At the start of 2025, Africa's agricultural sector appeared to be on a recovery path following a severe drought in the previous season. However, this fragile rebound was quickly tested by rising trade tensions. The United States introduced reciprocal tariffs, while within the region, Botswana repeatedly imposed bans on South African vegetable imports.

Malawi also rolled out restrictions on a range of imported goods, and Zimbabwe banned maize imports in a bid to boost local production, conserve foreign currency and pursue food self-sufficiency. Overall, 2025 saw several African countries increasingly turn to import restrictions as protectionist tools, despite ongoing calls for deeper regional integration. Nhlanhla Mahlangu spoke to Thabile Nkunjana, a senior agricultural economist at the South Africa-based National Agricultural Marketing Council.