Sub-Saharan Africa’s Agriculture and COVID-19: How the Pandemic Will (re)Shape Food Markets
The COVID-19 pandemic has put the global food system under sustained pressure and has triggered various policy responses to manage supply and demand.
Will Zimbabwe’s decision to ban maize imports affect South Africa’s maize market?
Some thoughts on Zimbabwe’s decision to suspend all maize and maize meal imports with immediate effect. Zimbabwe was the single largest maize export market for South Africa in the 2020/21 marketing year, accounting for 20% of maize exports.
Sub-Saharan Africa’s food security has turned out better than feared. But risks remain
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, concern immediately arose that sub-Saharan Africa faced a potential worsening in food insecurity.
The African continent is not a good maize export market for South African farmers right now
Kenya still prohibits the importation and growing of genetically modified maize. This is a significant hindrance for South Africa as roughly 80% of maize grown in the country is genetically modified.
Podcast discussions on the role of technology in boosting agricultural productivity in Africa
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.
African countries’ agricultural reforms will ensure free trade deal benefits SA too
Over the past two decades, South Africa’s agricultural output growth and rise in trade surpluses have been inspiring, and these successes give me much enthusiasm and optimism. In 2020 alone, amidst a pandemic, South Africa exported US$10,2 billion worth of agricultural products, the second largest on record. One market that has consistently been important to South Africa is the African continent, which on average, accounts for 40% of South Africa’s agricultural exports.
