Mamaela Mathebula is the main vegetable supplier for her village in Limpopo. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba/Mukurukuru Media) 
Wandile Sihlobo is the chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa. He writes a Substack newsletter, AgriView.
The G20 Leaders’ Declaration placed an essential focus on agriculture, recognising the role the sector plays in strengthening global food security.
On this, the declaration states, “We ... reiterate our commitment to ensuring resilient and sustainable food systems and food security through open and non-discriminatory trade policies consistent with WTO rules.
“We note that modernising agriculture and food systems’ resilience can be enhanced through land, soil biodiversity, energy and water management, reducing food waste, adaptation and mitigation, support for sustainable technologies, innovations and approaches and investment in smallholder and family farmers while promoting the inclusion and the empowerment of women and youth, strengthening local food production, resilient and improved food value chains.”
This is a bold and welcome statement affirming commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules in global agriculture. South Africa’s agricultural sector is export-led, and the WTO plays an essential role in ensuring fairness in international trade. The fairness of global trade is also key to ensuring that the world can achieve food security through trade, among other interventions.
Moreover, adaptation to climate change will require significant effort and coordination by the government, industry stakeholders and research institutions. Over the years, South Africa has prioritised technological advancements, such as improved seed cultivars and animal genetics, as well as appropriate and safe applications of agrochemicals and fertilisers.
While others have called for a drastic decrease in the use of agrichemicals, the South African government and organised agriculture have always emphasised appropriate and balanced application of agrochemicals in a safe manner for humans and the environment.
We must be guided by science rather than rhetoric and politics on food matters. We take it that the G20 Leaders’ Declaration’s focus on sustainable technologies and innovation encompasses approaches such as those of South Africa.
Beyond South African agricultural matters, the G20 placed a necessary spotlight on the challenge of poverty, which remains a reality in Africa. Unlocking agrarian productivity across the continent will help ensure we overcome this challenge.
The gains from such won’t be easy or achieved overnight, as they require reframing agriculture across the continent, with a necessary focus on commercial production while supporting smallholder farmers.
The interventions also need improvement in land governance, the adoption of technology (improved seed cultivars and genetics), appropriate and safe use of agrochemicals and fertilisers, open trade and minimal government intervention, investment in network infrastructure, and the embrace of organised agriculture, among other things.
These are all lessons that can be drawn from South Africa’s agricultural story for the good of the African continent. DM
Wandile Sihlobo is the chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa. He writes a Substack newsletter, AgriView.