The year 2021 can be characterized as one of the rarest yet possibly most beneficial for South African farmers.

 Agricultural productivity growth – the increase in yield per unit (land/animal) – depends largely on technological innovation and the adoption of new seeds, new equipment, new genetics as well as effective animal medicine.

There is heightened uncertainty worldwide in the wake of the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron.

After a slight retreat to 67 in the third quarter, the Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) recovered to 74 points in the final quarter of this year.

Dr Theo de Jager, Chairman of the board of Saai and president of the World Farmers Organisation, writes:

This year, South Africa's agricultural sector's exceptional performance, which is reflected in robust production volumes for the 2021 season and export volumes in the first three quarters of this year, is also evident in the jobs data.