South Africa

The South African agriculture sector is well regulated in terms of child labour, with data suggesting that such practices are locally quite rare. As we commemorate World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June, Henning Naudé reports on South Africa’s progress towards best labour practices.

Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has reaffirmed government’s commitment to transforming the country’s livestock sector by accelerating the implementation of commodity-based development models.

The House of Natural Butters has been given a R500 000 fine after their peanut butter products were found to contain elevated levels of aflatoxins.

A satirical article about a Limpopo farming community slaughtering the 30 cows awarded to them has been taken as truth by some.

Average to below-average winter rainfall and climate change are increasing the risk of fires and frost damage this winter. Farmers should prepare for a high-risk fire season in the summer rainfall area, according to agricultural meteorologist, Johan van den Berg.

Speakers at the AgriCulture Mpumalanga congress in White River spoke about the mind shifts farmers must go through to ensure they stay in business. The AgriCulture Mpumalanga congress that took place in White River last week was held under the theme ‘Here to stay’.

The Red Meat Industry Services, in partnership with government, has activated a centralised Operation Centre to help aid government in the ongoing fight against foot-and-mouth disease.

Savanna goat ram Maize Valley Savanna 95230071 fetched the highest price of R400 000 at Royal Genetics’ Second Production Sale held on Saturday at the Castle De Wildt Showgrounds near Modimolle, Limpopo.

Corruption Watch (CW) has taken aim at the Department of Agriculture over its prolonged and ongoing failure to implement Farmworker Equity Schemes (FWES). FWES were designed to allow farmworkers the opportunity to become shareholders in farms with the support of government grants.

Over 250 youths from across the Eastern Cape gathered at the Feather Market Centre in Gqeberha on 3 June for the inaugural Youth in Agriculture Indaba, hosted by the departments of Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture. At the event, they were urged to formalise their agribusiness to set themselves up for success.

The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture is expecting an update from the Department of Agriculture about consultations with other stakeholders regarding the ban of terbufos and other highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs).

Farmers in KwaZulu-Natal are facing dire economic straits as the disease management areas remain in effect and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continues seemingly unabated.

On World Environment Day 2025, plastic pollution is taking centre stage. The drive to end plastic pollution is under the spotlight today as the world commemorates World Environment Day 2025, with international celebrations being hosted by the Republic of Korea under the theme #BeatPlasticPollution.

Amid an overall climate of recovery in the agriculture sector, the livestock industry is under a fair deal of strain in light of the latest outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

The strategic collaborative partnership between Earth Hub Africa, MTN SA Foundation, and Shell South Africa is aimed at creating scalable smart farming in rural areas.

Karan Beef has suspended cattle intake at its Heidelberg feedlot following a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, which was confirmed on Monday.

As part of the Unemployed Agricultural Graduates Entrepreneurial Development Programme, North West has developed a centralised database to better match graduates to working farms.

Farmers should adapt to survive the deep structural changes that are currently taking place in the world. This was according to Graeme Codrington, futurist and lead researcher at TomorrowToday Global, who spoke during a panel discussion hosted by Shell at Nampo.

The crumbling state of operations at poultry producer Daybreak Foods has laid bare a devastating animal welfare and governance crisis. A court ruling handed down on Friday has dealt a decisive blow to the company, as the Gauteng High Court made final an urgent interim order obtained by the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in South Africa. (NSPCA) on 10 May.

Today, 30 May, marks the International Day of the Potato, which highlights the crop’s importance in food security, nutrition, and rural livelihoods.