South Africa is going into an El Niño drought season with the largest maize harvest in its history: 17.6 million tonnes, against annual needs of about 12 million. In this Business Chat, Business Maverick managing editor Lindsey Schutters speaks to Wandile Sihlobo, agriculture and land envoy and chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber, about what that means for farmers and consumers. Join the conversation in the comments below!
Hosted by: Lindsey Schutters
Guest: Wandile Sihlobo
Edited by: Joel Seboa
Produced by: Emilie Gambade & Joel Seboa
Original Theme Music & Design by: Bernard Kotze
You can listen to the podcast everywhere, including YouTube, Apple Podcast and Spotify!
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This episode of Power Chat is brought to you by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, an organisation dedicated to strengthening democracy and human rights across the world, and creating new momentum for liberalism.
Articles mentioned in the discussion:
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2026-08-31-a-tough-2026-doesn-t-change-the-sa-citrus-industry-s-sound-trajectory/
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2026-11-02-el-nino-threatens-sas-crops-but-ample-maize-stocks-cushion-the-blow/
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2026-10-11-uncertainty-is-high-as-the-2026-27-summer-crop-season-starts/
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-08-01-gmos-and-precision-farming-bring-food-prices-down/
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2026-08-05-the-gmo-myth-cheaper-food-deeper-hunger-greater-corporate-power/
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Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to Business Chat
00:11 Meet Wandile Sihlobo
01:07 Maize to Citrus Shift
03:05 Agriculture Growth Story
04:24 Export Basket Diversity
06:43 Food Security and Poverty
07:35 Fixing Ports and Competitiveness
09:39 Bees and Agrochemicals
11:08 Water Security and Livestock
13:37 El Niño and Drought Planning
18:50 Prices for Consumers Next Year
21:14 Inputs GMOs and Wrap Up
