
What do global wheat production dynamics mean for South Africa?
South Africa is expected to remain comfortable regarding wheat supplies and import activity during the 2022/23 marketing year.
South Africa is expected to remain comfortable regarding wheat supplies and import activity during the 2022/23 marketing year.
The current dualism in South Africa’s agriculture is not desirable. Still, the agricultural development and progress of black farmers will likely be achieved through a social compact approach.
De Villiers retires as CEO of Grain SA at the end of August after a sterling decade-long career at the organisation’s helm.
After falling to the lowest levels since 2014 in the first quarter of this year, South Africa’s agricultural employment rebounded in the second quarter to 862 000 (up 8% year on year)
Robust production means South Africa’s 2021 agricultural exports are on track to exceed the 2020 level of US$10.2 billion.
Amid an abundant harvest, high agricultural commodity prices have been an ironic windfall for South African farmers, particularly the grain and oilseed growers. However, farmers should manage their portfolios well, as input costs have also been rising, namely: oil, herbicides, and fertilizer. Such higher costs have the potential to erode these price gains when farmers embark on the 2021/22 production campaign, commencing in October this year.
I share some reflections on South Africa’s food supply chains amid the rioting and looting in KwaZulu-Natal province.
163 of the 278 local authorities in South Africa are in financial distress, and 40 are in serious financial and service delivery crisis.