Fear of nationalisation, labour laws, inhibit investments in agriculture

South African policies on agriculture and farming need to be addressed to ensure sustainable farming, investment and security of food supply in the future, said agriculture union TAU-SA general manager Bennie van Zyl. He added that - as concerns grew over land ownership - many skilled farmers were leaving the industry and even the country, reducing commercial farming skills and output, Engineering News reports. 25 May 2012 13:40

State to spend R2,7bn buying farmland to redistribute

The government plans to spend R2,7bn buying more than 320000ha of agricultural land during the current financial year in a bid to advance its land reform programme, says Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti. 25 May 2012 11:35

SA maize output down 0.6% to 11.056mt

SA's maize output estimate for the 2011-12 season has been lowered by 0.6% to 11.056 million tons‚ the Crop Estimates Committee said in its revised area and fourth production forecasts on summer crops on Thursday (24 May 2012). 25 May 2012 11:32

Wool prices softer as euro crisis deepens

Wool prices softened further at this week's sale as the crisis in the euro zone deepened, said Cape Wools on Wednesday (23 May 2012). The market indicator shed 2.5% to close at R95,69/kg. 25 May 2012 10:29

Govt should 'take people out of Bantustans' by expropriating land

The chairperson of parliament's land reform committee wants people out of the over-crowded former "Bantustans" and says the government must make use of its right to expropriate land to do this, iafrica.com reports. Stone Sizane said after a briefing by the land reform department in Parliament that the government was not making sufficient use of its right to expropriate land. 24 May 2012 17:12

US seminar highlights importance of food security

In the midst of the prevailing economic crisis and a burgeoning world population, the availability of food and people's access to it, is a pressing global issue with important ramifications for human health and the productivity and growth of affected countries. Highlighting the importance of food security and strategies to address it in the Southern African region, were the key messages at the USA Food Security Seminar, hosted by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Sandton. 24 May 2012 16:35

SA Apple exporters ditch EU for Asia, Middle East markets

According to estimates in a US Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Global Agricultural Information Network report released last week, South African apple exports are expected to show a 7% year-on-year increase this season to 340,000 metric tons with expanded markets in the Middle East and Asia. 23 May 2012 13:36