This is according to Wandile Sihlobo, the chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, Agbiz. He explains that the first quarter of the year faced similar constraints to the past quarters such as delays at the ports and rail, and deteriorating road infrastructure. In the first quarter of the year, the approach for agriculture was to engage in more coordination with Transnet, agriculture industry groups, and transport organisations, which helped improve the flow of information about various challenges and functions at the ports. OFM News' Elsabé Richard-May reports this was specifically true for the Port of Cape Town, where there were long delays at the start of the year due to numerous infrastructure constraints and weather-related difficulties.

Blueberry farmers in South Africa are facing delays in their return on investment as prices of the fruit decrease. This can largely be contributed to global prices of the fruit decreasing. Editor of Farmer's Weekly, Janine Ryan, says South Africa’s 2021/22 crop was up 60% from the previous season. She however adds export prices were down 14% from those of 2020.

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The National Wool Growers Association says the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Mooketsa Ramasodi, will attend its annual wool congress in Gqeberha this week. It will take place on Wednesday and Thursday at the Pine Lodge Resort. The association says the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in various provinces, which had led to China imposing a temporary ban on wool exports from South Africa, will be high on the agenda. The issue will be discussed with Ramasodi and the department's urgent assistance will be requested to get this important market reopened.

OFM News