac Nachum, professor of International Business at Leeds University Business School and visiting professor at Strathmore University, discusses four ways in which Africa can increase its agricultural exports.

Feed and nutrition

Soil and water: an inseparable partnership in a changing agricultural landscape

Rasberries - the undercover story

Smart farming: leveraging agritech to boost productivity for small producers

NEWS WRAP

Backing for SA Canegrowers as sugar imports soar

Diners Club honours the top winemakers of 2025

SAPPO Academy showcases skills development and small business success • The South African Pork Producers’ Organisation Academy recently concluded its flagship development programmes with a dynamic symposium in Pretoria, bridging academic knowledge with industry innovation. The event highlighted the crucial role of small businesses and ongoing education under the theme ‘I Matter’. Jedrie Harmse reports.

Muden Citrus growth hinges on infrastructure investment – economist • Agricultural economist Lesedi Mokoena spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about Muden Citrus's rapid growth being held back by the lack of a local packhouse. Investment in this infrastructure could unlock jobs, competitiveness, and long-term rural economic gains.

Infrastructure, policy, and finance will be the African continent's growth drivers • Africa's agricultural potential is vast, but inefficiencies in infrastructure, trade policy, and finance limit growth. Investments in transport, cold storage, irrigation, and digital trade systems, among others, are key to unlocking faster, cheaper, and more efficient agricultural trade. Octavia Avesca Spandiel reports.

What's in store for agricultural commodity prices in 2026? • Commodity markets are expected to enter the new year against a markedly different backdrop compared to the volatility of recent years, according to Nkhensani Mashimbyi.

Controlling cutworm • Cutworms have become a major problem for vegetable farmers worldwide and their activities can result in serious economic losses. Shane Brody discusses ways of combatting this pest.

A contract ensures that there are no grey areas • The rights and obligations of employers and employees should be very distinctly set out in an employment contract between the two parties, says Anneline Scriven, LWO senior legal adviser.

SA's poultry industry must be more inclusive and sustainable • In spite of great progress made over the past 30 years in South Africa's poultry value chain, setbacks such as avian influenza and trade restrictions are calling for official intervention, says Dr Sifiso Ntombela.

Artificial intelligence and technology in 2026 • For 2026, Farmer's Weekly will be focusing on the overarching theme of artificial intelligence and technology, and the importance of this in sustainable and long-term farming. Gary Wium reports.

Packhouse technology turns fruit into Forex • With South African fruit exports surging (citrus up over 71% since 2015), the pressure is on packhouses to deliver quality and efficiency. No longer just a mechanical step, the packhouse is now the strategic bottleneck where real value is added – or lost. Jeanne van der Merwe reports.

New or used? A practical guide to second-hand farm equipment • Second-hand farm machinery can...