The country could return to being a net exporter of maize and the domestic prices to moderate, easing the general food price inflation
The recovery of crops bodes well for consumers as prices should come down
We do need to focus on the tariffs but we should not ignore other essential interventions for the long-term growth of local agriculture
Estimates for maize and oilseeds are up, boosting predictions of a recovery year in agriculture
While the recent rains caused damage to infrastructure and in communities, it does more good than bad in agriculture
Optimism about the season ahead and favourable rainfall forecasts through March are the key drivers of the market’s price decline
A report by the US agriculture department raised this possibility, but South Africa’s maize harvest is well above the annual needs
Slightly high prices and lower input costs, as well as the prospect of good rain will probably driving this
The weather event is predicted to bring above-normal rainfall in January before easing up, but the northeast may remain dry
The effects of the mid-summer drought are being felt but the country’s needs should be met with some over for export
Despite this drop, trade figures remain encouraging, but various departments need to address policy and other issues to boost exports
The mid-summer drought and animal diseases resulted in reduced crop yields and hurt the poultry, piggery and cattle sectors
Climate change needs to be front and centre of party manifestos
The El Niño-induced drought and heatwave in February and March hit crops hard in Southern Africa
South Africa imports all its rice and half its wheat so the exchange rate is a factor to watch
South Africa started the 2023-24 summer crop season with optimism, but the outlook is now lower because of the excessive heat and limited rainfall across major crop-growing regions
Area plantings for maize and sunflower seed are above the five-year average
We are in for another good agricultural season, especially if January and February present favourable rainfall
There are weaknesses in the country’s biosecurity system, including the measures in place to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases
During El Niño spring rainfall will be above-normal for most of the country and below-normal summer rainfall over the central to western regions and above-normal rainfall in the northeast
The non-renewal of the Black Sea Grain Deal and India’s rice ban continue to weigh heavily on production
Refining wheat, maize and rice removes their nutritional value, which contributes to preventable diseases such as strokes, diabetes and obesity
Zimbabwe, once regarded as the breadbasket of Southern Africa exporting agricultural produce to the region and beyond, is on the verge of famine and chronic malnutrition is endemic throughout the country. Unlike other countries, where food insecurity is viewed as mostly a rural problem, Zimbabwe has a history of food security issues in the urban […]
Sixty percent of of Zimbabweans face acute food insecurity — about 5.5 million in rural areas and 2.2 million in urban areas
The maize yield is above the 10-year average even though the area planted is lower than last year
The weather remains topical across the Southern Hemisphere but has resulted in mixed fortunes
Supply constraints in fertiliser-producing countries, coupled with rising shipping, oil and gas costs has pushed up the price of imported commodities such as fertiliser, herbicide and insecticide prices
Though there is no going back and fixing what we have done, we can certainly all take responsibility for our corner of the world to ensure we have a fighting chance
But higher international commodity prices will keep input costs elevated for the livestock and poultry sector
In a recent study, the authors examined the climate change risk to 1 190 species used by 19 indigenous language groups in Southern Africa
Climate change not only affects the nutritional value of food crops, but also leaves the food supply system vulnerable to production shocks, study finds
Low fees are attracting investors to a range of listed exchange-traded products