Macadamia nuts are hard to beat when it comes to the most lucrative crop per land area used in South Africa.

Countries such as Canada are making great strides in exploiting cannabis for economic purposes and job creation. On December 3, Kristine Owram, writing for Bloomberg, noted that “there has been a spike in postings for jobs at cannabis growers and retailers in Canada.

Over the past 12 years, millions have been invested in the promotion of avocados. The Peruvian and South African sectors alone have already spent $ 2.5 million on promotions for the Hass in Europe. That budget won't be reduced any time soon, now that sights have been set on China. Finding new markets is not an unnecessary luxury.

The spot price of white maize smashed through R3 000 a ton this week, up 51% from its mid-2017 harvest low. Similarly, yellow maize has touched R2 800 a ton, up from R1 850 in 2017.

Over the next four years, the economic giant is predicted to overtake France and the United Kingdom to become the world's second-largest market for wine, behind the United States.

South Africa has in the past missed some opportunities in pushing its agricultural agenda during broader trade negotiations, says Dr Konanani Liphadzi, Fruit SA CEO (right), but she considers that the recent change in government has brought an increased appreciation of the value of the fruit sector for the South African economy.