Proposed new Eskom pricing mechanism could penalise farmers

Eskom’s proposed new pricing methodology is unjust and will penalise rural energy consumers and the agriculture sector.

Farmers on high alert for ‘gigantic’ brown locust outbreaks

Agri Northern Cape is urging farmers to report brown locust outbreaks to their local district locust officers as soon as they are first observed.

Farmers warned to be on the lookout for digital scams

Unfortunately, there is no recourse for farmers who have fallen victim to the recent scam in which fraudsters impersonated officials from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture department).

China retaliates on ‘unfair farm subsidy’ allegations

As part of the Chinese government’s effort to effect reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO), that country is calling for the removal of “enormous” farm subsidies in some developed countries.

‘Farmers on Lesotho border left abandoned by security forces’

Free State farmers on the Free State’s border with Lesotho are for all intents and purposes left to their own devices as far as safety and security is concerned.

R131 billion funding to reduce SA’s fossil fuel use welcomed

Agri SA has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on Wednesday, 3 November that South Africa has secured R131 billion to steer the country away from its dependence on coal for energy generation towards ‘green energy’.

SA’s rolling blackouts driving up farmers’ production costs

PwC, a multinational accounting and auditing firm, expects the rolling blackouts experienced across South Africa to reduce the country’s GDP growth by three percentage points, and potentially cost the country 350 000 jobs this year.

Climate change severely affecting Africa’s farmers

Southern African countries attending the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) should try to negotiate compensation for the loss and damages suffered by these countries due to historical inequalities

Over two million hectares destroyed by wildfires in Namibia

An estimated 2,5 million hectares have been destroyed by forest and veld fires in Namibia so far this year.

SA sugar cane growers welcome cotton as a rotational crop

Sugar cane growers have expressed optimism about using cotton production as part of a diversification strategy.

Consumers can expect high coffee prices for longer – experts

Global coffee prices are likely to remain higher for longer as the market struggles to rebalance supplies geographically.

SA expecting good grain, oilseed crops, despite rising costs

Some analysts have expressed their concern that rising input costs such as that of fertiliser and other agrochemicals could potentially discourage farmers from planting grain crops.

Diesel price expected to hit highest-ever level in November

Should the price of diesel increase in November as predicted by the Central Energy Fund (CEF), this will be the highest wholesale price of diesel ever recorded in South Africa. This was according to Ikageng Maluleke, Grain SA economist.

Online sales ‘moving boundaries’ for livestock auctions

Many South African livestock auction records have been crushed since the start of the year.

Charcoal production ‘a valuable source’ of income on farms

Charcoal production in Namibia formed an important part of on-farm diversification and offered farmers a valuable source of additional income.

Rain brings hope to farmers in Central and Klein Karoo

The widespread rain that had been falling over large parts of South Africa since Thursday, 21 October, has brought relief to many farmers.

IDC grants R85 million for sugar farmers affected by unrest

The sugar industry has expressed relief and gratitude for the Industrial Development Corporation’s (IDC) pledge of R85 million in financial assistance for the damage suffered during the civil unrest in KwaZulu-Natal during July.

Brexit brings an end to ‘cheap food’ for UK shoppers

The twin crises of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic are resulting in a tidal wave of soaring costs for the UK’s food industry, with supply chains coming under increasing pressure.

‘Livestock farming remains a cornerstone of Namibia’s economy’

The Namibian agriculture sector’s contribution to that country’s GDP grew from 4,5% in 2019 to almost 6,6% in 2020.

Poor timing for a fuel price increase – Grain SA

Any fuel price increases in November will cost South Africa’s grain producers dearly, Grain SA economist, Luan van der Walt, has warned.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

News