Optimising Agricultural Value Chains in Southern Africa After COVID-19

The document examines the impact of COVID-19 on agricultural value chains within the SADC region, noting that while the sector was less affected than others, the pandemic intensified existing vulnerabilities. Key challenges identified include a heavy reliance on subsistence farming, food insecurity, and the effects of climate change. The authors argue for a 'dual approach' that supports both small-scale and large-scale commercial farming, the adoption of climate-smart technologies, and the digitalisation of value chains. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is highlighted as a critical mechanism for enhancing regional trade and protecting small-scale farmers.

• COVID-19 disrupted global value chains by affecting transport, logistics, supply, production, demand, and consumption, which in turn impacted food security and economic growth within the SADC region.
• The agricultural sector in SADC is characterised by significant disparities in GDP contribution; for example, it accounts for less than 3% of GDP in South Africa, Botswana, Mauritius, and Zambia, but exceeds 26% in Malawi, Madagascar, and Mozambique.
• SADC agro-value chains face structural challenges, including a lack of product diversity among member states (mostly grains, nuts, and vegetables), a historical trend of 'sustained neglect' leading to net imports, and a predominance of subsistence farming over export-oriented production.
• Climate change has increased food insecurity in the region; in 2018, approximately 41 million people across 13 SADC countries were food insecure, and in 2020, Zimbabwe saw a 57% decrease in maize production due to poor rainfall and economic instability.
• While agriculture was generally designated an essential service during the pandemic, COVID-19 exacerbated existing issues, leading to a 10% increase in food insecurity between 2019 and 2020, affecting roughly 44.8 million people in southern Africa.
• The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which took effect in January 2021, is viewed as a vital tool for regional integration that can protect small-scale farmers by eliminating tariffs on 90% of goods.
• To future-proof the sector, the document recommends a 'dual approach' supporting both subsistence and commercial farming, the creation of public-private partnerships for resilient infrastructure, the adoption of climate-smart technologies, and the digitalisation of value chain interactions.

APA

Matema, T., & Prinsloo, C. (2021). Optimising Agricultural Value Chains in Southern Africa After COVID-19. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Policy-Briefing-234-matema-prinsloo.pdf

Chicago

Matema, Tawanda, and Cyril Prinsloo. Optimising Agricultural Value Chains in Southern Africa After COVID-19. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2021. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Policy-Briefing-234-matema-prinsloo.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Matema |first1=Tawanda |last2=Prinsloo |first2=Cyril |title=Optimising Agricultural Value Chains in Southern Africa After COVID-19 |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=April 2021 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Policy-Briefing-234-matema-prinsloo.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{matema2021optimising, author = {Matema, Tawanda and Prinsloo, Cyril}, title = {{Optimising Agricultural Value Chains in Southern Africa After COVID-19}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2021}, month = apr, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Policy-Briefing-234-matema-prinsloo.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }