South African farmers ahead with climate resilience – COP29
Finance talks at the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) offered up an increase in the funding for developing countries to adapt to climate change and put mitigation measures in place.
Relief for farmers as interest rates drop again
The recent interest rate cut will give farmers some financial breathing space, according to major banks in the agricultural sector.
Green Monday launched in two Western Cape schools
Humane Society International/Africa (HSI/Africa) recently announced its Green Monday programme at two rural schools in the Genadendal Valley in the Western Cape.
US farmers concerned about mass deportation threats
The mass deportations threatened by US president-elect Donald Trump could deal a serious blow to that country’s agriculture sector, which is already struggling with severe labour shortages.
Eastern Cape’s Dwayne Kaschula wins Young Farmer of the Year Award
The 2024 Toyota SA/Agri SA Awards celebrated farming excellence on Thursday, with Dwayne Kaschula from Maclear, Eastern Cape, winning the Young Farmer of the Year Award.
Farmers need assistance to adapt to the changing climate
The importance of climate adaptation to improve water and food security was highlighted during a panel discussion at the African Agri Investment Indaba recently held in Cape Town.
Agri investments in Africa remains under pressure
Investments in agrifoodtech in Africa is showing a slight recovery after crashing from a peak of over US$700 million (about R12,7 billion) in funding in 2022 to US$275 million (R5 billion) in 2023.
Action needed to address water pollution after Municipality fined R160m
Agricultural role players have called for more direct interventions for municipal environmental violations after Dipaleseng Local Municipality was fined R160 million for polluting water resources.
Livestock producers lose millions of rands to stock theft annually
The economic losses caused by livestock theft in the red meat industry amounts to millions of rands annually and is increasingly driven by well-organised criminal syndicates, according to Joe Scholtz, vice-chairman of the National Stock Theft Prevention Forum.
‘New excise proposals might hurt liquor industry’
The beer, wine and spirits industries have called on government to give it more time to respond to Treasury’s recently published draft proposals on the taxation of alcoholic beverages aimed at reducing alcohol abuse.
Ramaphosa unveils plan to fight food safety crisis
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Friday evening, announcing urgent measures to tackle a food safety crisis that has led to rising cases of foodborne illnesses and fatalities across South Africa.
World food prices hit 18-month high
Bolstered primarily by vegetable oil prices, global food prices rose sharply in October to reach an 18-month high. This is according to data recently released by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Farmers empowered at Pannar Seed farmers’ day
Pannar Seed, in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, hosted a farmers’ day to launch the 2024/25 planting season at Ya Rona Temo Farm in Vereeniging, Gauteng.
Sugar tax: weighing health benefits against economic costs
The Health Promotion Levy (HPL), commonly referred to as South Africa’s sugar tax, was introduced in 2018 as part of an effort to reduce rising rates of non-communicable diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
COP29 finance talks off to a shaky start
As the world gathers in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29), climate change financing and mitigation seems more uncertain than ever.
Video | Leopard spotted near Wesselsbron, safely captured and relocated
A young male leopard caused panic among residents of Monyakeng, near Wesselsbron in the Free State, when it was spotted in the area on Tuesday.
Municipal water failures threaten farmers
While the Department of Water and Sanitation is improving water security in South Africa, farmers are worried about how failures at municipal level might impact them, according to Janse Rabie, AgriSA’s head of natural resources.
Agriculture must extract more benefits from BRICS
Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, highlighted the urgency for the BRICS bloc to deepen economic co-operation, particularly in agriculture during the Farming Forward event hosted by Standard Bank and Business Day at Sun City.
Avocado market access overshadowed by high import barriers
While South Africa faces stiff competition for its avocados in export markets, it is import tariffs and non-tariff barriers that result in the biggest hindrance to our export growth.
Zimbabwe achieves record wheat crop
Zimbabwe has, since the beginning of November, harvested a record 518 502t of wheat from 106 230ha. A total of 119 594ha were planted to wheat this year compared with 91 000ha in the previous season, when a crop of 465 546t was achieved.
