Weeklikse Afrikaanse Landbou Nuusoorsig - Die Afrikaanse Nuus is die afgelope paar dae op AGRI NEWS NET geplaas, saam met nog ander artikels. 

A 28% year-on-year (y-o-y) reduction in liner traffic through the Suez Canal since Houthi rebels in Yemen retaliated against Israel’s war on Gaza by attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea has resulted in a 173% increase in forty-foot equivalent unit (FEU) rates through the important waterway. According to booking and payment platform Freightos, an FEU shipment between Northern Europe and Asia now costs more than $4 000, representing the sharpest increase in rates since 2022 when immediate post-Covid capacity take-up resulted in the highest liner trade freight rate increase this century.

Reën van minder as 20 mm is moontlik rofweg wes van die N1 tot so ver as die Namibiese grens en noord van die Oranjerivier dié week, met swaarder reën wat elders voorspel word. “Swaarder neerslae van meer as 20 mm kan oor die oostelike dele van Noordwes, Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, die oostelike helfte van die Vrystaat, die hele KwaZulu-Natal en die noordelike helfte van die Oos-Kaap voorkom,” sê Johan van den Berg, onafhanklike landbouweerkundige. “In die tweede helfte van Januarie verswak reënvaltoestande oor byna die hele somerreëngebied met die uitsondering van die oostelike dele, waaronder veral Mpumalanga, waar neerslae van 20 mm of meer nog kan voorkom.

According to Clive Garrett, South Africa’s representative at the World Avocado Organization, the global avocado trade has experienced rapid growth in the past decade. In the 2021/22 season, global avocado exports reached 2.5 million metric tons and $6.9 billion, accounting for 3.6% and 8% of the global fruit trade in terms of volume and value, respectively. Over the decade since the 2011/12 season, the global avocado trade volume increased by 1.5 million metric tons with an annual growth rate of 12%, while the global fruit trade only witnessed a growth rate of 2.1% during the same period. Meanwhile, the value of the global avocado trade rose by $4.8 billion over this period, marking a 3.2-fold increase.

Experts claim there are many opportunities for South Africa's farmers. The exchange rate remains a challenge for South Africa, but is a positive factor for exporting companies. Experts believe South African farmers can find a lucrative export market this year, especially in African countries. in blueberries last year, Peru had an issue and because of this South Africa had a much better blueberry season. So, every year, products are evaluated taking the varying conditions from season to season into account. This year compared to last provides better export opportunities, adding that more markets are opening slowly, and more products are allowed into new markets like avocados now being exported to China.

Tensions in the Red Sea continue. After several attacks on container ships, some carriers have decided not to use the Suez Canal, diverting their vessels via South Africa and the Cape of Good Hope instead, thereby extending the transit time by two weeks. Consequences: rising prices and disruptions to the supply chain, for example in the avocado market, which could experience shortages, a "highly speculative" trend, and a consequent surge in prices.

Wisselvallige reënval skep hierdie seisoen probleme in groot dele van die somersaaigebied. Boere verwag steeds ’n gemiddelde oes in hierdie El Niño-jaar. Sommige distrikte, soos die Oos-Vrystaat, beleef selfs ’n baie goeie jaar ná die vorige twee jaar se harde en aanhoudende reën skade veroorsaak het. In die sentrale en westelike dele van die Vrystaat beskryf boere die seisoen as “taamlik deurmekaar” en vertel ook hoe hulle weens die vroeë hittegolwe moet herbeplan en oeste in verskeie sarsies plant.  In die westelike saaigebied, wat Noordwes en die Wes-Vrystaat insluit, het die plantreën hierdie seisoen eers einde November en begin Desember geval. Baie boere het nog tot Kersfees mielies geplant. Tans word daar steeds sonneblom geplant, wat ’n korter groeityd het en nie die risiko van rypskade loop as dit nou geplant word nie.  Die Noord en Wes Vrystaat het nie so baie reen gehad nie- maar meeste bere kon klaar plant.  Die ondergrond het baie water.

The scale of South African “tiger farms” can be gauged from trade figures. Between 2011 and 2020, South Africa exported 358 live tigers and 93 tiger body parts. Most of these went to Vietnam, China and Thailand. During that time, 54 tiger “trophies” were exported — 27 to China, the rest to Bangladesh, Pakistan and Poland. These statistics, compiled by Four Paws, show that tigers are being bred for both hunting and commercial exploitation. READ MORE 

Researchers assessing climate-smart agriculture and nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa are calling for farmers in the region to diversify their agricultural production toward climate-smart and micronutrient-rich crops such as soybeans, cassava, millet and sorghum in a bid to improve health outcomes. READ MORE 

Glyphosate is the single most heavily used agricultural pesticide in the world. Its use grew dramatically over the past two decades with the increase in production of genetically modified, herbicide-resistant crops. These crops are engineered to withstand the weed-killing effects of herbicides like glyphosate, which means that an entire field can be sprayed with these chemicals, eliminating the weeds without harm to the crop itself. This is a change from previous practices, where herbicide applications had to be more targeted. READ MORE 

Recent evidence has undermined the narrative of ‘Africa Rising’, as the World Bank predicts a growth deceleration in the continent from 3.6% to 2.5%. One driver of such disappointing growth is sluggish productivity growth. In fact, productivity growth has been on a downward trend since the mid-2010s (see here). How can countries in the region boost their productivity? READ MORE 

When a person stops smoking, their body begins to heal almost instantly. Quitting smoking can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of lung and heart cancer.  The timeline for seeing the benefits of quitting smoking is faster than most people realize. Health benefits begin in as little as an hour after the last cigarette and continue to improve.  READ MORE 

CRA MEDIA is tans besig met die ontwikkeling van 3 nuwe insetels vir ons mediums.  Ons gaan binnekort ook toetree tot ander mediums wat Landbou op nog 'n beter vlak sal neem. Ons internasionale vennote wil baie graag betrokke raak by ons mediums.  Ons span is baie kreatief en is altyd besig met nuwe idees en programme-  Ons is tans besig met die beplanning van 'n baie eksklusiewe program een sy soort.  Ons sal eersdaags ons nuwe Ekonomiese afdeling in plek.

EXCITING NEWS - EXCLUSIVE -  COMING UP - 

Awards function for Competition for Women in Agriculture – Friday March 1, 2024 at 11:00 – 15:00

Villa Arcadia, Hollard Head Office, Parktown.

Final days for entries – Deadline on Wednesday, 31 January 2024.

Link for entries …………………………

HURRY UP - its almost the end of 31th January  2024 - We awaiting your  VIDEO

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