How much water do pigs need to drink? In hot weather they go to the watering point and seem to be looking for more water. Is giving them water once or twice a day enough? They tend to knock containers over and waste water. What is the best way to…
Rift Valley fever (RVF) has been confirmed in South Africa’s (SA) Free State Province. SA’s Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) has confirmed an outbreak of RVF in sheep near Jacobsdal in the Free State Province. To date, the disease has been detected on 1 farm, with further investigations…
The Zimbabwean government has halted imports of a wide range of processed meat products from South Africa (SA) to prevent the spread of listeriosis. Listeria has killed 180 people since breaking out in SA late last year. On Sunday, Health Minister Aaron Motswaledi identified a food processing plant in Polokwane…
Zambia has banned the import of processed meat products, including polony, sausages and ham, from South Africa (SA) to safeguard citizens from contracting listeriosis, which broke out in SA last October. Listeriosis is a disease caused by infection with listeria, with pregnant women, elderly people, children, and immune compromised adults…
The South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) has reported an outbreak of the Oriental fruit fly in the Grabouw area of the Western Cape Province. In a statement issued on 19 February, the DAFF Early Warning Systems unit said the presence of the pest was confirmed by…
Syngenta and Grain SA, in partnership with the University of the Free State Business School in South Africa (SA), offers the Grain Academy, a tailored leadership programme to equip young SA farmers with the necessary tools to grow. The academy launched in 2013 and is a platform where commercial grain…
According to press release from national agricultural organisation Agri SA, experts are predicting widespread infestation by fall armyworm across South Africa (SA), with the possible exclusion of the Western Cape. Fall armyworm has infested South African farms, particularly in 5 districts in Limpopo Province, as well as parts of Mpumalanga and the…
Tobacco farming in South Africa (SA) is under threat due to an increase in the distribution and selling of illegal cigarettes. Tobacco farming had been severely affected by the 2015 drought and South Africa has lost around 2 million tons in production since 2012. Christo van Staden, Managing Director of…
American global grape value chain operator Sun World Innovations has licensed 6 new companies from South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia and Peru to help grow and market its proprietary products. In a statement, the company said the licensing of Delecta Fruit of Paarl of South Africa, DEFRUSA and Safco of Peru,…
South African apple and pear export volumes are likely to drop by between 3% and 8% in 2018 due to ongoing drought. In a statement, industry association Hortgro said after 3 consecutive years of drought, conditions in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces have worsened, with very little prospects of…
The 2017/’18 grape harvest has remained “resilient” with production volumes stabilising despite facing the worst drought in decades, says South African Table Grape Industry (SATI) says. In an update issued on 5 February, SATI Communications Manager Clayton Swart said the 4th crop estimate for the 2017/’18 season shows that, at…
Maize farmers in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province have been advised to be on the lookout for fall armyworm. The Eastern Cape was the last province to be infested by fall armyworm in 2017, and it is estimated that 355 hectares were affected. “So far the prevailing environmental conditions in…
The Land Bank signed an agreement for a loan of R900 million from the German development bank, KfW. The loan will provide a much needed boost for the South African (SA) agricultural sector. The KfW Development Bank has been supporting and funding agriculture in more than 20 African countries, including…
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) says the late-planted crop in the South Africa’s (SA) maize triangle is more likely to recover following above-average rains over the region since the last week of January. In its latest Weather Hazards Bulletin for the period between 2 and 8 February, FEWSNET…
Before becoming a successful fig farmer, Stef Papendorf, a dentist from Rustenburg in South Africa (SA), had trouble finding figs in shops. This is why he decided to take matters into his own hands and established the now successful Hillcrest Boerdery. A decade ago he had established Protea Orchards for…
South African poultry producers have been afforded a second opportunity to fight Namibia’s import restrictions on SA chicken. The case was heard in Namibia’s High Court. The restrictions in question have been valid since April 2013 and were intended to protect Namibia’s young poultry industry. In April 2014 the South…
Timot Damiano from Malawi is honing his farming skills by growing chillies in South Africa. Across the sub-region the cry from smallholder farmers is for knowledge. Extension services in Africa are substandard and it’s often up to the individual to find his own learning resource. Farmers are eager to learn…
The government of Mauritius says it will immediately start importing vegetables from South Africa, Egypt and India following heavy rains that destroyed large areas of farmland since the beginning of this month. In a statement, Agro Industry and Food Security Minister Mahen Kumar Seeruttun said the latest assessment highlighted a…
The current drought in South Africa’s (SA) Western Cape Province, as well as less hectares planted in the Northern Cape Province have resulted in lower volumes of onions at fresh produce markets, which has nearly doubled prices. The average onion price for all classes, grades and markets reached R5.22/kg on…
Continuous monitoring and close cooperation between farmers, veterinarians and officials from the Veterinary Sciences Directorate at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) ensure that South Africa (SA) retains its status of being foot and mouth disease (FMD) free, says Dricus Botha, TLU North Manager. The Daily Maverick recently…
Outbreaks of the highly contagious H5N8 avian influenza virus in South Africa (SA) have drastically decreased in commercial chickens, but wild birds are still affected. There have been a total of 120 reports since June 2017 until 11 January 2018, according to a report issued by the Department of Agriculture,…
The latest listeriosis epidemic in South Africa (SA) is considered to be the worst in the world to date. The 61 deaths in SA due to the disease is the highest number reported so far. A panel of experts met in Pretoria, SA, recently during a National Press Club gathering…
Rwanda has banned the importation of a wide range of meat, dairy products, vegetables and fruit products from South Africa (SA) following the outbreak of listeriosis, a food-borne viral disease that causes fever, muscle aches and diarrhoea among other gastro-intestinal symptoms. The disease has infected over 500 people and killed…
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…
