News

Incredible new technologies emerge almost daily, providing great opportunities for those who have the courage to exploit them. In contrast, those who ignore these advances face great risk, says Peter Hughes.

Education is vital to the transformation of South Africa’s agriculture industry, as well as the country’s economic growth. However, many agricultural colleges are in disarray. Magda du Toit reports on this crucial issue.

Dr Baty Dungu believes South Africa should take lessons from countries that have been using stockpiles for years to ensure adequate vaccine supplies before outbreaks occur.

Justin Platt, founder and managing director of agricultural technical services companies Zylem and RegenZ, says that farmers don’t need more knowledge, but rather better ‘knowing’.

The secret to success in any organisation is almost invariably quality management. Finding the right people and developing these skills in yourself and your staff is priority number one, says Peter Hughes.

Given the complexities facing the agriculture sector, it seems that the road ahead will be impossible to navigate without both the financial support and expertise of banking institutions and financiers, writes Nedbank’s Zhann Meyer.

If you want your agribusiness to thrive and expand, you need to know what the future holds for your industry. BFAP’s agricultural outlook reports give you the knowledge to plan your future, says Peter Hughes.

Chemical fertilisers are a major contributor to poor soil and loss of biodiversity. In this article, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations looks at environmentally friendly alternatives.

With countries adopting more protectionist policies due to rising fears of a global food crisis, this report discusses the importance and need for world trade in agricultural commodities.

The number of people affected by hunger and undernourishment around the world is expected to remain high even up to 2030, largely due to the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

The agriculture sector plays a critical role in the South African Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. This was the message from President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered by the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, at the Agri SA Congress 2022 that got underway in Pretoria on Thursday (13 October).

Stakeholders in the agriculture sector have welcomed the establishment of South Africa’s new National Biosecurity Hub.

A report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations looks at alternative food options that could be used to feed the world’s growing population. However, as the report shows, not all of these options are feasible yet, and steps for safety assessment regarding human consumption might be required.

While sub-Saharan Africa is ready and willing to adopt digital solutions to improve agricultural production, this region still needs to overcome many barriers.

By implementing regenerative practices, South African maize farmers have the power to help prevent a food security crisis, say researchers Mary Maluleke and Prof James Blignaut.

Innovation and premium brands characterise the tea market, which is attracting a growing number of young buyers, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

The buck stops with government, whose policymakers should stop scapegoating and allow South Africa’s economy to flourish in a free market, writes Temba Nolutshungu of the Free Market Foundation.

When facing labour unrest, you have to manage the situation carefully. This can be extremely difficult, which is why it’s so important to get professional help to manage the situation, says Peter Hughes.

Ideal climatic conditions and access to irrigation have helped to propel South Africa’s raisin industry to ever-greater heights. But deficient logistics infrastructure and a lack of processing capacity are hampering further expansion, says Pieter Botha, Nedbank Business Banking’s area client manager for the Northern Cape.

In a recent report, the Namibia Agricultural Union outlined the state of that country’s agriculture sector, and how it has been affected by COVID-19 and other factors.