This is one of the largest decreases in employment figures across varying sectors. Construction and Trade recorded higher decreases at 87 000 and 84 000 jobs respectively between January and March 2021. It is unknown what contributed to the job shedding in the Agricultural sector in this quarter. On Tuesday (1 June) Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) released the results of its Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the aforementioned 1st quarter confirming negative sentiment and predictions by economists. The unemployment rate now sits at 32,6% - the highest since Stats SA began the survey in 2008. Stats SA does caution that some factors need to be taken into consideration when interpreting the unemployment figures. This includes the fact that the Covid-19 pandemic has altered the way in which Stats SA collects employment data and the labour force participation which was lower in this quarter as compared to the final quarter of 2020.

Meanwhile, farmers in the North West’s Dr Kenneth Kaunda District have been negatively affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF) as well as the Avian Influenza. According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, farmers’ revenue in this district has been severely affected by the diseases that broke out recently as the trade of products from the area to neighbouring countries was suspended. Tabling the department’s over R1,1 billion budget, MEC Desbo Mohono has announced that following the outbreak, biosecurity measures have been increased, and more Compulsory Community Service Veterinarians have also been deployed to the most rural parts of the province in efforts to address some of the challenges experienced. Mohono outlined that R134 million is specifically set aside for veterinary services for the 2021/22 financial year.

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Botswana’s Department of Agricultural Development and Food Security announced on Monday that import restrictions have been placed on the imports of live cloven-hoofed animals from South Africa. Farmer's Weekly reports the transport of live animals through Botswana is also banned. According to the department’s directive, all permits issued in this regard are cancelled with immediate effect. This followed after the large-scale testing of cattle in KwaZulu-Natal by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development during the last week of May, confirmed an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the Mtubatuba area in the northern part of the province.

OFM News/Olebogeng Motse and Katleho Morapela