Agra’s drive for a ‘green revolution’ has reduced crop diversity, created a dependency on commercial seeds and fertiliser and increased vulnerability to drought
Long before the political crisis in the country, food production decreased because of environmental problems
This reflects a moderation of sales after excellent sales figures in 2022. But higher interest rates and a poor 2023-24 summer crop add pressure to farmers’ finances
The devastation of Cyclone Freddy, which Storm Ana and Cyclone Gombe, is being exacerbated by the drought brought on by El Niño
The M&G’s basic food basket survey shows that supermarket prices don’t always drop when those at fresh produce markets do
Farmers have been hard hit by everything from load-shedding to transport costs and supermarkets say they have not passed the costs
of running generators on to battling consumers
Small and medium-sized farmers are installing biodigesters to turn their animal waste into biogas for cooking and lighting
Farmers in the Apies River area decry the damage pollution from the defective wastewater treatment plant has done to their farms and livelihoods
Government says the draft rules are to address the disparities in access to water use left over from apartheid
European state banks are happy to finance projects using pesticides deemed too dangerous for people in their own countries. One of these is in Ghana
The growers say ‘unjustified, discriminatory and scientifically flawed’ new regulations are a political move to block South African citrus from entering the EU
In this edition of Bhekisisa’s #SliceofLife series, Bayanda Maseko speaks about his mental health. Watch the full interview in the March episode of Bhekisisa’s TV show Health Beat
It is critical that efforts to put quality seeds in the hands of smallholder farmers, who represent 70% of Africa’s agricultural production, are accelerated.
The advent of digital technology in agriculture has made accessing markets, agribusiness information and financial services easier for farmers
We will have a poorer harvest than the glowing 2020-21 harvest, but will probably not have to import supplies
No to ‘climate-stupid’ agriculture
In this second feature on land restitution in Stutterheim, a farmer allocated land by the government loses it to a member of a prominent ANC family
Young people, of which the continent has many, could be key to innovating intelligent technology solutions that help farmers produce food efficiently
It may be beneficial for consumers when supermarkets push to get the lowest price from suppliers, but it can harm the farmers
How farmers perceive jackal and caracal — as ‘beautiful’ or ‘thieves’ — determines whether they will tolerate them on their livestock farms
Local farmers need to be included in the process of growing and distribution to create a sustainable market
The government and stakeholders will have to work harder to ensure the industry adapts and thrives
Farmers and the rights groups have called for an in-depth evaluation of the effects on people’s lives and the environment
Buying local sugar allows black farmers to sustain their own families and others
More than 263-million cultivators and labourers have joined the rights movement against the Modi government’s laws that will push people further into poverty
Farming must embrace sustainable, regenerative agriculture practices to secure our future
Reverend Frank Chikane has just completed six years as the chairperson of the Kagiso Trust. He speaks about corruption, his children’s views and how churches can be mobilised
Kenyan farmers say theft of their crop is endemic – and they suspect collusion
The agricultural sector has grown this year, but an absence of collateral is preventing black farmers from making a go of their business
A Mpumalanga MEC and his close business associate have pushed for the development of a new city, but a local farmers’ association is fighting back
When South Africa eventually emerges from the fog of the Covid-19 crisis, will policy makers be ready to grasp the nettle of farm scale, and promote the large-scale redistribution of land to small-scale producers?
With access to food severely limited and an already flawed agricultural infrastructure, many people living in rural communities are suffering