The Eastern Cape government plans to transform the agricultural sector, ensuring real and meaningful participation of black producers in the agricultural value chain. For the next three years, the province will receive an allocation of R1 billion from National Government for the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme.
The allocation will support farmers with working tools such as tractors and farmer empowerment initiatives. In his SOPA address, Premier Oscar Mabuyane said that to realise more value and growth in the agricultural growth frontier, government is working in partnership with the Land Bank to commercialise 100 farms, with R212 million invested in 2025.
This benefited 18 grain farms in Alfred Nzo, OR Tambo, Joe Gqabi and Chris Hani and 11 livestock farmers in Chris Hani and Sarah Baartman Districts. Mabuyane said the citrus valleys of Amathole and Sarah Baartman districts continue to play a significant role in the South African citrus industry.
The 36 black citrus farms supported by government contributed 1,139 jobs to the sector. The resilience of this sector was demonstrated in how it bounced back from US tarrifs, by exporting the largest consignment of 431.9 million tons of fruit, earning R5.6 billion for the province s economy.
The provincial government welcomed a private sector investment of R400 million by commercial farmers to establish a Feed Factory and Feedlot in Nxuba Yethemba Municipality. This will also assist emerging farmers. To strengthen biosecurity in the industry, government is going to establish an export quarantine facility in Dohne in the next two years to open an opportunity valued at more than R1 billion.
The livestock industry in the province is also affected by the Foot and Mouth Diseaseoutbreak. Mabuyane urged livestock owners to comply with the measures communicated to them by government to protect agricultural economy and their livestock. We are pleased to report positive progress on the establishment of the Veterinary School at the University of Fort Hare which will strengthen scientific research in our province.
A Programme and Qualification Mix has been submitted by the University of Fort Hare to the Department of Higher Education, marking a significant step on the work of establishing the Vet School,” Mabuyane said.
The Eastern Cape is South Africa s second-largest province, with a great agricultural potential, but we are the net importer of food. To change the situation, government approved a Procurement of Agricultural Products model, which will localise R2.6 billion in food procurement spend.
This will create more predictable demand for local producers and processors. Government is ensuring adequate primary production of food products in the province, through the revitalisation of irrigation schemes, red hubs and Agriparks. Work to fix bulk irrigation infrastructure at Ncora, Qamata, Shiloh and Keiskammahoek Irrigation schemes will begin this year.
Mabuyane said this is made possible by the R871 million investment by the Department of Water and Sanitation. We have previously spoken about the potential of cannabis production and the opportunities for our province. We have decisively moved from planning to implementation in the commercialisation of cannabis, while national regulatory reforms are being finalised,” Mabuyane said.
Private sector-led industrial hemp trials are underway in the Buffalo City Metro and Amathole District. With an investment pipeline of R1 billion, this project is set to generate more than R1.8 billion annually and is projected to create thousands of jobs. To ensure that indigenous farmers are not left behind, the Technology Innovation Agency is funding a pilot cannabinoid extraction facility in Mpondoland to empower indigenous knowledge farmers and MSMEs, enabling their integration into the legal cannabis economy.
Mabuyane said there is exciting growth in Agri-industrial investments in the Eastern Cape. Three more firms will open their doors at the ELIDZ, and they include MaXhosa, with a multimillion- rand investment that has strong beneficiation and job creation potential. The Wild Coast Industrial Park in Mthatha which will be anchored on agro-processing is taking shape. Bulk infrastructure for Phase 1 will be completed at the end of March 2026.
Before the end of this year, government plans to break ground for two investors with an investment value of R570 million. This has a potential to create 240 operational jobs. The current administration assumed office exactly a year after the report by the Human Rights Commission and Statistics South Africa in July 2023 which highlighted alarming high levels of poverty and malnutrition in the province.
Research has consistently shown the source for high levels of hunger is largely driven not by the shortage of food but rather by a lack of access to it. The Department of Agriculture led by MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe embarked on a multi-pronged approach to increase food production and improve access.
This strategy forms part of the 2025-2030 strategy marking the final phase towards achieving Vision 2030, a dynamic and interconnected province where all residents can reach their full potential. The interventions are informed by the understanding that smallholder farmers in the Eastern Cape are engaged in subsistence and communal farming.
One of the flagship programmes, Ilima-lokulima was launched and is being implemented as a mass, community-driven food production programme that promotes active land use, local food systems, and household level food security.
To improve mechanisation and boost productivity, 16 tractors, accompanied by agricultural inputs, were delivered to marginalised farmers who previously used manual labour. Irrigation Schemes Revitalisation was launched to unlock agricultural potential and transform smallholder and subsistence producers into sustainable commercial farming enterprises and the building of local agri-processing.
The province boasts the largest share of the country's livestock, with 38% of the goats, 30% of the sheep, 25% of the cattle, and approximately 20% of the horticultural crops. To strengthen this sector, a Livestock Improvement Programme was implemented in the O R Tambo, around Qumbu and Tsolo, as well Ngqushwa. Over 300 high quality Merino sheep were delivered to the King Sabatha Dalindyebo and King Mhlontlo areas. The livestock improvement initiative included the delivery of 370 high-calibre beef cattle in Ngqushwa, a 400 herd feedlot at Birha Beef Complex, valued at R3 million.
The province produces over 15 million kilograms of wool annually and supplies more than half of the world's mohair. MEC Kontsiwe officially handed over shearing sheds across the province to help subsistence farmers participate fully in commercial markets. Recovery and diversification of Magwa Tea Estate remain a strategic priority for rural agro-industrialisation.
Expansion of priority commodity value chains includes grain, citrus, poultry, red meat, wool, mohair, vegetables, horticulture, cannabis, and aquaculture. Continued investment in enabling infrastructure such as fencing, irrigation systems, tunnels, packhouses, livestock handling facilities, and water harvesting technologies is ongoing. The Department is partnering with the University of Fort Hare to establish a Veterinary School, contributing to long-term sector sustainability and skills development.
The province is home to 16% of the country's milk producers and contributes 26% of the milk produced in South Africa. The department is currently confronting the devastating outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), which has affected several parts of the country.
Following the successful containment of the disease in the Kouga and Kou-Kamma areas in 2024, the province has once again mobilised its veterinary officials, animal health technicians, and critical resources to prevent further spread.
