South Africa

The adoption of digital technologies, such as the internet of things, artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, remote sensing, geographic information systems and block chain, will become increasingly important to accelerate growth and improve efficiencies in the vine and wine industry, according to a recently released report by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).

The TWK Group has announced its “best financial results on record” for the year ended 31 August 2021.

Despite an extraordinary year characterised by suppressed GDP growth, record high fuel prices, changing consumer patterns, and a reduction in travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kaap Agri has delivered a strong financial performance for the year ended September 2021.

Sub-Saharan Africa is still the most food-insecure region on earth according to the Economist’s Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Food Security Index (GFSI) report, launched in Pretoria on Monday, 22 November.

Omnia Holdings has been able to more than double its profits after tax from continuing operations to R467 million, according to its mid-term results for the period ending 30 September 2021.

Free State Agriculture (FSA) has called for the murder of a Free State farm manager, who was killed in a farm attack in 2020, to be reinvestigated by the South African Police Service (SAPS).

While the rain is widely welcomed, farmers in the Southern Cape could face serious damage after the region received heavy rainfall on Monday, 22 November.

A hike in interest rates on the back of increased administrative costs, rather than “consumer pull” is of grave concern. This was according to Prof André Jooste, an agricultural economist affiliated with Stellenbosch University.

The consumer price index (CPI) for October remained unchanged at 5% as recorded in September, with the monthly inflation rate also holding steady at 0,2%, according to Statistics South Africa.

Despite improved producer prices, pineapple farmers are feeling the pinch of rising input costs.

(Vacancy filled) Farmer’s Weekly has a vacancy for an experienced media professional to join the title as editor of its print and online publications.

South African mango producers are concerned about the 2021/22 harvest, which is currently expected to be between 15% and 20% smaller than average.

Transnet lost more than 1 000km of copper cable to theft during the first 10 months of this year.

During his maiden medium-term budget address in Parliament on Thursday, 12 November, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana committed himself to accelerating economic reform for long-term economic growth in South Africa.

Government is currently considering the implementation of a quota system for the employment of foreign nationals to ensure more jobs are reserved for South Africans in an attempt to curb rising unemployment.

Eskom’s proposed new pricing methodology is unjust and will penalise rural energy consumers and the agriculture sector.

Agri Northern Cape is urging farmers to report brown locust outbreaks to their local district locust officers as soon as they are first observed.

Unfortunately, there is no recourse for farmers who have fallen victim to the recent scam in which fraudsters impersonated officials from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (agriculture department).

Free State farmers on the Free State’s border with Lesotho are for all intents and purposes left to their own devices as far as safety and security is concerned.

Agri SA has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on Wednesday, 3 November that South Africa has secured R131 billion to steer the country away from its dependence on coal for energy generation towards ‘green energy’.