This is according to Agri SA who is of the view that the country’s ‘economic reconstruction plan’ needs to kick into a higher gear. Christo van der Rheede – the executive director of Agri SA - tells the OFM Business Hour that he hopes President Cyril Ramaphosa will pledge to put some momentum behind the implementation of this plan in his State of the Nation Address. He says this is critical for the recovery of the country’s sluggish economy.

Meanwhile... Agri SA has weighed in on the resignation of the CEO of the Land Bank, Ayanda Kanana, as well as the executive manager of agricultural economics and advisory, Dr Litha Maginxa. Executive director of Agri SA, Christo van der Rheede, says that Kanana took over the role at a crucial time and played a critical role in trying to steer the ship to safe waters, so to speak. Van der Rheede says that the organisation remains hopeful that the Land Bank's challenges, relating to its debt commitments and liquidity, will need to be tackled with urgency. He says that it is important that the bank returns to being a stable, profitable, and trusted institution, as many of the new entrants in the sector rely on this vehicle as they would not receive the same opportunity and assistance elsewhere. Van der Rheede says that Agri SA is confident that the newly installed board, under the leadership of Thabi Nkosi, will prioritise stability and will inspire confidence in the institution once again.

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The national Department of Agriculture confirms that the export of fresh pears from South Africa to China has recently been permitted. According to the departmental spokesperson, Reggie Ngcobo, the South African government and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, have signed the protocol of phyto-sanitary requirements for the export of fresh pears from South Africa to China, effective from 17 January 2022. He adds that the signed protocol for phyto-sanitary requirements gives guidance on procedures and processes to control possible plant diseases during the exportation of pears.





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