Identifying and Controlling Invasive Alien Species in South Africa
Farmers Magazine | 21.05.2026 17:07
Invasive alien species are a direct threat to crop farming systems in South Africa. These are non-native plants, insects, and pathogens that spread into agricultural land and disrupt normal production. In South Africa, crop farmers face rising pressure from invasive weeds and pests that reduce yields and increase production costs. These species compete with crops for water, nutrients, and sunlight, which lowers productivity across maize, wheat, fruit, and vegetable systems. If not managed early, they can spread quickly across entire farming regions and increase long term control costs.
