South Africa

Favourable climatic conditions and new blushed pear varieties bode well for Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing. While it was still too early to estimate the size of the 2024/2025 pear harvest, early indications point to a promising season.

On World Cheetah Day, observed annually on 4 December, attention was drawn to the cheetah’s vulnerability. With fewer than 7000 remaining, cheetahs now occupy less than 10% of their historic global range, including small populations in the Middle East and Asia, according to Wild Africa, a global wildlife conservation movement.

Between 40% and 50% of South Africa’s 2024 litchi harvest had been destroyed by adverse weather conditions, which would invariably push up the local litchi price significantly.

South Africa’s citrus industry experienced an unexpected dip in export volumes this year, presenting growers with significant challenges related to climate, market demands, and logistics. The Citrus Growers Association (CGA) has stepped in to address these issues, supporting farmers as they navigate a tough season.

Crime statistics for July to September reveal that crime is generally down in comparison with 2022 and 2023, yet up from 2020 and 2021 levels. This was according to crime stats for the second quarter released by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continues to pose a significant challenge in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), affecting communal dip tanks, small farms, and game reserves.

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.

The recent interest rate cut will give farmers some financial breathing space, according to major banks in the agricultural sector.

Humane Society International/Africa (HSI/Africa) recently announced its Green Monday programme at two rural schools in the Genadendal Valley in the Western Cape.

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.

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.

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.