The African National Congress (ANC), during its 54th policy conference, decided that people living on communal land in South Africa (SA) should gain ownership of the land they inhabit. These lands are owned by the government and under the custodianship of traditional leaders. When the commission examining legal and management issues…
The National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC) was ordered to propose changes to Article 25 of the South African (SA) Constitution that will make the expropriation of land without compensation possible. The decision was made during ANC’s 54th national conference at the Nasrec Expo centre in Johannesburg.…
About 15% of South Africa’s laying hens have already been culled due to an outbreak of bird flu. The disease is causing havoc in the poultry industry. Dr Charlotte Nkuna, acting executive officer for the South African Poultry Association, earlier said due to the number of chickens culled, egg shortages…
The Northern Cape is the only province in the country spared from bird flu, which has wiped out up to 20% of the country’s lay chickens This indicates the virus is not yet under control. Meanwhile, more than 4.2 million chickens were culled or have died from the virus, the…
Poultry farmers’ production loss due to the outbreak of H5N8 poultry virus in the Western Cape in South Africa amounts to more than R800 million. More than two million chickens were culled and eggs had to be destroyed to try and stop the virus from spreading. There were 36 outbreaks…
A strict and well thought out exit strategy based on scientific findings seems to be the only option to protect the South African poultry industry against the highly pathogenic H5N8 virus. This comes after the industry, which has already lost more than 600 000 chickens and thousands of eggs, asked…
The highly pathogenic avian flu outbreak in South Africa is reaching over a greater distance than previously thought, says Dr Mike Modisane, Chief Director of animal production and health at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Modisane told the Parliamentary portfolio committee for agriculture forestry and fisheries that even…
Mike Mlengana thinks a disagreement with Minister Senzeni Zokwana led to his suspension as director-general by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). Mike Mlengana’s refusal to sign documents for projects that had not been correctly tendered, and ongoing disagreement about issues in the fisheries department, could be reason…
South Africa will have to change its approach to animal health to control animal disease more effectively. In order to improve the control of animal diseases, the country will have to abandon its provincial approach, said Dr. John Adam from the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC). The council recently announced…
Agri SA’s Christo van der Rheede says money for land reform is far too little to properly assist new farmers. “You won’t go very far with R2 000,” said Van der Rheede, deputy director of the organisation. He was speaking at the annual AVI Africa Poultry Conference. Van der Rheede,…
The ability of African economies in sub-Saharan Africa to create enough jobs for a young and growing population rests on the urgent and successful implementation of structural reforms to increase productivity. That’s the key finding in the latest report on Africa’s competitiveness by the World Economic Forum (WEF). African economies…
The reason for millions of people in South Africa suffering from food shortages is not because of food shortages, but rather because of lack of access, says Mr Mike Mlengana, director general of the department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO),…
Although the southern African dairy goat industry is still in its infancy, breeders have the potential to become world leaders in their field. If there’s anyone who knows what the potential of the goat milk industry is, it is Jan Wiese, a third-generation farmer in the Loxton district in the…
