by Wandile Sihlobo | Oct 23, 2019 | Agricultural Production
South Africa’s food price inflation is relatively contained and I am beginning to think that the 3.6% y/y average we expected for 2019 might be an overestimate. The average for the nine months data we have thus far is about 2.9% y/y, which means to average at 3.6% y/y...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Oct 7, 2019 | Agricultural Production
We continue to observe developments in the winter crop growing areas of the Western Cape. There hasn’t been any notable rainfall thus far to improve crop growing conditions. The current weather forecasts show that the next two weeks could present more of the same –...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Oct 5, 2019 | Agricultural Production
It has been 25 years since the dawn of democracy and the general mood in the country is pessimistic owing to poor economic fortunes and elevated joblessness, among other long-standing challenges. As an agricultural economist, it is not unusual to hear statements that...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Sep 30, 2019 | Agricultural Production
South Africa’s agricultural policy growth path has been clear as far back as 2012 when the National Development Plan (NDP) sketched higher growth potential and labour-intensive sub-sectors that could create jobs and increase the sector’s contribution to GDP. One...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Sep 27, 2019 | Agricultural Production
On September 25 and 26 I visited the Eastern Cape on the invitation of The Co-op – an agribusiness based In Humansdorp. I also used the visit to scan the agricultural activities in the province, with an intention to assess whether there is an increase in activity (and...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Sep 26, 2019 | Agricultural Production
The dry and warm weather conditions experienced in the Western Cape since the end of August 2019 have taken a tall on winter crops and the impact is evident at a national level given the significance of the province. Figures released earlier in the afternoon...
