Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
cropslatest news & developments
South Africa needs to bolster its biosecurity to control the spread of disease in livestock and poultry.

Biosecurity is vital for SA’s successful agricultural growth and export strategy

Frequent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza and African swine fever suggest weakness in biosecurity controls and the effect of climate change

Crop data reaffirms South African agriculture’s recovery path

This could be good for consumers as prices drop.

South Africa’s Crop Estimates Committee lowered the 2023-24 maize harvest to 12,8 million tonnes, down 2% from last month and 22% from the previous season.

South Africa’s maize production prospects lowered again

The effects of the mid-summer drought are being felt but the country’s needs should be met with some over for export

SA’s agricultural fortunes contracted in second quarter but a recovery is predicted

The mid-summer drought and animal diseases resulted in reduced crop yields and hurt the poultry, piggery and cattle sectors

Tractor sales increased for the second consecutive month, up 21% year-on-year in February 2025 (File photo)

South Africa’s 2023 agricultural machinery sales show mixed performance

Crop harvests were good in the 2022-23 season but tractor sales are down by 9%

South Africa is the only African country in China’s top 30 agricultural suppliers, ranked 28 in 2023.

Why I am optimistic about South Africa’s agricultural outlook in 2024

We are in for another good agricultural season, especially if January and February present favourable rainfall

What underpinned SA’s agricultural underperformance in the third quarter?

There are weaknesses in the country’s biosecurity system, including the measures in place to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases

El Niño is expected to cause a loss of rainfall

El Niño, news and reflection

Taking a step back this week, there is still great cause for optimism about 2023-24’s agricultural output

It will be two to three months before there’s a better understanding of the weather outlook and effect on the next season’s yield. (Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images)

El Niño’s coming but SA’s winter crops may be spared dryness

It will be two to three months before there’s a better understanding of the weather outlook and effect on the next season’s yield

Drug testing policies must comply with the law, as well as be fair and respectful of employees’ rights, protecting both them and the company. Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Bricks and biofuels: Cannabis can grow South Africa

Two promising uses of hemp are the manufacturing of “green” biofuels and the building of low-cost and sustainable housing

Photo by LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images.

Dry year leaves Syria wheat farmers facing crop failure

The World Food Programme said in February that a staggering 12.4 million people in Syria were food insecure

The South African agricultural sector is on solid ground for now and we shouldn’t be worried — but we should be vigilant.

Climate crisis threatens future maize production in SA and Lesotho

Climate change not only affects the nutritional value of food crops, but also leaves the food supply system vulnerable to production shocks, study finds