South Africa

Any perceived shortage of toilet paper in retail stores can be ascribed to a consumer behavioural issue rather than a production issue.

In an effort to contribute in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic, various industries around the world are now producing alcohol for use in hand sanitisers at their production facilities.

A challenging planting season looms for grain farmers in the winter rainfall region, as weather forecasts indicate that rain might be delayed.

While the wine industry has received permission to complete the wine grape harvest, South Africa’s lockdown on local and international sales will have far-reaching repercussions for the financial viability of businesses in the supply chain.

Western Cape premier, Alan Winde, has quashed rumours that he had lifted the ban on the sale of tobacco products in the province.

An amendment to South Africa’s lockdown regulations that will allow informal traders with the necessary permits to resume operations was announced by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, on Thursday.

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.