South Africa

The Eskom tariff increase of 18,5%, which kicked in at the start of April, is driving up the cost of intensive layer, broiler and pork production, and making it increasingly difficult for these farmers to remain commercially viable.

There is hope that a new focus on cannabis production in the Free State will boost job creation and economic activity in the province.

Lumpy skin disease has been reported in all provinces since the start of the year, with communal farmers in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal being most affected, according to Dr Danie Odendaal, director of the Veterinarian Network.

The ongoing increase in food prices has raised concern over South Africa’s growth outlook, as inflation adds to a basket of factors sending the country towards a recession.

The global streamlining of chemicals allowed on food products will render many crop-protection chemicals illegal by 1 June 2024, heightening risk for farmers already battling pests.

Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, CropLife South Africa’s (CropLife SA) operations and stewardship manager, issued a serious warning against the use of chemical products registered for agricultural purposes in an effort to mitigate the recent massive outbreak of German cockroaches in the country.

SA Wine Industry Information and Systems (SAWIS) recently revised the wine grape harvest estimate downward for the fourth time, making it the smallest harvest in 19 years.

The Sizwe Kupelo Foundation recently handed a petition over to Thoko Didiza, Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, demanding a ban on pit bulls as domestic pets in South Africa.

In the run-up to the 2022/23 summer grain harvesting season, agribusiness NWK recently commenced grading some 1 400km of gravel roads leading to its silos in North West.

The court judgment states that the temporary or permanent transfer of water-use entitlements is supported by the Water Act, contrary to the view held by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

Gledhow sugar mill has become the second mill to be placed under business rescue, thereby increasing concerns over the future viability of the sugar cane production industry in South Africa.

African horse sickness (AHS) cases are increasing in Gauteng while vaccines have been unavailable since last year, according to reports. Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), which is responsible for manufacturing the vaccines, has allegedly been without stock for several months.

Industry stakeholders have expressed concern over the lack of tenure security provided for in a new bill on communal land.

South Africa is set to deliver another bumper crop of macadamia nuts this year, surpassing last year’s total yield of 68 840t dry-nut-in-shell at 1,5% moisture, to reach nearly 78 000t.

The Western Cape recently became the first province to formally launch a Cannabis Framework and Implementation Plan (CanPlan) for the agriculture sector.

The latest grain crop estimate released by the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) shows an increase in yields for most grain crops in South Africa, alleviating fears that erratic weather would have curtailed the harvest. This means South Africa will have sufficient staple food supplies in the 2023/24 marketing year.

The Competition Commission (CompCom) recently launched the Fresh Produce Market Inquiry to identify features that could impede, distort or restrict competition along the fresh produce value chain.

The shortage of snakebite antivenom in South Africa was a source of serious concern as this threatened the lives of animals and humans, according to Johan Marais, CEO of the African Snakebite Institute.

Red meat production has once again come under fire, this time in a study detailing a pathway for South Africa to achieve its goal of achieving net-zero carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by 2050.

The lack of regulations over terminology for alternative protein products is causing confusion about food labels worldwide and has already led to several court cases in South Africa.