Southern Cape Farmers Prepare for Disruption Amid Rising Global Pressures

Disruption has become the new norm in South Africa's agricultural sector. Dawie Maree, head of information and marketing at First National Bank, emphasizes that Southern Cape farmers can protect their bottom line using precision farming, livestock diversification, robust biosecurity against FMD, and tailored green financing options.

The region's grain and livestock farmers face global and local pressures, including conflict in the Middle East, volatile commodity prices, supply chain uncertainty, and an increasingly erratic climate.

Maree highlights that while tariffs can change overnight, a farming operation must remain financially viable in a zero-tariff environment.

Precision agriculture and conservation practices prove their worth by ensuring every rand spent on inputs works as hard as possible and conserving soil moisture and nutrients.