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

Forecasts of an El Niño occurrence in the 2023/24 summer season do not necessarily equate to a bad agricultural season. The upcoming season of possible below-normal rainfall, that is, El Niño, follows a rare consecutive four years of heavy rains that have improved soil moisture and natural grazing veld. This means there is a natural cushion for agricultural activity even if the rains are below the average (typically about 500mm) in SA. What will be necessary, however, is for the showers to fall in critical periods, such as seed germination and pollination stages of growth, which are all essential for crop growing.It would not be SA's first time in such a fortunate position.

Retail confidence dropped in the second quarter of 2023 as a result of soaring load-shedding-related costs, persistently high food inflation and rising interest rates — now at a 14-year high — all factors that have led to a marked deterioration in retailer profitability. The Bureau for Economic Research’s (BER’s) quarterly retail trade survey shows that retailer confidence dropped to 20% during the second quarter of 2023, down from 34% in the first quarter. As power cuts continue, the economy falters, unemployment rises and the currency tumbles, South Africa’s political commentators tend to agree that support for the governing African National Congress (ANC) will fall under 50% in the 2024 national and provincial elections. If the party avoids a defeat, it could lead to a coalition government. Unless they convince dissatisfied voters that they provide a credible alternative, the ANC may still win a majority of votes come 2024.

As grondhervorming “reg” gedoen word, kan dit daartoe bydra dat die landboubedryf met tot 15% groei, sê Wandile Sihlobo, hoofekonoom van Agbiz. Sihlobo benadruk dat dit nie die onteiening van grond sonder vergoeding beteken nie, maar die “herverdeling” van vrugbare grond “aan die regte begunstigdes”. Volgens hom is slegs 10% van die kommersiële boere wat kos aan Suid-Afrikaners verskaf, swart en dit “moet reggestel word om volhoubaar te wees”. Sihlobo sê die regering moet ook die boere bystaan met finansies en toerusting sodat hulle ’n sukses van hul boerdery kan maak. Hy raam die bedryf kan teen 2031 met 10% tot 15% groei indien die regering die bogenoemde doen. Dit kan ook tot 1 miljoen werkgeleenthede skep. Die regering moet ook aandag gee aan die opbouing van infrastruktuur, “vernaam plattelandse paaie”, verseker dat boere wat grond kry ook titelaktes vir die plase het sodat hulle dit as sekuriteit kan gebruik, en probleme soos misdaad en beurtkrag die hoof bied ten einde Sihlobo se vooruitskouing vir die bedryf te bereik.

Groot kommer heers onder boere oor die uitbreking van cholera wat reeds na twee ander provinsies versprei het sedert die eerste gevalle op Hammanskraal, noord van Pretoria, aangemeld is. Die vraag of cholera ’n impak gaan hê op produsente se opbrengste hang af of die gewasse uit ’n rivier besproei word waarin rioolwater vloei, en of daar besmette grondwater gebruik word. Janse Rabie, uitvoerende hoof van wetgewing en beleidsake by Agri SA, sê hulle is veral bekommerd dat die voorkoms van dié gevreesde siekte, asook ander besoedelde waterverwante siektes verder kan toeneem, veral wanneer die noordelike streke se rivier- en damvlakke in die komende droë seisoen gaan begin daal. “Ons besef die erns daarvan vir die landbou en vra om strenger optrede teen munisipaliteite wat nie hul funksies na behore uitoefen ten opsigte van hul bestuur van watersuiweringswerke nie,” sê hy. “Die onlangse interim groen en blou-druppel verslae van die departement skets ’n uiters kommerwekkende prentjie. Dit is verbysterend dat daar nie aansienlik meer vordering gemaak word om die neiging van die agteruitgang van ons waterhulpbronne aan te pak nie.“Hier is werklik sprake van misdadige nalatigheid wat almal van ons – nie net die landbousektor nie – raak.”

Weeds can impact the health of other desired plants and can cause accidents. Not to mention, weeds are typically unwanted and are often not visually attractive. However, when taking care of weeds it is essential to use products that are kind to the planet. Electric weed control is a fairly new introduction - also known as zapping - it is the process of applying electricity directly to a plant to kill it. READ MORE 

Unemployment poses a significant challenge in South Africa, particularly impacting young people and women. The first quarter of the 2023 Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) by Stats SA revealed alarming statistics, with an unemployment rate having increased by 0.2% from 32.7% in the fourth quarter of 2022 to 32.9% in the first quarter of 2023.  READ MORE 

South Africa’s agricultural industry, which contributes more than 2% to the country’s overall economic output, is in the doldrums. Confirming this are several industry players and newly published data on the industry’s performance. Businesses operating in the agricultural industry are losing confidence in SA’s economic future. This is deterring them from investing in or expanding their operations. 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- Dis net jammer dat daar mense is wat glad nie bereid is om hulle eie kreatiwiteit te gebruik nie en ons span se idees en planne kopieer. Ons is tans besig met die beplanning van 'n baie eksklusiewe program een sy soort. 

EXCITING NEWS - EXCLUSIVE -  COMING UP - 

 

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