KwaZulu-Natal Premier Honourable Thamsanqa Ntuli delivered a keynote address at the Annual Provincial Extension and Advisory Services Summit held at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban.

In his address, Premier Ntuli emphasised that agriculture is far more than an economic sector – it is the foundation of food security, a pillar of rural livelihoods, and a strategic driver of inclusive growth in the province. He highlighted that its performance directly affects household well-being, community resilience, and overall economic stability.

The Premier noted that while the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey reflected a national decline of 24 000 agricultural jobs in Q2 2025, overall employment in primary agriculture remains above the long-term average. However, KwaZulu-Natal experienced a contraction in agricultural employment – a trend he stressed must be urgently reversed.

On production, Premier Ntuli pointed out that agricultural gross value-added rose by 15.8% in Q1 2025, driven by field crops, horticulture, wines, and table grapes. Despite this, the livestock sector remains under pressure due to persistent disease outbreaks, particularly foot-and-mouth disease, which has hampered exports and reduced market confidence.

Premier Ntuli outlined key priorities for the sector, including accelerating biosecurity measures, expanding and diversifying export markets, improving infrastructure and logistics, and localising the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan to ensure inclusive participation.

He stressed the urgent need to position agriculture as a platform for youth and women’s economic inclusion, given the high youth unemployment rate in the province. He also called for stronger support for small-scale farmers, improved access to finance, irrigation, and market linkages, and harnessing opportunities in the forestry sector for rural industrialisation.

In conclusion, Premier Ntuli reaffirmed the province’s vision for a sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive agricultural sector. He said that through decisive disease control, trade expansion, infrastructure improvements, and targeted support for farmers, KwaZulu-Natal can strengthen food security, create jobs, and drive rural economic renewal.