Top priorities for Steenhuisen

Chief aim must be the new agriculture master plan.

South Africa's primary agriculture sector accounts for nearly 3% of GDP and about.

8% when considering the value of agro-processing. But it can contribute even more to economic growth that delivers benefits fairly across society and creates jobs.

But this can't happen if new policies and plans keep getting introduced. Fortunately, the views of the new Agriculture Minister, John Steenhuisen, may not be far from the existing policy path.

The ANC has been governing under the vision of the National Development Plan, which was recently distilled into the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan. The aim is to grow an inclusive and competitive agricultural economy by focusing on specific commodities and their value chains, as well as specific regions.

The DA's agricultural approach is no different from the ANC's. In its 2024 manifesto, the DA says the party will "empower South Africans through land ownership by protecting private ownership of land as outlined in section 25 of the constitution".

It also promised to "utilise government-owned land and prioritise the use of land owned by the government, specifically focusing on the vast tracts held by the departments of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, as well as public works and infrastructure".