Top 10 agricultural imports driving Africa’s trade dynamics
Africa’s major agricultural imports largely consist of products for which the continent lacks a revealed comparative advantage (RCA), with notable exceptions being sugars and sugar confectionery and tobacco substitutes.
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The Future of Precision Irrigation: 4 Technologies Making Watering Systems More Efficient
Sustainability and efficiency are crucial in today’s world, ensuring everyone can access food and water. However, as climate change rises, so does food scarcity and prices. Fortunately, several technologies are making irrigation more efficient, affordable and environmentally friendly, creating a new agricultural era.
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Agriculture dips 2.1% in Q2 2024 after strong Q1
Following a surprisingly robust quarterly growth of 13.5% in Q1, agriculture reversed course as widely expected and fell by 2.1% quarter-on-quarter in Q2 of 2024 with a -0.1 percentage point contribution to overall GDP. South Africa’s GDP remained pedestrian after clocking 0.4% in Q2 from a revised flat growth in Q1.
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Healthy soils lead to healthy plants and animals
Dr Louis du Pisani shed light on why biodiversity is important, and its impact on soil, plant and animal health at the World Veterinary Association Congress held in Cape Town.
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Managing macadamia production when margins are low
Macadamia nut farms have been in dire straits over the past two seasons as prices have dropped and input costs have risen. With little relief on the horizon, orchard management needs to be revised to maintain sustainability. Lindi Botha looks at the options available to farmers to reduce their costs.
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Water attorney unpacks water-use right considerations for the agriculture sector
This comes as many water-use licences approved under the prior Water Act of 1956 come up for renewal under the provisions of the National Water Act (NWA) of 1998, as well as increased interest from investors such as banks on the legalities of water use
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Why soya bean is a popular crop in SA
Zunel van Eeden delves into the socioeconomic and agronomic benefits associated with soya bean production, while also addressing the persistent challenges posed by insect pests and diseases that have threatened harvests over the season and which have impacted many producers.
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Sun-powered farms: Water makes the crops grow
Plants act like solar panels, using sunlight to make food. But they need water to function, just like a factory needs electricity. Learn how water keeps farms productive with Martin Bahnemann, an agronomist at Netafim South Africa.
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Alternative methods to combat herbicide resistance
The development of herbicide resistance is forcing farmers to incorporate non-chemical management practices in their weed control programmes. Dr Michael Walsh spoke about how it’s done in Australia at a farmers’ day in the Western Cape.
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Agriculture GDP rebounds strongly in Q1 of 2024 despite headwinds
In a quarter characterised by a plethora of growth constraints such as the El Nino-induced heat wave the decimated crops, loadshedding, and inefficiencies at ports, agriculture still managed to rebound strongly in Q1, 2024.
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