I recently posted a graph on Twitter showing the past 100 years of South African agricultural employment, which has of course been declining for some time, in line with the international trend. The feedback from a couple of interactions suggested that the agricultural sector is a nonstarter when it comes to job creation. – Wandile Sihlobo, Agbiz economist *Written for and first published in the Business Day on 21 June 2018.
06.07.2018 / Agbiz in the news
MoreAlmost every Sunday afternoon I make a couple of phone calls to a number of farmers across the country to catch up on regional news and agricultural conditions. This past weekend I followed that routine, with a number of farmers briefing me about summer crop harvest progress. – Wandile Sihlolo, Agbiz economist *Written for and first appeared on Business Day on 05 July 2018
06.07.2018 / Agbiz in the news
MoreThe members of the South African Sugar Association (SASA), which includes sugarcane farmers and millers, have applied to the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) for a 51% increase in the sugar tariff (dollar-based reference price of US$ 856.32/ton) to help the industry against the increasing sugar imports. – Sifiso Ntombela, Head: Trade and Investment Intelligence
06.07.2018 / Agbiz in the news
More06.07.2018 / Agbiz in the news
MoreSome of the successful land reform programmes in the world took place in countries where the beneficiaries were those who occupied the land at the time of the reform. This may be true for the provision of secure tenure to occupiers living under legally insecure tenure arrangements in communal areas, however, the context is quite different for the redistribution and restitution programmes in South Africa. – Wandile Sihlobo and Prof Johann Kirsten[i] *Written for and first published on Business Day on 25 June 2018.
06.07.2018 / Agbiz in the news
MoreSubsequent to an uptick to 58 index points in the first quarter of this year, the Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index declined to 54 in the second quarter. With the results still above the neutral 50-point mark, albeit having declined marginally, this means that the agribusiness sector is still optimistic about business conditions in South Africa - Wandile Sihlobo, Head Agbiz Economic Research
18.06.2018 / Agbiz in the news
MoreThe Quarterly Labour Force Survey conducted by Statistics South Africa showed a 3% y/y decline in agricultural employment in the first quarter of this year to 847 000 jobs - Wandile Sihlobo
20.05.2018 / Agbiz in the news
MoreThe total agricultural exports and imports for the first two months of 2018 were adjusted downward by R43.01 and R5.05 million respectively in March 2018 - Sifiso Ntombela
20.05.2018 / Agbiz in the news
MoreThe Produce Marketing Association (PMA) will host its 8th annual Fresh Connections: Southern Africa Conference and Trade Show from 15-16 August 2018 at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria. This event will include an expanded trade show, top conference speakers, industry sessions and the opportunity to network with over 450 decision makers in the local and global fresh produce supply chain.
20.05.2018 / Agbiz in the news
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