By 
The agricultural sector in the Free State province remains the backbone of the country’s sector. Though, being in the lead, the province is also feeling the hush reality of tariffs hikes by the United States of America (USA) imposed on South Africa.
During her budget vote speech at the Free State Legislature in Bloemfontein, on 11 April 2025, the Free State MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Ms Elzabe Rockman said the agricultural sector in South Africa performed impressively in the last quarter of 2024, becoming the largest contributor towards the country’s GDP.
According to Rockman, the sector rebounded strongly in late 2024, in Q4, she said the sector grew by 17.2% quarter-on-quarter.
“This surge added about 0.4 percentage point to South Africa’s 0.6% GDP growth in Q4, mainly due to increased field crop and livestock output. Over the full year 2024, however, agricultural GDP underperformed, the sector shrank in real terms compared to 2023, this reflects the steep mid-2024 drought impact (Q3 contraction) that offset later gains,” said MEC Elzabe Rockman.
Talking to the outlook of the industry, the MEC said the Crop Estimate Committee’s (CEC) March 2025 and Final Winter 2024 estimates, confirmed that the Free State is still dominating the sector and remains the bread basket of South Africa.
“We are one of the most productive crop-growing provinces as the country’s number one producer of white maize (52%), sunflower (51.5%) and soybeans (47%). The Free State is also the leading groundnut producer (47%) and second in sorghum (32.6) and dry beans (33.2%),” said the MEC.
Rockman said the province is also dominating in the livestock sector, especially with cattle and sheep farming. According to the MEC the Free State accounts for approximately 20.3% of the national sheep herd and about 16% of the national cattle herd.
Elzabe Rockman said the Free State plays an influential role in the grain and livestock sector which influences South Africa’s food security and commodity exports.
“This dominance also means climate shocks in the Free State (drought, floods) have outsized economic impact. Diversifying and adding value to this production is critical for resilience and growth.
Our agricultural sector is, of course, vulnerable and exposed to the recent tariff developments imposed by the USA. South Africa’s agricultural exports to the US are estimated at around 4% in 2024 and comprises of mainly citrus, grapes, wine and juice,” said MEC Rockman.
Rockman pointed out that for every challenge, comes an opportunity, looking towards the African continent as alternative from the US, she said Africa accounts for the biggest share of the country’s export market and that there are also opportunities that South Africa can leverage from the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
She said the Free State can also exploit opportunities within the BRICS member states, of which South Africa is a part of. She said China and India in particular are massive importers of food and fibre that align with Free State production.
“China is now the world’s largest agricultural importer and opened up to South Africa’s beef in 2023. It is currently the top buyer of SA wool. India similarly is a huge market (especially for pulses, edible oils and fruits) where SA presence is minor. The Free State, through national export programs, could target India for pulses and groundnuts and China for wool, beef and maize,” said MEC Elzabe Rockman. “New BRICS members like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt are also high-potential export regions for the Free State products, these countries import vast quantities of food, presenting an opportunity for Free State grains, meat and horticulture producers, an export diversification strategy must be underpinned by a targeted promotion and marketing programme for South African products whilst urgently addressing phytosanitary and tariff barriers,” she continued.
