Staff Reporter
Farmer's Weekly's Staff Reporter team provides accurate, timely, and trusted coverage of South African agriculture, delivering expert-backed reporting on farming, livestock, crops, agribusiness, technology, policy, and industry developments.
Kenyan cashew nut industry in dire straits
The cashew nut farming industry in Lamu County, Kenya, faces collapse after years of losses. These follow a government ban on exports in 2009, according to the Daily Nation newspaper.
Significant fall in Zeder earnings
Investment holding company, Zeder’s headline and attributable earnings per share decreased significantly due to a once-off management fee and internalisation charge of almost R1,5 billion added to the income statement.
Shaping the future of global food security
Feeding the global population nutritiously and sustainably by 2030 will require unprecedented innovation and coordination by all stakeholders, according to a report by the World Economic Forum’s System Initiative on Shaping the Future of Food Security and Agriculture.
Top honours for SA brandy in World Drinks Awards
Distell’s Oude Meester Demant brandy walked away with top honours at the recent World Drinks Awards in London, receiving the title of ‘World’s Best Brandy’.
Vigorous growth predicted for global hazelnut market
The international hazelnut market is set for robust growth over the next decade, according to market researchers.
Record price for wool
Merino wool producer, BP Greyling from Wakkerstroom in Mpumalanga, achieved a record-high price at a recent wool auction held at the Wool and Mohair Exchange in Port Elizabeth.
RSA Group responds to CompCom collusion allegations
The RSA Group said CompCom’s allegations of collusion at fresh produce markets across South Africa were based on a misconception of how the markets operated.
Fall army worm outbreak reported in Uganda
The Ugandan minister of agriculture, animal industries and fisheries, Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja, has issued a warning about fall armyworm infestations in that country.
SA’s Claire Reid wins Global Agripreneur of the Year award
A young South African agripreneur, Claire Reid, was recently awarded the prestigious Agripreneur of the Year Award at the third Future Agro Challenge (FAC) Global Championships, which took place during the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) held in Johannesburg.
Dealing with Fusarium ear rot
The incidence of ear rot in South Africa’s maize-producing areas can vary greatly from year to year and from land to land within the same season.
Excellent brandy grape harvest despite drought
While the drought in parts of the Western Cape had adversely affected crop production, it is expected that it would have little effect on this year’s brandy grape harvest.
Brazilian meat processors investigated for bribery
Brazilian meat-packing companies, Brazil Foods SA (BRF SA) and JBS SA, were recently raided by police after alleged bribery of health officials that could threaten US$12 billion (R152 billion) in annual exports, Reuters reported.
Edible oils’ cartel investigation to go ahead
Four of the five edible oils companies that are being investigated by the Competition Commission (CompCom) for alleged anti-competitive practices have reportedly approached the South African High Court to interdict the CompCom from reviewing documents that it seized from the companies’ premises during a search and seizure operation on 8 December 2016.
SA agriculture not investing in development – Prof Karaan
While South Africa’s agricultural sector had experienced spectacular successes over the past two decades, its future was of great concern, according to Prof Mohammad Karaan, Dean of the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University.
KZN commercial farmers establish transformation organisation
Commercial farmers in southern KwaZulu-Natal recently launched a non-profit organisation aimed at helping local developing farmers achieve optimal, sustainable and profitable agricultural production from their enterprises.
British American Tobacco Zimbabwe’s profits decline
Tobacco processor, British American Tobacco (BAT) Zimbabwe, reported a 45% drop in its bottom line for the year ended 31 December 2016.
Modern, ethical livestock production is here to stay
The socio-economic dynamics of an ever-growing and increasingly globalised human population are placing increasing demands on the world’s livestock producers. German Agricultural Society president, Carl-Albrecht Bartmer, explored these issues at the opening of EuroTier 2016.
Animal health: Rabies
It is time once more for our annual warning about this deadly disease. Rabies can strike any warm-blooded animal and it is rightfully a feared zoonosis.
CGA Citrus Summit
The CGA Citrus Summit is a biennial event where growers of the different citrus regions and value chain partners get together.
Uganda in need of food aid
Uganda’s government recently announced that at least 10 million Ugandans were in need of food aid after the drought affected crop harvests, according to media reports.
