South Africa

The economic losses caused by livestock theft in the red meat industry amounts to millions of rands annually and is increasingly driven by well-organised criminal syndicates, according to Joe Scholtz, vice-chairman of the National Stock Theft Prevention Forum.

The beer, wine and spirits industries have called on government to give it more time to respond to Treasury’s recently published draft proposals on the taxation of alcoholic beverages aimed at reducing alcohol abuse.

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Friday evening, announcing urgent measures to tackle a food safety crisis that has led to rising cases of foodborne illnesses and fatalities across South Africa.

Pannar Seed, in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, hosted a farmers’ day to launch the 2024/25 planting season at Ya Rona Temo Farm in Vereeniging, Gauteng.

The Health Promotion Levy (HPL), commonly referred to as South Africa’s sugar tax, was introduced in 2018 as part of an effort to reduce rising rates of non-communicable diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

A young male leopard caused panic among residents of Monyakeng, near Wesselsbron in the Free State, when it was spotted in the area on Tuesday.

While the Department of Water and Sanitation is improving water security in South Africa, farmers are worried about how failures at municipal level might impact them, according to Janse Rabie, AgriSA’s head of natural resources.

Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, highlighted the urgency for the BRICS bloc to deepen economic co-operation, particularly in agriculture during the Farming Forward event hosted by Standard Bank and Business Day at Sun City.

While South Africa faces stiff competition for its avocados in export markets, it is import tariffs and non-tariff barriers that result in the biggest hindrance to our export growth.

South Africa’s food is among the most affordable in the world, but the economic situation in the country is placing immense financial strain on consumers, making it increasingly challenging for people to access nutritious food. This was according to Roelie van Heerden, supply chain executive at Beefmaster Group.

South Africa’s agricultural regions are not expected to see a significant locust outbreak this season, according to Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, operations and stewardship manager at CropLife South Africa.

Growth in agriculture is in general two to three times more effective at reducing poverty than an equivalent amount of growth generated outside agriculture.