Somerset west: Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen says resilience is no longer an abstract concept for agriculture but an 'operational necessity' as climate change, failing logistics infrastructure and volatile global markets reshape the future of South Africa's deciduous fruit industry. Addressing the Hortgro Symposium 2026 in Somerset West on Monday, Steenhuisen said the deciduous fruit industry is operating at the frontline of change, confronting increasingly unpredictable climate conditions, logistical pressures, stricter export requirements and growing international competition.
According to South African Government News Agency, Steenhuisen emphasized that climate change is already impacting agricultural production realities. Recent storms in the Western Cape, particularly in the Witzenberg and Breede River Valley regions, underscored the urgent need for climate resilience and stronger disaster preparedness in agriculture. The storms caused extensive damage to infrastructure, orchards, and local communities, with the collapse of critical electricity infrastructure and pressure on cold-storage facilities posing significant risks for the apple and pear industry during a sensitive export season.
Steenhuisen highlighted that deciduous fruit growers, who rely on reliable winter chilling, stable irrigation systems, and strict export-quality standards, are particularly vulnerable. Warmer winters, droughts, floods, storms, heat stress, and changing pest pressures all directly affect productivity, fruit quality, and export competitiveness. He commended the resilience of farming communities striving to protect crops and maintain export operations under challenging conditions, noting the determination shown by farmers, workers, municipalities, and local communities during his recent visit to the region.
Despite these challenges, Steenhuisen noted that South Africa's deciduous fruit industry remains one of the country's most dynamic and internationally competitive agricultural sectors, supporting over 302,000 jobs across agriculture and agri-processing. The industry also contributes to a broader horticultural economy valued at over R147 billion nationally.
The Minister stressed the critical role of research, innovation, and technology in helping producers adapt to changing conditions. Innovation, he said, is the foundation of sustainability and is essential for modern agriculture. It encompasses technology in orchards, data-driven irrigation systems, biological controls, advanced breeding systems, logistics optimization, and digital traceability platforms. Steenhuisen also underscored the importance of biosecurity and market access, pointing to recent trade gains, such as a new stone fruit export protocol with China and the reopening of fresh apple exports to Thailand, as successful collaborations between government and industry.
However, logistics failures and inefficiencies at the Port of Cape Town continue to undermine the competitiveness of the fruit sector. Steenhuisen reaffirmed the government's focus on reducing unnecessary red tape, improving regulatory efficiency, supporting infrastructure and logistics improvements, and aggressively pursuing export opportunities for South African producers.