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The combination of a large harvest, joint efforts between the government and private sector to keep agriculture operational since the outset of the lockdown, and long-term efforts of export market development continue to pay off for the domestic agricultural sector. This is according to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, Agbiz. Sihlobo says South Africa saw record quarterly exports worth 3.2 billion US Dollars, which is an increase of 5% on a year-on-year basis in the third quarter of 2020. He explains that the growth in agricultural exports was primarily underpinned by citrus, wine, maize, nuts, fruit and sugar cane.

Die Rooivleisprodusente-organisasie (RPO) in die Noord-Kaap sê skaapgetalle in die provinsie is laag weens die voortslepende droogte waaronder sekere gebiede steeds gebuk gaan. Die organisasie se Johannes Human sê egter hulle bly hoopvol dat 2021 ‘n beter jaar vir die provinsie sal wees. Ten spyte van die onlangse lekker reënval regoor die land, gaan ‘n groot deel van die Noord-Kaap steeds onder erge droogte gebuk. Human sê as gevolg hiervan het die noord-oostelike dele van die provinsie brande ervaar wat groot verwoesting gesaai het. Hierdie brande het rooivleisprodusente swaar getref. Hy voeg egter by dat alhoewel die provinsie in ‘n boufase is, lewer boere steeds goeie produkte.

A recent buzz word in the agricultural sector is Brucellosis]. The disease made headlines when an outbreak was confirmed by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture in the northern part of the province. Dr Sewelan Davey, a retired veterinarian, explains Brucellosis is a bacterial disease which is contagious. Davey says that it is commonly found in cattle, but it affects most mammalia in species. She adds that the disease is a zoonosis, which means that humans can also get infected. The disease has a negative effect on the farming industry as it causes big production losses. Davey says because of efforts to control the disease, infected animals have to be slaughtered as they remain a source of infection for other animals. Furthermore, she urges farmers to get their herd tested to make sure that they are free of the disease. With that being said, when buying animals, farmers should be careful and make sure that they buy from a herd that has been tested negative.

Die nuwe rosyntjie produksieseisoen lyk belowend. Dit is volgens Ferdie Botha, hoofuitvoerende bestuurder van Raisins SA. Botha sê die Clanwilliam-dam is vol en produsente is opgewonde na ‘n twee jaar lange droogte wat hulle in die omgewing ervaar het. Verder sê Botha die prys van rosyntjies het ‘n daling getoon in die 2019/20 seisoen, maar dat pryse tans verder stabiliseer en ook sywaarts beweeg. Hy voeg by dat die Covid-19 pandemie ‘n groot invloed gehad het op die wêreld ekonomie, sowel as die plaaslike ekonomie. Botha sê die rosyntjiebedryf hoop dat dit in die nabye toekoms pryse tot hoër vlakke sal kan bou. Hy verduidelik dat omdat die plaaslike rosyntjiebedryf gekoppel is aan die internasionale mark het produsente teen internasionale pryse die voordele gesien van ‘n verswakte Rand.

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