Overcoming obstacles to soya bean sector development
Daniel Njiwa, the Zambian representative for FoodTrade East and Southern Africa (FoodTrade ESA), writes that soya beans are one of the world’s most important and tradeable oilseeds. According to him,...
Fighting fire with communities’ support
The devastation caused by veld fires in the Free State was evidence that a new approach to the management and suppression of fires was needed, according to Malcolm Procter, the...
Tradition hinders female empowerment
Glenneis Kriel spoke to Joyene Isaacs about her experiences as head of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture over the past 10 years, and the prospects for women in agriculture.
How global agri can mitigate climate change
Agriculture may be highly susceptible to the effects of climate change, but it can also be used to mitigate the effects of this alarming phenomenon. Prof Richard Eckard, director of...
African agri-financing model must change
Because of the lack of tenure security in Africa, agricultural financing on the continent cannot be based on the traditional model. Instead, institutions should adopt the ‘ecosystem’ financing approach, says...
The crucial role of women in African agriculture
Women in Africa are key contributors to economic growth and global food security, but they still face many challenges, according to Maureen Bandama, agricultural project consultant at IQ Logistica Investments.
Barriers to entry in agro-processing
In the working paper titled ‘Competition, barriers to entry and inclusive growth: agro-processing’, Tamara Paremoer and Reena das Nair of the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED) at...
Building stronger economies and communities in Africa
While Africa is rich in resources, it still lags behind much of the world in many socio-economic aspects. Kofi Annan, former secretary-general of the United Nations and founding chairperson of...
Agricultural output versus SA’s population growth
Nico Strydom and Jean Struweg, researchers in the Department of Finance and Investment Management at the University of Johannesburg, recently published an article in Agrekon, titled, ‘Malthus revisited: Long-term Trends...
Agriculture is paralysed by SA’s poor leadership- Tony Leon
South Africa is currently faced with a paralysed, narrow and inward-looking leadership, according to political analyst and former leader of the Democratic Alliance, Tony Leon.
Preparing to meet evolving consumer demands
With the speed at which the world is changing, it is difficult to predict the effects that advancing technology, increased access to information and consumers’ demands for personalised products will...
Get ready for change
Political uncertainty, climate change, water shortages, poor economic growth, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution are reshaping the way that industries are operating. The Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities, Alan...
Better economic prospects ahead for sub-Saharan Africa
In the PwC Africa Agribusiness Insights Survey 2016, economic advisor, Dr Roelof Botha, looks at some of the most significant macroeconomic trends for agribusiness in Africa, and key challenges affecting...
The ethics of climate change
Professor Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal, former president of the Royal Society, and emeritus professor of cosmology and astrophysics at the University of Cambridge, looks beyond 2050.
Government out of touch with black farmers’ needs – IRR land report
Government’s land reform policy will not rescue South Africa from its 36% unemployment rate, nor is it a true reflection of the real needs and wants of black emerging farmers....
The effects of poor rural road conditions on produce
Highlighting the effects of rural road conditions on agricultural cargo is one way of enhancing the visibility of rural road research, according to Prof Wynand Steyn, an associate professor in...
Why conserving Africa’s biodiversity is so crucial
While the topic of food security is being increasingly discussed in many parts of the world, it appears that in Africa this vitally important subject receives far too little attention,...
Botswana beef exports: opportunities for SA farmers?
Preferential access to the EU should be fully exploited by Botswana’s beef producers and feedlots. More cattle need to be exported, with local demand being met by imports from South...
Growing South Africa’s global fruit exports
The SA fruit and nut markets are driven by global supply and demand. Ezra Steenkamp, deputy director of trade research at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), and...
Food for Africa: investing in the future
Multinational agricultural companies have the capacity and expertise to provide African countries with the inputs needed to grow farming operations – even in challenging climatic conditions, according to DuPont Pioneer...
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