12
e-Newsletter
31/17
25 August 2017
POLICY AND LEGISLATION
Agricultural finance in an environment of uncertainty

Money "As we approach the new season in the summer rainfall region of South Africa, and a new cycle of production finance, it is opportune to take stock of the past season, as well as to consider the coming season," Dr John Purchase, CEO of Agbiz, said on Monday"Given that farm debt is now in the  region of R160 billion, and at a near all-time high in real terms, financiers and clients need to approach the coming season with realism and care". Read media release»
Comment period extended for Communal Land Tenure Bill 

An additional sixty days has been granted to submit comments on the draft Communal Land Tenure Bill published in the Government Gazette on the 7th of July. The draft Bill seeks to transfer title for the former homeland areas as well as land restituted to communities to the communities that occupy the land, as the majority of this land is still formally owned by the state. The additional sixty days is welcomed as this will allow the public to be consulted fully, and will allow Agbiz in particular to consult with leading experts in the field to get a holistic  picture of the Bill's implications. Theo Boshoff, Agbiz Head: Legal Intelligence provides more information in the  linked document»
ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCE
A food inflation falls marginally to 6.8%

Food inflation decelerated to 6.8% y/y in July 2017, from 6.9% y/y in the previous month. This mirrors the benefits of the higher agricultural output following good summer rainfall across the country. Although we expect further moderation in the next few months, the picture of the food basket is mixed. Most food products have decelerated, with the exception of meat which is proving stickier than expected, recording 14.4% y/y in July, which is the highest level since December 2011. This is on the back of an outbreak of avian influenza and cattle restocking process after the 2015-16 drought. Wandile Sihlobo, Agbiz economist provides more information in the linked update»
SA agricultural trade balance remains positive

Despite the worst drought in more than a decade, the South Africa's agricultural sector recorded a positive trade balance of US$2.3 billion in 2016. This was boosted by growth in exports of edible fruits, beverages, spirits and vegetables, with the total agricultural export value amounting to US$8.6 billion, up 6% from 2015. These products are mainly grown in the Western Cape province, which was not as severely affected by the 2016 drought as the rest of the country.    Wandile Sihlobo, Agbiz economist provides more information in the linked update»

Click here to read the daily market view on commodities and the weekly wrap.  
MEMBERS NEWS

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OTHER NEWS
Poverty on the rise in South Africa

According to new data released by Stats SA, poverty is on the rise in South Africa. The latest "Poverty Trends in South Africa" report shows that, despite the general decline in poverty between 2006 and 2011, poverty levels in South Africa rose in 2015. More than half of South Africans were poor in 2015, with the poverty headcount increasing to 55,5% from a series low of 53,2% in 2011 -  Read more»
UPCOMING EVENTS
Agro-processing Investment & Technology Summit
29-31 August 2017 | Premier Hotel | OR Tambo International Airport | Johannesburg 
Basic Meteorological and Climatological understanding Course
1 September 2017 | Bolepi House | Pretoria

INMED Aquaponics Training
1-2 September 2017 | Port Elizabeth

South African Association for Food Science & Technology (SAAFoST) 22nd Biennial International Congress and Exhibition 
3-6 September 2017 | Century City Convention Centre | Cape Town

No-Till Conference
5-6 September 2017 | Bergville | KwaZulu-Natal

SA Innovation Summit
6-8 September 2017 | Cape Town

How to Tender workshop 
7-8 September 2017

Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA) 55th Annual Conference
19-21 September 2017 | Elangeni Hotel | Durban
More information

MPO National Congress
20 September 2017 | Protea Hotel King George | George
Contact:  Julie McLachlan on julie@mpo.co.za

Potatoes SA Congress
28 September 2017 | Premier Hotel OR Tambo | Johannesburg

Agbiz information session for agribusinesses
5 October 2017 | Western Cape
To register, please contact Jennifer Roets on e-mail: jennifer@agbiz.co.za

East and Southern Africa Fertilizer Agribusiness Conference 2017
9-11 October 2017 | Maputo | Mozambique
More information

AGRI 5 Commodities Workshop & Expo
20-21 October 2017 |  East London Show Grounds
More information:  info@atoneworks.co.za

13th SIAMAP International Show
31 October to 5 November 2017 | Tunisia

African Agri Investment Indaba 2017
20-22 November 2017 | CTICC | Cape Town
More information

BFAP ReNAPRI Stakeholder Conference
30 Nov - 1 Dec 2017 | Lagoon Beach Hotel | Cape Town
Information: invitesrenapri@gmail.com

International Conference on Global Food Security 
3-6 December 2017 | CTICC | Cape Town
Conference Theme: Food Security: Global challenges, local solutions
More information
DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER OF AGBIZ?
Being a member of Agbiz provides various benefits and opportunities

- 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.

Please visit the Agbiz website for more information.
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