Professor of Plant Breeding in the Department of Plant Sciences at the UFS, Maryke Labuschagne, tells OFM News that the research focuses on enhancing food security in Africa by increasing food production. Labuschagne says that students across the continent are collaborating to release new commercial varieties of maize, sorghum, and many more.

The Department of Agriculture concluded their agricultural youth webinar this morning. Spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo tells OFM News the initiative aims to highlight the role that aspiring young people play in the agricultural sector. He adds that the Minister of Agriculture, Thoko Didiza, has her intentions set on engaging with young people about their agricultural needs while addressing issues of land reform. Ngcobo says Didiza furthermore informed the youth about the resources at their disposal.

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South Africa’s agricultural sector has not, in the recent past, had a season as good as the current one. This is evident from the Agbiz/IDC Agri-business Confidence Index, which in the second quarter of this year reached a record high of 75, from 64 in the first quarter of 2021. Chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, Wandile Sihlobo, says in a statement these results reflect favourable conditions for all subsectors of agriculture, with various crops set to reach record output levels.

OFM News/ Lee Simmons & Blaine Jones