Clarity on drone regulations urgently needed

Greater usage of drones for chemical applications on farms is being hindered by a lack of progress on product label specifications.

Limited consumer spending hits avocado market

Staple food prices continue to rise placing pressure on higher-end produce like avocados. Compared with the same period last year, potatoes were trading 77% higher, with carrots trading 6% higher.

Public hearings on agricultural land bill continue

Public hearings on the newly proposed Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land (PDAL) Bill are currently underway in Gauteng.

New export destinations for livestock producers

The conflict and political unrest in Sudan have opened up an additional export market for red meat from Namibia in the Middle East. This was according to a statement by the Namibian Meat Board following a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar.

Aquaculture programme aims to counter unemployment in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe had so far stocked 37 dams with fish countrywide as part of its multi-million-rand aquaculture programme that was announced in 2022.

Second-largest ever US maize harvest forecast weighs on prices

An 18% decline in maize prices has been reported in the US during July on the back of forecasts that this year’s harvest will be the second-largest on record at an estimated 15,13 billion bushels (about 384 million tons), according to Reuters.

Erroneous citrus black spot classification threatens exports

First, it was false codling moth, and now the EU using citrus black spot (CBS) as an excuse to block citrus exports from South Africa.

Celebrating strong women in agriculture

While the contribution of women to economic activity is substantial the world over, it is by and large undervalued.

Namibia’s Meatco expects a profitable year

The Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) expected a significant turnaround for the financial year running from February 2023 to January 2024.

Chinese meat consumption growth unlocks export opportunities

A significant increase in meat consumption in China is opening up new export opportunities for countries around the world.

Small-scale sugar cane farmers welcome intervention funding

A R176 million lifeline from the South African Sugar Association has given the country's small-scale sugar cane growers a fighting chance within the embattled industry.

‘Fresh produce industry set to make massive impact’

While the fresh produce industry is facing serious challenges, it has never been set to make as great an impact as now, Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), said at the IFPA Southern Africa conference in Cape Town.

Chicken import tariffs: it’s only fair

Facilities to produce two million chickens per week lie empty in South Africa as dumped imports of chicken elbow local competition out of the market.

Police recover stolen livestock and make arrests

Livestock theft plaguing farming communities has been under the spotlight recently with many farmers calling on the police to do more to assist them.

SA beef cattle producers must ‘up their game’ to meet future demand

The South African agriculture sector currently had to feed a population of 60,3 million people, according to Dr Ben Greyling, research team manager for the Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC) Beef Cattle Improvement scheme.

Proposed tobacco law has repercussions for crime and sin foods

The newly proposed smoking laws have been described as ‘catastrophic’ for the tobacco industry, holding dire consequences for the agriculture sector and the fight against crime syndicates.

Tongaat Hulett sugar division acquisition welcomed

The acquisition of embattled Tongaat Hulett’s sugar division by Kagera Sugar Ltd, owned by Tanzanian multimillionaire Seif Ali Seif, has given a sense of relief to thousands in South Africa’s sugar industry.

‘Smallholder chicken farmers concerned about Gumboro’

Smallholder poultry farmers are worried that the current cold weather will increase the risk of their chickens contracting infectious bursal disease, also known as Gumboro.

Botswana’s citrus harvest set for huge increase

Botswana’s first mega citrus project with around 800 000 citrus trees is expecting its first harvest in January next year.

India’s rice export ban to halt progress on food inflation

India has halted two million tons of rice exports with immediate effect as the country seeks to keep local supply and prices stable amid a looming election. The ban impacts all non-basmati white rice and came into effect on Thursday last week.

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