South Africa’s upcoming National General Elections – A crucial turning point for rural development and land reform
A look at the post-1994 policies to address historic land dispossession while maintaining food security and encouraging agricultural investment
Sweet sorghum is a hardy, nutritious, biofuel crop that offers solutions in Southern Africa
Crops that help prepare for extremes of weather …
A shared South African industry-government vision makes for promising economics
For the fresh fruit industry of South Africa, going solo and operating in silos are as outdated as relying on a horse and cart to get around, says Fhumulani Ratshitanga, CEO Fruit South Africa (FSA). “The R63 billion export-oriented fresh fruit industry of South Africa relies heavily on specific services by the South African Government. […]
BRICS+ offers an opportunity to lift South Africa’s agricultural exports
A look at intra-BRICS agricultural trade and BRICS+ possibilities …
South Africa’s agricultural policy after the elections
A view that the agricultural sector needs a sharper focus from the seventh (new) administration on implementing the existing programmes …
Stock theft under the spotlight
Written by Louis Wessels, Chairman of the National Stock Theft Prevention Forum Stock theft is as old as man himself and is already mentioned in the Bible. Stock theft is not unique to South Africa, but is a worldwide phenomenon. Various challenges are associated with stock theft: Stock theft is nowadays synonymous with life-threatening circumstances […]
Planting trees in grasslands won’t save the planet – rather protect and restore forests
Why rangelands matter, and why misguided initiatives here do more harm than good …
Bird flu in cattle: What are the concerns surrounding the newly emerging bovine H5N1 influenza virus?
Nitish Boodhoo, University of Guelph The confirmed presence of bird flu in American dairy cattle in a March 25 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) — and a case in Texas where a human working with cattle was infected — has put Canadian public health experts on high alert. But, what is bird […]
Will the slow pace of structural reform in agriculture persist?
Sihlobo spells out some aspects where government focus would uplift the mood in the agricultural sector and illustrate government’s commitment to its programmes to stakeholders.
Food prices will climb everywhere as temperatures rise due to climate change – new research
Climate change, and specifically rising temperatures, may cause food prices to increase by 3.2% per year, according to a new study by researchers in Germany.