South Africa

Economists agree that the agriculture sector is not in trouble, despite the latest GDP figures released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) showing that the sector’s GDP contracted 13,6% quarter-on-quarter.

Grain and oilseed plantings in the summer grain production region of South Africa is well underway after the good rainfall that occurred in November and December.

Two Western Cape farmers, JT Basson and John Woest, both in their sixties, accused of murdering an alleged illegal fruit vendor, Chatwell Rogers on 30 November, have been released on R5 000 bail each.

The Senwes Group has increased its turnover by 47,8% to R5,2 billion, according to its interim results for the six months ended 31 October 2021.

South Africa’s top cattle farmers were honoured during the Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC) recent virtual annual National Beef Performer of the Year Awards.

We at Farmer’s Weekly are deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing of columnist Michael Cordes, who passed away on 3 December at the age of 79.

While the Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) showed that agricultural businesses’ confidence is at its second highest level in 20 years, this positive sentiment is not shared by all stakeholders.

The potato industry is investing in various technologies to improve its sustainability, and is currently in the process of developing a mobile app to improve communication with members.

South Africa now holds the records for the highest tree in Africa and the highest planted tree in the world.

The third quarter of each year is typically not a busy period for agriculture, hence employment figures in the third quarter of 2021 showed an almost 4% decline from the second quarter figures.

Southern African citrus growers exported 161,6 million 15kg-equivalent cartons of local citrus during 2021. This was 18,6 million cartons more than last year, despite several logistical difficulties that arose during the season.

The latest fuel price increase will put pressure on the entire agricultural value chain and could lead to increased job losses, industry leaders have...

Healthy competition among mohair farmers has resulted in world-record prices being achieved several times over the past year.

The South African agrochemical sector has been urged to take immediate steps to comply with its legislative obligations before a pending crackdown by regulators.

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).