by Wandile Sihlobo | Oct 25, 2020 | Agricultural Production
This essay first appeared on Fin24, October 20, 2020 South Africa’s 2020 large agricultural output, coupled with higher commodity prices which were precipitated by the weaker domestic currency, further linked with growing global demand, improved farmers’ finances...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Oct 24, 2020 | Land Reform
By Wandile Sihlobo and Prof Johann Kirsten[i] Agriculture, land reform & rural development minister Thoko Didiza’s announcement that 700,000ha of agricultural land will be released for distribution is a positive step for agricultural expansion and inclusive...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Oct 18, 2020 | Agricultural Production
Written for and first appeared on Fin24, October 12, 2020 We are just over two weeks before the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) releases data on South African farmers’ intentions to plant summer crops for the 2020/21 season. The available data such as tractors sales,...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Oct 17, 2020 | Land Reform
Essay by Theo Boshoff, Wandile Sihlobo and Prof Johann Kirsten[i] At the beginning of October 2020, South Africa’s Department of Public Works and Infrastructure published the Expropriation Bill (2020) in the Government Gazette along with an explanatory memorandum....
by Wandile Sihlobo | Oct 15, 2020 | Agricultural Production
One feature that has characterised global agricultural markets over the past few weeks is rising prices. The growing demand from China as the country rebuilds its pig herd, which was decimated by African swine fever, combined with dry weather conditions that adversely...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Oct 13, 2020 | General Comments
Agriculture has, for a long time, been dominated by men, from leadership positions to primary workers, where only a third of the labour force are women. Similar, black farmers in staple commodities such as maize, wheat and even including citrus and potatoes constitute...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Oct 11, 2020 | Daily Notes
In the 2019/20 marketing year, Zimbabwe’s maize imports, specifically from South Africa didn’t gain much momentum until the start of 2020. This is when Zimbabwe’s maize stocks were already depleted following a season where the country produced roughly 777 000 tonnes,...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Oct 8, 2020 | Daily Notes
Written for and first appeared on Fin24, October 5, 2020 The growth of South Africa’s agricultural fortunes and job creation will, in part, depend on the expansion of agricultural activities in the underutilised former homelands regions and farms that government...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Oct 7, 2020 | Daily Notes
South Africa’s tractors sales maintained the positive path in September 2020, which has been underway since June, increasing by 23% y/y with 529 units sold (see Exhibit 1). This was boosted, to a certain extent, by improved farmers’ financial position following a...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Oct 6, 2020 | Daily Notes
Zambia’s grain production has increased notably in the recent past, specifically maize, soybeans, and wheat. This has been boosted by both the expansion in area planted and improvement in yields. Zambia went from being a net importer of maize to an exporter in just...
