South Africa

The African Association for Vertical Farming was launched during a recent conference hosted by Izindaba Zokudla (Conversations about Food) at the University of Johannesburg's (UJ) Soweto Campus.

The South African National Consumer Union (SANCU) and the Emerging Black Importers and Exporters South Africa (EBieSA) are contesting the import tariff on chicken proposed by the South African Poultry Association (SAPA).

JSE-listed Zeder Investments, which focuses on the agriculture, food and beverage sectors, managed to deliver comparable recurring earnings and maintain dividends, despite a challenging macro-environment in which the company and its portfolio companies operated during the financial year ended 28 February 2019.

The rain that recently occurred over the western part of the summer grain production region of South Africa will be of great value to the crops still on the land, according to Grain SA (GSA).

Pressure from pro-Palestinian groups has resulted in South African company, Brimstone Investment Corporation, pulling out of a consortium that intends to acquire Clover Industries for a reported R4,8 billion. Brimstone was originally a 15% shareholding partner in Milco SA, a company established for the purpose of acquiring Clover.

Almost 83kg of rhino horn from South Africa valued at around R29 million were recently intercepted by Hong Kong customs officials at the Hong Kong International Airport.

The SA Pork Producer’s Organisation (SAPPO) has commended the swift reaction by state veterinary officials in dealing with a case of African Swine Fever (ASF) on a game farm near the controlled zone in North West.¬¬¬

Nationwide sales of tractors and combine harvesters have remained under pressure for the first quarter of 2019.

The financial sector has been asked to endeavour to develop a more "compassionate" approach for the financing of new farmers.

Grain SA received 425 new applications for exhibition space for the 2019 Nampo Harvest Day, which was taking place from 14 to 17 May.

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) called on Western Cape farmers to conduct regular checks of their lands after “high numbers” of fall armyworm (FAW) moths were detected in the province.

The resumption of heat-treated ostrich meat exports to the EU will help ease the pressure that South African ostrich farmers have experienced in recent years.

CropLife SA has released an emergency eradication plan for the invasive weed Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri), which can result in almost total crop failure in maize.

Finding solutions to the challenge of financing farmers during drought has become extremely difficult.

Grain SA has urged farmers to continue scouting for crop pests such as caterpillars on their lands. The commodity organisation said in a statement released on Thursday that delayed plantings of maize across much of the western and central maize belt in South Africa had been a major concern for growers this season.

Producer-owned apple and pear packing and storage business in the Elgin district, Two-a-Day Group, recently donated more than R500 000 to the Agri Western Cape drought relief fund.

Diversified agriculture and forestry company TWK Investment Ltd has announced a 4,3% increase in its revenue from R3,7 billion to R3,9 billion for the six months ended 28 February 2019.

Despite having lost its foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-free status in January 2019, South African authorities have negotiated the resumption of trade in livestock products between the country and a number of export destinations.

There has been mixed reaction to the newly implemented soya levy from industry role players, due to concerns among farmers about profitability as a result of the ongoing drought.

The eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal has refuted claims by the DA that the 12 poultry houses purchased by the municipality in 2017 for R14,4 million have fallen into disrepair.