South Africa

A recent study conducted by the universities of Stellenbosch (SU) and Ghent, and published in Development Southern Africa, has cast doubt on the efficacy of the Empowerment for Food Security Programme (EFSP) run by the KwaZulu-Natal department of agriculture in co-operation with the Flemish Development Corporation.

More than six months after the incident, Free State alpaca breeder Jandre Boshoff is still shocked by the senseless bludgeoning to death of five male alpacas in his 120-strong herd.

“As South Africa looks forward to the Festive Season, the coming year will be eventful and mostly positive.” This was the message that Jan van Zyl, FNB’s head of agric information and marketing brought to sugarcane farmers in Eston and Noodsberg in KwaZulu-Natal, during a recent farmers’ day.

A farmer’s ability to reach the yield potential of their farm has less to do with climate and soil and more with an enabling environment.

Good rain has fallen over the grain production areas of the western Free State and most of the grain producers have started planting.

Resistance is mounting in the macadamia nut industry over levies payable to the Southern African Macadamia Growers’ Association (Samac).

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has set 25 April 2014 as the date by which all preserved, processed, dried and packaged meat products must adhere to the deparment’s new labelling regulations.

The EU has banned most imports of SA citrus for the remainder of this year following fears that citrus black spot (CBS), a fungal disease found in dozens of shipments, could spread to the 28-nation bloc, Reuters reported.

The mohair market maintained its current high levels at the second-last sale of the winter season.

Some 14 000 bags of fodder weighing 50kg each have been distributed to 23 346 farmers who applied for drought relief in the North West since Monday, 18 November 2013.

Omnia’s revenue for the six months ending September 2013 is up 25,7% to R7,5 billion and basic earnings per share are up 16,7% to 637c/share.

Liquor group KWV reported a nearly R20 million loss for the six months to end-September 2013.

South Africa’s negative trade balance could be improved if better systems were in place to aid exports.

The devastating drought in North West, especially in communal areas became even clearer from the air.

A coalition of NGOs believes that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has under-estimated how much greenhouse gas is emitted by palm oil grown on tropical peatlands.

The local citrus industry is in dire straits as its biggest market continues to push for a ban on South African imports.

Transnet’s proposed multi-billion rand Durban Dig-Out Port (DDOP) has been met with protest action from small-scale vegetable farmers and NGOs.

The Freedom Front Plus, along with the Transvaal Agricultural Union of South Africa (TAU SA) and the National Ratepayers Union (NRU) will be asking the High Court to consider an application for an interdict against the implementation of the E-Toll Act before 3 December, said Anton Alberts, parliamentary spokesperson on transport for the FF Plus.

If all goes according to plan, SA will be able to export maize to China in the near future. Grain SA CEO Jannie de Villiers said that a trade protocol for market access for maize has been concluded and awaits signing of the two country’s ministers of agriculture.

Former North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (NW DARD) head of department, Dr Kgabi Mogajane denied any wrongdoing with regard to the procurement of Grain SA’s (GSA) services.