This week, for the first time since the launch of AgribookDigital, Finance for New Farmers & SMMEs lost its position as the most visited page, knocked off the number 1 spot by first Vegetables and then Business Directory!
And now we continue our weekly page looking at important news and interesting articles you may have missed over the past 7 days.
International:
- This week Fresh Plaza released its Overview Global Pineapple Market. In South Africa, pineapples are now being given very different uses. Given the ban on alcohol, pineapples are used to brew beer.
- The USDA looked at South Africa’s expected second-largest-ever summer grain harvest, commenting “it is essential that South Africa keep its borders open for trade and continue supplying the Southern Africa region with corn amidst the impact of COVID-19”.
- A second relevant USDA report is “United States Poultry Exports to South Africa Continue Steady Increase“. The Brazil, the USA and EU are the biggest exporters of chicken to SA.
- The Bizcommunity article “Global food commodity prices drop in April” looks at the global demand for the different food commodities
- The Lincoln Journal Star recorded a four-decade study on the advantages of conservation agriculture in “Four decades of no-till study proves nature knows best“.
COVID-19 RELATED:
- Two interesting articles looking at the value chain were “Coronavirus: Another chance to transform the global food trade” in The Conversation, and the Financial Mail‘s “Breaking new ground in global agriculture post-Covid“. The former’s ideal is that trade should complement rather than displace localized food systems. This is the key to recognizing and honouring the right to food for people all over the world.
National:
The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Ms. Thoko Didiza, MP announced the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) at Amathole District Municipality in Eastern Cape. This is the third of three challenges for the livestock industry this year.
The first was Foot and Mouth Disease (now behind us). The second is the lockdown, which has played havoc with livestock auctions. The Agbiz newsletter on Friday 8 May included an enforcement guideline from the South African Police Services which states at point 3.1 to Appendix 3: that auctions are a permitted activity and do not “constitute a gathering”.
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development released data showing that this year’s summer grains harvest could amount to 17.5 million tonnes, which is a 31% increase from 2019 and the second biggest harvest in the history of this country. The press release is here.
The wine harvest too will be better than 2019, is the finding of the Vinpro South African Wine Harvest Report 2020.
The Citrus Growers Association (CGA) has issued a call for applications for a R307 million Economic Transformation of Black Citrus Growers Programme that has been launched. Black citrus farmers interested in applying for funding can visit https://cga-gdc.org.za/jobs-fund-application for more information and submit their application electronically.
In the Farmer’s Weekly article “Lessons learnt from land reform“, the Karsten Group and the Dutoit Group speak about their experience and how to make it work. Buying the farm with borrowed money doesn’t work, for example. And beneficiaries must receive some return from the very first year.
The Upgrading of Land Tenure Rights Amendment Bill was formally introduced into Parliament.
The Landbouweekblad article “Maak jou boerdery so droogtebestand” looked at the role of conservation agriculture to retain water in the soil and so drought-proof your land.
COVID-19 RELATED:
- Videos showed provincial farmer unions Kwanalu and Agri Wes Kaap donating food during this time. Agri SA, the national union, included advice for producers wishing to donate food in its press release “Agri SA says no to centralisation of food relief for the needy!“
- Farmer’s Weekly ran two podcast interviews with Dr John Purchase (Agbiz) on agribusiness and the value chain.
- “SA’s hunger is everyone’s problem – especially the well-fed” looks at Tiger Brands‘ contribution to feed people during the pandemic.
Further reference:
- See the following the AgribookDigital pages: (i) Conservation Agriculture (ii) Pork and pig farming (iii) Livestock auctions (iv) Wine & wine grapes (v) Citrus (vi) Pineapples is included in Subtropical fruit (vii) Poultry and chicken farming.
- Find the SA Pork Producers Organsation biosecurity pages at http://sappo.org/animal-health/.
