South Africa

The uptake of technology could assist smallholders in increasing production, and governments needed to invest in technologies that could boost smallholder production.

South African pigeon fanciers, Samuel Mbiza and Mark Kitchenbrand, recently paid about R5 million (€360 000) for world famous racing pigeon, Golden Prince, at the Gino Clicque auction in Belgium. This was according to online auction site, Pigeon Paradise (pipa.be).

Fraud of more than R7,5 million was recently uncovered at the Joburg Fresh Produce Market.

Escorts Agri Machinery, a division of the India-based Escorts Group, has appointed newly formed SA company, Vukani Agri (Pty) Ltd, as the exclusive importer and distributor of Farmtrac tractors and agricultural implements in South Africa.

The issue of land reform would intensify in the run-up to the 2019 election, and the more the political conflict over land reform gained momentum, the more undeliverable the proposals would become.

The recent media reports stating that South African farmers were no longer threatened by fall armyworm (FAW) were incorrect, Dirk Strydom, Grain SA’s marketing manager, told Farmer’s Weekly.

The Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index improved by two index points in the first quarter of 2017, to 57.

Stock theft has increased 2% for the period April 2016 to December 2016, compared to the period between April 2015 and December 2015. This was according to statistics recently released by the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Hundreds of Free State farmers are working together to apprehend farm attackers and stock thieves.

CT Steyn (32) is in a critical condition in the hospital in Bethlehem after being stabbed in the heart during a farm attack…

Global rhino and wildlife populations were under threat as a result of poaching. This was according to SANParks chief executive, Fundisile Mketeni, who recently spoke at the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga in celebration of World Wildlife Day.

More than R380 million that could have been used to assist farmers during the drought has not been spent. This was revealed during a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee meeting in which the committee was given an account of how Treasury and other departments had assisted farmers during the drought.

Citrus production is a long-term investment, requiring technical expertise to ensure profitability. As a result, new entrants to the industry need to be trained, educated and mentored in order to become competitive and sustainable.

The South African agricultural sector would benefit if subsidies to EU farmers are cut significantly, according to Dr John Purchase, CEO of Agbiz.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has announced an additional 10% water restriction on agricultural water use that will remain in force until dam levels reach 85% of capacity.

Thirteen cattle herds in the Eastern Cape have been placed in quarantine after testing positive for brucellosis.

Fall armyworm (FAW) has now spread to potato crops, with the first infestation reported in the Loskop Valley near Marble Hall in Mpumalanga on 23 February.

Torrential rains during the past fortnight have filled dams across much of the summer rainfall area in South Africa, but more rain is needed for some parts of the country.

While reportedly heartened by President Jacob Zuma’s and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s recent stated support for renewable energy expansion, the South African Renewable Energy Council (SAREC) has accused national power utility, Eskom, of failing to prioritise this expansion.

The production estimate for South Africa’s summer crops over the 2016/17 season has risen 72,47%, due to widespread rains since the start of spring last year.