South Africa’s Farm Exports Face New Restrictions from Botswana and Mozambique

South Africa is seeking to grow its agricultural sector by expanding exports, a priority highlighted by government officials and industry groups. About half of the country’s farm output already goes abroad, and plans such as the Agriculture and Agro‑processing Master Plan aim to boost production further.

However, neighbouring Botswana and Mozambique are moving to limit imports of South African vegetables and fruit, citing goals of import substitution and food‑security. Officials including Botswana’s central‑bank governor Lesego Moseki and Mozambique’s agriculture minister Roberto Albino have publicly advocated for these curbs, which clash with the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) rules that promote open regional trade. Analysts warn that protectionist measures could disrupt supply chains, raise prices and undermine regional integration, urging instead technology transfer and cooperation with South African agribusinesses.

If the restrictions persist, South African farmers could lose access to important regional markets, threatening the sector’s growth and the broader economic diplomacy strategy aimed at opening new export destinations.