by Wandile Sihlobo | Mar 4, 2021 | General Comments
I am generally optimistic that South Africa’s food price inflation might not exceed an average of 5% y/y in 2021. The La Nina rains have boosted agricultural production – across all subsectors. For maize, which is essential and discussed extensively, we expect a harvest of 16,6 million tonnes (from 15,3 million tonnes in 2019/20). This will be the second-largest harvest on record and well above the Crop Estimates Committee’s estimate of 15,8 million tonnes.
by Wandile Sihlobo | Mar 3, 2021 | General Comments
South Africa is now ranked 69th most food-secure country out of 113 countries, from 44 (out of 113) in 2019. Technically, South Africa’s scoring dropped by just a point from last year’s position (scoring 57,8 down by 1,4 from 2019 in the Global Food Security Index). Still, other countries improved notably, resulting in a drop in South Africa’s ranking.
by Wandile Sihlobo | Mar 1, 2021 | General Comments
This paper proposes a theoretical enterprise development model of a Modified Agricultural Business Incubator (MABI) specifically tailored to South Africa’s agricultural sector’s developmental needs, both for primary producers and agri-processing businesses. This model is specifically designed to provide a supportive business environment for black agricultural business owners where a particular focus is placed on their developmental needs.
by Wandile Sihlobo | Jan 17, 2021 | General Comments
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.
by Wandile Sihlobo | Nov 28, 2020 | General Comments
I was recently interviewed by Karin Schimke of the Daily Maverick. We discussed South Africa’s agriculture policy and land reform issues, which are central themes of my book “Finding Common Ground: Land, Equity and Agriculture”. You can read or listen to the interview...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Oct 13, 2020 | General Comments
Agriculture has, for a long time, been dominated by men, from leadership positions to primary workers, where only a third of the labour force are women. Similar, black farmers in staple commodities such as maize, wheat and even including citrus and potatoes constitute...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Sep 29, 2020 | General Comments
A bit of self-promotion The University of Oxford historian, William Beinart, has reviewed my book, “Finding Common Ground: Land, Equity and Agriculture”, in the latest issue of the South African Journal of Science. You can read the review here. And oh, you can order...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Aug 6, 2020 | General Comments
OK, Folks, we have a new book out – see photo below. I co-authored a chapter with fellow agricultural economist, Dr Tinashe Kapuya of BFAP. The book came out this week and should be available in all major bookstores nationwide and eBook platforms. And oh, if you...
