by Wandile Sihlobo | Apr 30, 2020 | Africa Focus
This essay first appeared on Business Day, April 28, 2020 Global food and agricultural supply chains are taking strain from disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This is the case whether one looks at meat or grain supply chains. First, the US, Brazil and...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Apr 24, 2020 | Africa Focus
The COVID-19 pandemic will exacerbate an already dire situation of food shortage in some African countries. Professor Mzukisi Qobo (Head of Wits School of Governance, University of Witwatersrand), Isaah Mhlanga (Chief Economist at Alexander Forbes) and I have an essay...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Feb 25, 2020 | Agricultural Production
The authorities in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and Uganda are struggling to control the spreading desert locust infestation. Recent reports from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) suggest that the situation there remains “extremely...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Feb 19, 2020 | Agricultural Production
In his 2020 State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa noted that “this year we will open up and regulate the commercial use of hemp products, providing opportunities for small-scale farmers; and formulate policy on the use of cannabis products for...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Feb 14, 2020 | Agricultural Trade
It is February 14, which is Valentine’s Day. This means that chocolate will be on the cards across the world as a romantic gesture. Therefore, annual chocolate sales could partially inform us a bit about the ‘romantic’ status of each country. Before I prove my...
by Wandile Sihlobo | Jan 28, 2020 | Africa Focus
We rarely talk about Africa’s wheat production due to its size relative to other regions of the world. Africa produces only 3% of the world’s wheat, compared to the European Union region which produces 20% of the world’s wheat and Back Sea region which produces 17%....
by Wandile Sihlobo | Dec 13, 2019 | Food Security
As the year ends, I want to take a moment and reflect on South Africa’s standing on the global food security ladder. As I have mentioned in the previous posts, food security is achieved when three objectives are met: (1) food is available; (2) food is accessible; and...