Prof Mohammad Karaan combined practical experience with academic excellence
It’s a sad period in South Africa’s agriculture. On January 13, 2021, we lost Prof Mohammed Karaan, one of South Africa’s preeminent policy advisors in the fields of agriculture development and land reform. He was also a mentor for the younger generation of agricultural economists like myself. We mourn his passing.
Trend-bucking summer rains are cause for optimism in South Africa’s agriculture
SA’s agricultural sector is having an upbeat start to the year. This optimism is a welcome change from the usual heightened uncertainty that has characterised the beginning of each of the past few years. Since the severe drought of 2014, we have been experiencing more...
Brief reflections on the recent rains over South Africa’s summer crop growing areas
We have seen a right mix of rain and sunshine in recent weeks across South Africa, which bodes well for all agricultural subsectors – field crops, horticulture and livestock. From my observations driving across some of South Africa’s regions these past few weeks, the crops look good from a distance. Also, conversations with farmers in various areas have been uplifting.
Thoughts on South Africa’s animal feed prices in 2021
While 2020 was generally a good year for most of South Africa’s agricultural sector on the back of large production, a few subsectors were slightly under pressure. The poultry and livestock industries are among such subsectors (including the wine and tobacco...
Finance a crucial factor in the drive to create black commercial farmers in South Africa
South Africa does not have a shortage of farming skills. The country is amongst the world’s leading nations in producing several horticultural commodities and a continent’s leader growing some field crops such as maise and soybeans. The integration of...
How sub-Saharan Africa can rethink its approach to agriculture after Covid-19
African governments should have a fresh relook at agriculture, which involves embracing technology (information technology, mechanical and biotechnology) and also private-sector partnerships. There needs to be also confidence in the citizenry to manage their land parcels. This will involve the granting of tradable long-term leases in various African countries.
Commercialisation of black farmers can help South Africa’s agriculture grow
The drive I take each December from Pretoria to the Eastern Cape is a constant reminder, not only of the agricultural economic potential of the Eastern Cape, but also the poverty and unemployment that plague the province. Agriculture holds potential to change the fortunes of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo and other rural regions.
A drive across South Africa provides a window to yet another good agricultural outlook in 2021
These past few days, I drove across the eastern regions of South Africa, observing the summer grains and oilseeds from a distance. It is beautiful and uplifting scenery out there in the fields – green and lush. The past few months’ rains have ensured that farmers complete planting on time and further provided conducive growing conditions for crops. The grazing veld has also benefited along with other agricultural subsectors such as the horticulture and wildlife industries.
Improved soil moisture across SA bodes well for agriculture activity
This favourable weather forecast and rains already received continue to give us optimism that South Africa’s agricultural gross value added will register positive growth in 2021 (although the growth numbers are unlikely to be double digits as in 2020, in part, because of base effects).
