by Wandile Sihlobo | Sep 18, 2019 | Food Security
I didn’t get to write a note on South Africa’s food price inflation data, which accelerated to 3.8% y/y in August 2019, from 3.0% y/y in July. I was in Lichtenburg, North West sharing thoughts with farmers and agribusiness there. The mood was generally positive, but...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Aug 29, 2019 | Food Security
If there was ever a time when incentives could help reduce the spread of animal disease, it is probably now in South Africa. Since April 2019 there have been 14 reported outbreaks of African swine fever in South Africa. All are in areas of the North West, Mpumalanga,...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Aug 21, 2019 | Food Security
Since the start of the year, South Africa’s agricultural commodity prices have increased notably from levels seen over the same time in 2018, specifically grains and oilseeds. Under normal circumstances, one would expect the price increases in agricultural commodities...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Jul 5, 2019 | Food Security
My comments on the spreading of African Swine Fever in Asian countries have largely been on the market perspective – what the virus means for the global pork supply, consumer prices, etc. But I have noticed that some readers were concerned about the human health...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Jun 3, 2019 | Food Security
While the discussion about the African swine fever has largely focused on China, the likes of Vietnam are also reeling from its effects. The Vietnamese authorities are now asking farmers to diversify away from pork to other livestock – a difficult task, I imagine, for...
by Wandile Sihlobo | May 17, 2019 | Food Security
With South Africa’s meat prices being in deflation over the past few months, one would easily assume that the beef industry has recovered from the 2015/16 drought which led to a reduction in the herd. Figure 1 illustrates South Africa’s cattle herd, and boy, we are...
