Poor communication between consumers and agriculture
Communication between SA’s consumers and the agricultural sector was lacking, according to Tutti Rudman, SA National Consumer Union (SANCU) chairperson.
SA women sacrifice healthy meals to feed men, children
A high percentage of South Africans living in poverty-stricken urban areas are food insecure and women often end up foregoing nutritious meals to feed the men and children in the household.
Gwede Mantashe encourages dialogue
ANC general secretary Gwede Mantashe said recently that he appreciated Agri SA’s approach to engage government constructively on agricultural policies, after discussions by him and Agri SA leadership this week.
Astral’s Chris Schutte hospitalised due to heart condition
Dr Chris Schutte, CEO of Astral Foods, has been admitted to hospital for a heart condition and will take a leave of absence from his official duties for a period of time to rest and recuperate.
SA agriculture grows jobs towards 1 million target
In the first quarter of 2015, South Africa’s agriculture sector made significant headway towards meeting the target of creating one million additional jobs set for it by the National Development Plan.
Research on kudu rabies in Namibia begins
Sufficient funds have been raised to start with research on the ongoing kudu rabies epidemic that has annihilated thousands of kudu in Namibia since 2001, according to Dr Reiner Hassel, Agra’s animal health technical advisor.
FAO Food Price index falls
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Food Price index for global food prices fell to its lowest since September 2009.
World Environment Day
If current consumption and production patterns are not changed, and the global population continues to increase as before, we shall need the equivalent of three Earths to sustain us by 2050, according to the United Nations.
‘Jackals, hyenas’ will prey on R2 billion agri-parks fund – Afasa
Government’s urgency to implement agri-parks across the country will make the process very vulnerable to corruption and abuse by contactors, said the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (Afasa).
FMD in northern Namibia “well controlled”
The recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the Northern Communal Areas (NCA) of Namibia were well controlled and do not pose a danger to the commercial farming areas to the south, according to Mecki Schneider, Namibian Livestock Producers chairperson.
DAFF needs clear policy on freshwater fisheries resources – WRC
A study launched by the Water Research Commission (WRC) has found that a clear policy needs to be drawn up if South Africa intends to establish a successful inland fisheries industry.
Co-ordinated predation management desperately needed
Predation damage in SA’s game and livestock industries amounted to R383 142 807/year, said Prof HO de Waal from the Free State University.
News-making headlines in FW – 29 May
Farmer's Weekly news editor Jaco Visser spoke to OFM's agri-editor Sabrina Dean about the top articles in the 29 May issue of Farmer's Weekly:
Carl van der Merwe wins WC Young Farmer of the Year 2015
A fruit farmer from the Koue Bokkeveld, Carl van der Merwe, was named the Western Cape Young Farmer of the Year.
Standard Bank advises farmers to ‘cut the dead wood’
Farmers should avoid the risk of placing too much emphasis on economic and global issues they have little or no control over, according to Nico Groenewald, Standard Bank’s head of agribusiness.
Total stock theft figures could be underestimated
Stock theft figures in South Africa might currently be underestimated by four times if University of the Free State (UFS) research is accurate.
Glyphosate poses minimal cancer risk
There is no proof that the chemical glyphosate caused cancer in humans and animals under normal veld conditions, according to Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, head of the Griffon Poison Information Centre.
News making headlines in FW – 22 May
Land reform is the top news maker this week, after Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Gugile Nkwinti made a surprise announcement that government is considering lowering the land cap from 12 000ha to 5 000ha.
Israelis’ agricultural partnership with Eastern Cape mooted
The Israelis are hosting an agribusiness seminar in East London today a day after meeting Eastern Cape Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane about a possible partnership to develop agriculture in the province.
Harvesting soya beans in KZN’s Kamberg Valley
Farmer’s Weekly journalist, Lloyd Phillips, recently attended the 96th AGM of the Kamberg Valley Association in KwaZulu-Natal.
