These blogs contain agricultural related information and written by our editor Craig Macaskill as well as guest columnists from time to time.
Check back often for new blogs!
South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe have recently published reports indicating a potential decline in grain harvest because of intense El Niño-induced dryness.
Despite all the challenges at the ports and various export markets, the South African agricultural sector has continued to realize excellent export activity.
African countries will suffer significant economic loss after 2050 if global warming is not limited to below 2°C, a new study by the Center for Global Development has found.
Will Brownlie, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology; Mark Maslin, UCL, and Peter Alexander, The University of Edinburgh Soils around the world are running low on potassium, a key nutrient needed for plants to grow. This ultimately means we may not be able to grow enough food for everyone. But it’s not too late: we have just published research identifying six things we must do to safeguard potassium supplies and food production. Potassium is required for plant growth alongside nitrogen and phosphorus (known as kalium in latin, potassium is the K in NPK fertilisers). While nitrogen and phosphorus sustainability issues are widely known, potassium remains in the shadows. Yet around 20% of agricultural soils worldwide grapple with potassium deficiency, especially in east Asia, south-east Asia, Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. Globally, more potassium is being extracted in
The Tyhume River, flowing from the forested Amathole Mountains in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, gives its name to a valley of 20 villages on communal land.
In 2021, almost 33 of every 1,000 South African children under five years old died.
In the past, wetlands were often seen as undesirable landscapes – waterlogged areas that were difficult to navigate, impossible to build on or farm, and a source of pests such as mosquitoes.
The Grain SA Group of Entities, the voluntary industry organisation that provides commodity strategic support and services to the grain and oilseed producers of South Africa, today announced the appointment of Dr Tobias Doyer as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 08 January 2024. Recognised as an accomplished and forward-thinking leader, Doyer brings a wealth of expertise and capability to the Grain SA Group of Companies. With a proven track record of driving growth, strategy, and innovation within the agricultural, insurance and academic sectors, Doyer is well-positioned to lead Grain SA towards a new era of success. “We are pleased to welcome Dr Tobias Doyer as our new CEO. His exceptional leadership skills, strategic acumen, and in-depth industry knowledge position him as the ideal choice to lead the Grain SA Group of Entities. We have full
Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza, has assured that the avian influenza outbreak is under control, with 70% of farms not infected by the disease and continuing to produce eggs and chickens. In a statement issued by the department, Didiza said the egg stock levels are replenishing steadily and there is no need for panic buying at this stage. “We have increased fertilised eggs from 1.9 million to 9 million in less than one month. These eggs will be chickens in less than four months,” Didiza said. Didiza said the department has a few open import permits for eggs and poultry products from a few countries. The Minister noted that the import of table eggs, including fertilised eggs, pasteurised eggs, egg powder and liquid eggs, has been on-going for many years in South Africa,