Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen says South Africa’s agricultural sector is proving to be one of the country’s strongest economic performers after exports surged by 11% in the first quarter of 2026.
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen says South Africa’s agricultural sector now supports roughly 960,000 jobs, describing the industry as one of the country’s most powerful engines for economic growth and rural employment.
Speaking after the release of new first-quarter export data showing an 11% rise in agricultural exports to US$3.7 billion, Steenhuisen said the sector had created nearly 300,000 additional jobs since the launch of the National Development Plan in 2012.
“When the National Development Plan was launched in 2012, South African agriculture supported approximately 720,000 jobs. Today, that number stands at roughly 960,000,” Steenhuisen said.
“The creation of nearly 300,000 jobs over this period is a significant achievement, particularly given the structural constraints that continue to affect the sector.”
