South Africa Appoints Agriculture Envoy

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa has appointed Wandile Sihlobo, Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) and a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, as Presidential Envoy on Agriculture and Land. This appointment underscores the critical importance of agriculture to South Africa's economic growth, rural development, and land reform agenda. Sihlobo, with over a decade of experience in the agricultural sector and academia, will support The Presidency's objectives by working closely with relevant government departments and state-owned entities like the South Africa===Agricultural Research Council, South Africa===Land bank, and South African Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development===Onderstepoort Biological Products. His mandate includes overcoming constraints to agricultural growth, boosting competitiveness, fostering inclusion, and enhancing the sector's export profile. The move aims to ensure coordinated policy direction and improved stakeholder alignment to address domestic and global challenges facing the agricultural sector.