South Africa

South Africa’s economy expanded 1,2% quarter-on-quarter, with the transport, storage and communications industries making the largest contribution at 6,9%, followed by agriculture at 6,2%, according to the latest data released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).

More than one million hectares of grazing have so far been lost to wildfires in the North West, Free State and Northern Cape this year.

The Beer Association of South Africa (BASA) is actively trying to obtain relief for the excise duty burden placed on craft brewers.

While 2,7 million chickens have already been culled since an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was confirmed in South Africa in April, it remains unclear whether government will compensate farmers for all losses.

South Africa is on track to produce a record volume of canola, according to the first production forecast for winter grains released by the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) this week.

A recent notice issued by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture department) instructs food inspectors and those of designated assignees to follow up on food labelling that is misleading or incorrect in terms of the Agricultural Product Standards Act of 1990 (APS Act).

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns continue to have a negative impact on the private wildlife industry in South Africa.

Farmers in the Western Cape have expressed great joy about the snowfall on various mountains across the province during the weekend of 28 and 29 August.

Over the last two years, a number of new records have been set for the highest prices ever paid for registered bulls from different breeds sold at production auctions.

Anti-dumping duties on bone-in chicken imports were renewed against the UK, Germany and the Netherlands for an additional five years on 23 August 2021.

At least 3,5t of dead fish have already been collected following the torching of an agricultural chemical warehouse during the recent civil unrest in KwaZulu-Natal.

In the second quarter of 2021 (Q2) South Africa’s official unemployment rate increased to its highest level since Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) started publishing its Quarterly Labour Force Survey in 2008.

The fact that 15 people were killed in 181 attacks on farms and smallholdings between April and the end of June this year is extremely concerning.

Ethical Trade Norway has teamed up with the local organised wool community to help South African woolgrowers farm more sustainably and environmentally friendly.

South Africa’s annual consumer price inflation (CPI) softened further in July to 4,6%, down from 4,9% in June and 5,2% in May.

Geographic indicators, such as the registering of rooibos with a unique regional status, should be seen as “insurance”, according to Prof Johann Kirsten, director of the Bureau of Economic Research at Stellenbosch University.

Fruit and vegetable farmers who paid Product Control for Agriculture (Procon) for inspection services since 2017 should demand a refund. This was according to BJ van Zyl, director of ZZ2 and chairperson of the Tomato Producers’ Organisation (TPO).

In the first half of 2021, South Africa’s agricultural exports amounted to about R90,49 billion, which is a 30% year-on-year increase, according to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz.

Although the recent travel and trade restrictions that resulted from the third wave of COVID-19 infections exacerbated the export challenges faced by the cut flower industry, it is expected that protea and fynbos exports will increase by more than 18% in the 2020/2021 season.

The North West Department of Agriculture has cancelled a tender for a low throughput red meat abattoir at its training facility at the Kgora Farmer Training Centre in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality.