Prasa to invest R136bn on trains, infrastructure

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) is to spend R136bn to acquire about 7000 new trains and upgrade and modernise train stations. 15 Feb 2012 07:45

Trade conditions off to low start in January

Trade conditions started off the year low, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) said in its January Trade Conditions Survey. 15 Feb 2012 07:28

Significant gains in different economic sectors

Significant economic results show that the volume growth of electricity was up by 20% year-on-year (y/y) and Business Live says that coal exports from Richards Bay surged by 34,3% y/y in January. 13 Feb 2012 13:44

Cape business welcomes R1bn port tariff cut

[Paul Vecchiatto] The Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed the announcement in the state of the nation speech that port tariffs are to be reduced by about R1bn. 13 Feb 2012 12:21

AgriSA to farmers: seek engagement, not confrontation

Moeletsi Mbeki became the darling of local commercial farmers when he advised South Africa's agricultural trade association (AgriSA), late last year and again last week, to dump its strategy of engagement with the government and get confrontational, Business Live reports. 13 Feb 2012 12:11

Alternative agricultural practices reduce GHG emissions, bolster yields

Engineering News Online reports that 14 scientists, drawn from 12 countries and writing in the January edition of the peer-reviewed journal Science, argue that the world's agriculture sector can contribute to climate change mitigation, while at the same time helping countries to adapt to climate change. 10 Feb 2012 11:55

SONA in a nutshell

Union and business representatives have welcomed President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation address to Parliament and, while the speech was held by some observers to be uninspiring it contained a lot of detail about the government's plans to boost jobs and invest in infrastructure. 10 Feb 2012 10:06

AgriSA's 'confusion' over minimum wage calculation

Freshfruitportal.com reports that South African farmers body AgriSA has called on the government to "correct an apparent error" in a recent weekly minimum wage announcement. AgriSA president Johannes Möller pointed out inconsistencies in Minister of Labour Mildrid Oliphant's announcement, outlining minimum wages for farm workers for the next year. 9 Feb 2012 12:51

Novare announces recipient of agricultural studies bursary

Novare, the independent investment management business that provides implemented consulting and investment services, has announced its continued support for agricultural skills development in the form of a bursary to study at the Cape Institute for Agricultural Training at Elsenburg, Stellenbosch. 9 Feb 2012 11:27

New Golden Rice partners join forces against vitamin A deficiency

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and national rice research institutes in Bangladesh and the Philippines have joined with Helen Keller International (HKI), a leading global health organization that reduces blindness and prevents malnutrition worldwide, in a new effort to further develop and evaluate Golden Rice as a potential tool to reduce vitamin A deficiency. 9 Feb 2012 10:45

Burundi releases two new rice varieties for better lives

Farmers in Burundi will soon sow the seeds of hard work and international cooperation with the release of two new rice varieties set to boost rice production and meet the rapidly growing demand for rice in Burundi. 9 Feb 2012 10:43

Maggots: a sustainable animal feed

[Emily van Rijswijck] An enterprising duo has developed a sustainable alternative to fishmeal and soya livestock feeds, in the process helping to ease the pressure on precious natural resources which are constantly under strain from the growing human population. 9 Feb 2012 10:41

Business confidence falls in January

Business confidence fell to its lowest level since May 2010, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) said. 9 Feb 2012 09:33