by Wandile Sihlobo | Apr 11, 2021 | Agricultural Production
The debate over amending section 25 has gone beyond the realm of agriculture as various other stakeholders have engaged with parliament. As the outcome is likely to have direct implications for the success of the department’s work programme, it would be prudent for parliament to consider the broader impact on the agricultural and other sectors of the economy while SA is in an economic reconstruction phase.
by Wandile Sihlobo | Apr 9, 2021 | General Comments
I recently joined Ms Vonnie Estes, Vice President of Technology, at The Produce Marketing Association to discuss the role of technology in boosting agriculture productivity in Africa and how growing more agricultural produce can help address unemployment on the Continent.
by Wandile Sihlobo | Apr 7, 2021 | Agricultural Production
Progress with South Africa’s land reform as per the National Development Plan has been underestimated and, while still slow, is closer to the 30% target than typically believed.
by Wandile Sihlobo | Apr 6, 2021 | Agricultural Production
The weather will be the main focus of South Africa’s agriculture for both summer and winter crops, and to an extent, horticulture, in the near term. The summer crop growing areas are approaching the harvesting period, with early planted soybeans and sunflower seed...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Mar 31, 2021 | Land Reform
Today, the Agrekon Journal, a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal, published my article — a response to a critique of the Presidential Advisory Panel report on South Africa’s Land Reform and Agriculture. I was a member of the Panel.
by Wandile Sihlobo | Mar 30, 2021 | Agricultural Trade
Despite a vibrant agricultural sector, there are a standard list of challenges that South African agribusinesses commonly cite – land reform policy, droughts and infrastructure are amongst the most frequently cited. However, a growing challenge facing firms – particularly those in beef, wool, fruit and wine – is the need to identify new markets.
by Wandile Sihlobo | Mar 29, 2021 | General Comments
Agriculture is one of the sectors in which the South African government aims to increase the participation of black people, and also to ensure that farming of all kinds will assist to revitalise the rural economy and create jobs.
by Wandile Sihlobo | Mar 27, 2021 | Agricultural Trade
South African agricultural stakeholders want to increase exports to BRIC(S) countries. This message came sharply in a hybrid event the Agricultural Business Chamber of SA (Agbiz) had with its members, commodity organizations and government representatives on March 19.
by Wandile Sihlobo | Mar 25, 2021 | Agricultural Production
South Africa’s Crop Estimates Committee mildly lifted its forecast for 2020/21 summer grain and oilseeds production from last month by 1% to 18,7 million tonnes (this compared with 17,6 million tonnes in 2019/20 production season).
by Wandile Sihlobo | Mar 23, 2021 | Agricultural Environment and Natural Resource
The lower oil prices in 2020 kept South Africa’s agricultural input costs at reasonably lower levels in 2020. But this year will not be the same; the Brent crude oil price has recovered from lower levels last seen this period last year when the pandemic hit the world,...