Addressing more than 250 grain farmers at the 2026 Grain SA Congress at Nampo Park in Bothaville on 11 to 12 March, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said it was a privilege to engage with those producing the staple crops that sustain South Africa.
– ADVERTISEMENT –
Steenhuisen did not shy away from the pressing issues facing grain farmers, touching on input costs, bureaucratic policies, failing municipal infrastructure, the profitability of wheat production, and the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crisis in his speech.
“Agriculture has never been a business for those who prefer certainty, but what concerns farmers today is not simply risk; it is unpredictability,” he said.
He added that he wants government to create stability in the local market and not contribute to the volatility and risk farmers already have to deal with.
“When infrastructure becomes unreliable, administrative decisions take too long, or global shocks ripple through markets without warning, it places additional strain on the long-term sustainability of farming operations.”
Steenhuisen said he strongly believes that the most effective agricultural policy is often the one that removes obstacles rather than adding new layers of regulation.
According to him, farmers do not need government to tell them how to farm. What they need is an environment in which they can apply their knowledge, technology, and capital with confidence.
“Our task in government is therefore to ensure that the rules of the system are clear, predictable, and fair. When that environment exists, the agriculture sector has repeatedly shown that it can innovate, expand, and compete without needing constant intervention from the state,” he explained.
The minister recognises the predicament farmers are in: “When this season’s crop was planted, input costs were still extremely high. In effect, farmers are now harvesting what the industry often describes as an expensive crop into a cheaper market, leaving profit margins extremely tight. At the same time, wheat markets have become increasingly volatile.”
Concerns over wheat tariffs and market uncertainty
He said he is particularly concerned about the wheat industry and the impact that slow administrative progress has on the wheat import tariff system.
“When global markets are already uncertain, domestic administrative uncertainty simply adds another layer of risk that producers must absorb.
“The tariff system intends to provide a stabilising adjustment when international prices move sharply enough to undermine domestic production. However, it must operate predictably and without administrative delays,” he explained.
Steenhuisen said that addressing those structural challenges will require honesty about where the system is not working as it should, and a willingness to act decisively where policy or administrative processes are standing in the way of a properly functioning market.
He added that his commitment to farmers is straightforward: government must focus on getting the fundamentals right. That means predictable policy, efficient administration, functioning infrastructure, and regulatory systems that support competitiveness.
“And when that happens, South African farmers continue doing what they have always done: adapt, innovate, and continue to feed this nation,” he concluded.
Producers discuss key obstacles
Farmers had a chance to speak to Steenhuisen about some of their biggest challenges. One of the issues raised was water rights, with several farmers expressing deep concern about the new legislation and its potentially widespread negative effect on the industry.
The minister acknowledged that this is a serious concern: “I have already engaged with the Department of Water and Sanitation on this issue and raised my concerns about the devastating, widespread impact this new legislation will have on the agriculture sector.
“I am confident that we can dismantle this soon, as 60% of water is used by agriculture for production, and government officials cannot ignore your voice in this regard.”
Steenhuisen backed the farmers’ view that Grain SA should receive government funding to support emerging farmers.
“I am all for this idea, and I fully support it. Let the industries receive the resources to empower their own, as they have much more of a vested interest in these projects,” he said.
There were also several questions about biosecurity, especially regarding FMD. In response, Steenhuisen urged farmers to work with government to strengthen biosecurity in the country.
“For decades now, our biosecurity has not been up to standard, and all the role players in the industry should work together to prioritise this.”
