Trade Barriers Threaten Southern Africa’s Agricultural Potential

Agriculture could become a stronger engine of economic growth and food security across Southern Africa if countries make regional trade easier. The sector contributes about 10% of GDP in many Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, but weak land governance, inadequate infrastructure linking farms to markets, and limited intra-regional trade continue to restrict its potential. Despite SADC’s free trade framework and the Southern African Customs Union, agricultural trade has lagged, partly due to low productivity, phytosanitary disputes, and size disparities—South Africa accounts for more than half of SADC’s agricultural exports, creating tensions with smaller neighbors that depend heavily on its products. Experts call for a review of SACU rules, collaboration on farm inputs, knowledge exchange, and greater investment in trade diplomacy to help the region realize agriculture’s full economic potential.