Farmer's Weekly reports looters also stormed 10 farms and stole about two million birds. This was according to Izaak Breytenbach, general manager of the Broiler Organisation of the South African Poultry Association (SAPA). The poultry industry is concerned about the impact that riots and looting will have on the spread of avian influenza, a.k.a. bird flu, due to a break in biosecurity measures on numerous farms. Breytenbach added that the industry was also concerned about the high incidence of avian influenza among wild birds. Despite numbers of reported incidences declining, farmers were urged to be on alert and to report any signs of avian influenza to their nearest State Veterinarian for immediate investigation. OFM News reported in June that bird flu was identified on three farms in the Free State. The farms were located in Villiers, Parys and Wesselsbron. State Veterinarian in Frankfort, Dr Patricia Froneman, previously stated that awareness is crucial.

While the recent data continues to show that South Africa’s consumer food price inflation remains elevated, the second half of the year could show moderation. This is according to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz). He says that in June this year, South Africa’s consumer food price inflation accelerated to 7,0% year-on-year from 6,8% year-on-year in the previous month. Sihlobo further adds that the underpinning drivers of this monthly increase were primarily oils and fats, meat, milk, eggs and cheese. Bread and cereals, which are amongst the products with higher weighting, were one of the drivers of the uptick in inflation in the past few months and remained broadly unchanged from May 2021.

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Agricultural advisors based in the Free State recently received tablets as part of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's Smallholder Horticulture  Empowerment and Promotion  (SHEP) programme. Departmental spokesperson, Zimasa Leputla, says that the handover of the ten tablets is as a result of a partnership between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development. 

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