AGRICULTURE - More than 160 000 export-related agricultural jobs in the Western Cape are dependent on trade with the United States. 

This includes more than 35 000 jobs in the citrus industry alone, a key sector for US-bound trade.

This was revealed in a recent parliamentary reply from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. Noko Masipa, DA WC Spokesperson on Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, says the US remains a critical trading partner, particularly through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), which enables duty-free access for a wide range of South African agricultural goods.

In 2024 alone, the WC exported R3,5-billion worth of agricultural products to the US, including over R1,8-billion in citrus.

"The importance of this trade relationship to the Western Cape cannot be overstated. The province accounts for 74% of South Africa’s Agoa-linked agricultural exports. 

"A disruption to these preferential terms would have severe consequences for employment in the province, rural economies, and export growth."

He commended National Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen for highlighting the importance of agricultural exports to the rural economy.

"Recent figures show that agricultural exports grew to $3,36 billion in the first quarter of the year - reflecting a 10% year-on-year growth."

Masipa says with exports valued at billions of rands and supporting tens of thousands of jobs, this sector remains critical to the Western Cape economy.

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’