South Africa

Farmers with water rights and irrigation boards might have to make water available to government, following steps introduced by the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation to combat the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic.

South Africa’s pear production for 2020 is estimated at about 411 000t, which is a slight decrease on the 413 250t produced in 2019.

The South African and international flower industries are in dire straits due to market closures and limited international flights as a result of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic.

A potential ban on livestock exports from South Africa by ship would hamstring efforts to grow the country’s developing animal production sector, and will also likely lead to an oversupply of red meat locally.

To date, border closures and limitations on movement as a result of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic have had minimal impact on South African farmers with operations in Mozambique.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic is expected to have a negative impact on the South African livestock value chain in the long run.

Biltong hunting has formed an important part of the South African way of life for hundreds of years.

Dr Mogale Sebopetsa will assume the position of new head of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture on 1 April. He takes over from Joyene Isaacs.

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture department) has made it clear that the agriculture and food sector value chain, which is responsible for food security, has been declared as essential.

The government’s ban on the sale of legal tobacco products during the current national lockdown, which was put in place by Government as an urgent measure to slow down the spread of the coronavirus disease is South Africa, is likely to result in a dramatic spike in the illicit tobacco trade that reportedly already results in the South African fiscus losing over R8 billion a year in tax revenue.

The South African citrus industry is expected to export a record 143,3 million cartons of citrus fruit to more than 100 countries in 2020.

The ongoing decline of the rand against major international trading currencies is likely to affect local consumer prices of imported chicken even more than the recently announced tariff increases on imports for specific categories of this commodity.

The Crop Estimate’s Committee (CEC) has revised the expected commercial maize crop for 2020 up another 1,7% to over 14,8 million tons.

It is too early to speculate whether the suspected links between wildlife trade and consumption and the emergence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are resulting in any reductions in the illegal wildlife trade.

The avocado industry has not been spared the effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic.

Private-sector attorneys and advocates who are paid by the state to assess the merits of land claims, and where necessary, pursue these cases in the Land Claims Court, have been warned to no longer institute legal proceedings where there are clearly no prospects of success.

Today we start our 21-day national lockdown in a bid to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus virus (COVID-19) in South Africa.

The recent major decline in international crude oil prices is likely to have a significant impact on South Africa’s sugar value chain.

Following the recent announcement of a cut in South Africa’s repo rate, the agriculture sector can look forward to some relief on loan repayments.

Amid the devastating coronavirus disease (COVID- 19) outbreak, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture department) recently established an industry task team, under the auspices of agriculture minister Thoko Didiza, to manage this disaster.