South Africa

Stock theft cost South Africa’s farmers hundreds of millions of rand last year and many Eastern Cape stock farmers believe they are losing the battle against stock thieves.

Fairtrade in South Africa has experienced dramatic growth over the past few years and the annual Fairtrade Week currently taking place is set to further increase Fairtrade awareness among local consumers and boost sales.

Local wine sales have not kept up with the growth in wine exports from SA and, with the industry optimistic about further export growth and the penetration of new markets in 2013, it’s likely that local sales will continue to lag behind.

The impact of the drought in SA’s central grain-producing areas is gaining momentum and is already being reflected in a sharp increase in maize prices.

Agricultural leaders are sceptical that President Jacob Zuma’s plans to speed up land reform and re-open land claims, in order to accommodate pre-June 1913 claims by Khoi and San descendents, will get financial backing from treasury.

The Free State needed a programme to highlight the importance of rural safety to society, Free State premier Ace Magashule said on Thursday.

Re-opening the land restitution process is not the answer to deal with issues such as addressing the legacy of the dispossession of land from the Khoi and the San people, according to Dr Theo de Jager, Agri SA deputy president.

According to the much anticipated and delayed audit of agricultural land in South Africa, the state owned 22% of the land while 78% was in private ownership.

The South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association has warned owners of firearms used for self-protection to ensure that they apply for the renewal of licenses issued in terms of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000, at least 90 days before the licenses were due to expire.

Dairy farmers delivering milk to Clover can look forward to an increase in the producer price for milk from 1 March 2013.

The lack of grazing in large parts of the Northern Cape is becoming serious, according to an Agri Northern Cape report.

Organised agriculture in the Eastern Cape told farmers to recover from the shock of the 52% increase in the minimum wage for farm workers before making decisions.

Imports of frozen French fries knocked local processors, with South Africa’s largest processor reportedly suffering a drop in sales.

Although President Jacob Zuma was clear in his State of the Nation Address that agriculture and rural development remained high on the government’s agenda...

President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address (SONA) should “generally be welcomed”, especially the adoption of the National Development Plan (NDP) “as a framework for economic development and to address the challenges of poverty, crass inequality and unemployment,” said Agbiz CEO Dr John Purchase.

Agricultural union, TAU SA has suspended its participation in discussions on the Green Paper on Land Reform.

Government plans to accelerate land reform, but there’s still very little clarity about the policy direction that will be taken to speed up redistribution.

The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is getting closer to establishing an Office of the Valuer-General as the final authority on land and property valuation.

A draft bill to empower the SAPS to arrest people carrying dangerous weapons during public gatherings came before Parliament on Tuesday, 12 February.

Grain SA (GSA) called on grain producers to avoid large scale retrenchments of workers after the Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant, announced the increased minimum wages for farm workers of R105 per day effective from 1 March 2013.