Where does SA agriculture stand in the world?
There are multiple new opportunities for local producers to enter the world with their agricultural products, but South African farmers are not always sufficiently equipped to maximise those opportunities. How can this be overcome, and new markets be secured for the South African farming community? Roelf Meyer of In Transformation Initiative anchored a panel discussion with Agbiz CEO Dr John Purchase and Agbiz chairperson Francois Strydom as panellists. Please
click here to watch the discussion.
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The SA fruit industry's protection lies in visibility
There is a tendency to treat social transformation and economic growth as two distinct matters, but Stephanie van der Walt believes that the two are inseparable, both are non-negotiable, and that the South African fruit industry is proof of that. As the first general manager of the newly created Fruit Desk, her mandate is to share her holistic understanding of trade, economics, development and agriculture in radial ways, through representing the fruit industry in debates on policy at government level, through communicating the complexities of international trade and treaties with the farming sector. Please
click here for the complete article published on
Fresh Plaza.
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What happens after the elections?
What happens after the 2019 elections? Political commentator, Theo Venter discussed the build-up to the elections as well as possible scenarios that could unfold with Agbiz CEO Dr John Purchase. Please
click here to follow the
Nation in Conversation programme that was recorded at Nampo.
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Public-private partnerships the key to economic growth
Agbiz CEO Dr John Purchase participated in a live
Nation in Conversation panel discussion at Nampo on the importance of public-private partnerships for sustainable economic growth. The conversation was led by founder and former head of Gibs Nick Binedell. Please
click here to follow the conversation.
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Land reform talks also on the agenda at agri trade fair
Aside from the robust policy discussions at Nampo, the agricultural machinery role players are likely to be downbeat at this year's event. The drought earlier this year in the central and western parts of South Africa led to reduced plantings, and now expectations are for a lower summer grains harvest. This is likely to weigh on farmers' finances, and thus agricultural machinery sales. In fact, tractor and combine harvester sales figures for the first four months of 2019 were already lower compared with the previous year's performance. Wandile Sihlobo shares his insight in the
linked article written for and first published in
Business Day.
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Only an increase in area farmed would notably induce employment in SA agriculture
The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey data (Q1: 2019) show that South Africa's primary agricultural employment fell by 1% from the corresponding period last year to
837 000
. The subsectors that faced a notable reduction were field crops, livestock and forestry, partly due to a reduction in area plantings on the back of unfavourable weather conditions in the case of field crops. From a regional perspective, the provinces that faced a notable decline were the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Free State, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Meanwhile, other provinces saw a marginal uptick. While the first quarter agricultural employment data does not bring much excitement, it is by no means an underperformance if we compare it to the average five-year employment of
829 000. Wandile Sihlobo elaborates in the
linked article
.
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Finally, some good news for SA wool industry
The South Africa-China wool trade story is back in the headlines, but this time around in a good way. Nearly two months since the Chinese authorities temporarily suspended wool imports from South Africa because of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak earlier in the year, the country's authorities issued a notification on 8 May stating that the ban will be lifted that same day. This news was warmly welcomed by Cape Wools SA, stating that the lifting of the ban implies that any scoured wool or mohair could be exported to China, but that the conditions under which greasy wool could be exported, will be subject to World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) "Safe Commodities" regulations. Wandile Sihlobo shares the good news in the linked article.
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Register now for IFAMA World Conference in China
The International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) will be hosting its 2019 World Conference in Hangzhou, China from 22 - 27 June 2019. To qualify for the early bird registration fee, be sure to register before 30 May. Prof Johan van Rooyen of Stellenbosch University shares a few of the conference highlights that will make the trip to Hangzhou worthwhile.
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AFGRI partners with public and private sector to boost agriculture
In a media statement, AFGRI stated that the company is firmly committed to developing a sustainable agricultural sector in South Africa, both through its own initiatives, as well as by partnering with the public and private sector to drive growth in the sector, which in turn will contribute to the country's overall economic well-being. Please
click here to read more about AFGRI's initiatives.
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IFC, SECO partner to address water scarcity in SA
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group and Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), launched a programme aimed at addressing water scarcity in South Africa's agribusiness sector earlier this week.
The four-year program called Agri-processing Resource Efficiency, will offer advisory services to selected companies in the agri-processing sector to improve energy and water use. In addition, the programme will work with stakeholders to identify key water efficiency needs, address regulatory issues, and share knowledge on best practice.
Press release.
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African swine fever rears its head in the Free State
Another outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) has been reported in the Heilbron area of the Free State in May 2019. This follows outbreaks in April in the North West, Mpumalanga and Gauteng. All four outbreaks occurred outside of the ASF controlled area of South Africa and have been reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Press release.
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Manufacturing Circle Trade Awareness Workshop
29 May 2019
| 61 Katherine Street | Sandton
SA Large Herds Conference
3-5 June 2019
| The Boardwalk
| Port Elizabeth
Subtrop Transformation Summit 2019
19 June 2019 | Ingwenyama Conference & Sports Resort | White River
Trade Development Forum
24-25 June 2019 | Gallagher Convention Centre | Johannesburg
2019 Cannabis Conference
Theme: The big business of cannabis
27-28 June 2019 | Emperors Palace Convention Centre | Johannesburg
More information
13th Agribusiness Africa Conference
10 July 2019 | Premier Hotel | OR Tambo Airport
More information
PMA Fresh Connections: SA Conference and Trade Show
30-31 July 2019 | Century City | Cape Town
Agbiz Grain 2019 Symposium
14 August 2019
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CSIR International Convention Centre | Pretoria
ARC Agri Indaba
29-30 August 2019 | Animal Production Campus Irene | Pretoria
Agritech Africa
17-19 June 2020 | Cape Town International Convention Centre
| Cape Town
Agritec Africa
19-21 June 2019 | Kenyatta International Conference & Convention Center (KICC), Nairobi
| Kenya
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Why join Agbiz?
- Agbiz is the only organisation that serves the broader and common over-arching business interests of agribusinesses in South Africa.
- Agbiz addresses the legislative and policy environment on the many fronts that it impacts on the agribusiness environment.
- Agbiz facilitates considerable top-level networking opportunities so that South African agribusinesses can play an active and creative role within the local and international organised business environment.
- Agbiz research provides sector-specific information for informed decision-making.
- Agbiz newsletter publishes members' press releases and member product announcements.
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THIRD-PARTY WEBSITE LINKS TO THIS NEWSLETTER
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The Agbiz Newsletter may contain a few links to websites that belong to third parties unrelated to us. By making these links available, we are not endorsing third-party websites, their content, products, services or their events. Agbiz seeks to protect the integrity of its newsletter and links used in it, and therefore welcomes any feedback.
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