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This week’s edition of Farmer’s Weekly takes a look at ostrich production in South Africa, which is currently under pressure.

Schroeder shares that although ostrich production is expected to increase by between 7.5% and 10% in the current production season to just under 140 000 slaughtered birds, margins remain under pressure. This, as the drought in the ostrich production regions, has not been broken and input costs are expected to remain high in the next six months.

Francois de Wet, managing director of Cape Karoo International, says production fell from 162 000 slaughtered birds in the 2021 season, to 127 000 in the 2021/22 season.

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Farmer’s Weekly also takes a look at the alternative uses for the surplus sugarcane South Africa has been producing. Schroeder says that this might be diverted into food additives and bioplastics.

Feasibility studies that are being undertaken, prove it to be economically viable. The studies are funded by the Department of Science and Innovation at the University of Stellenbosch and are being undertaken by the sugar research institute.

The South African Sugar Association says that this research is being conducted because approximately 400 000 tons of the 1.8 million tons of sugarcane produced locally, during the previous season, had to be exported at a loss.

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Another news story takes a look at the challenges that the South African citrus industry is facing.

Stakeholders of the citrus industry say there is a dark cloud hanging over the industry which is two-fold, says Schroeder.

She adds that delegates at a workshop that was recently held by Citrus Research International, warned about the impending threat of huanglongbing (HLB) disease in citrus production in South Africa. This is a serious disease that decimated the citrus industry in Florida and in the US.

Adding to that, Schroeder says rapidly rising volumes of citrus fruit are posing another threat to the industry which could result in lower prices for farmers.

Hannes Bester from Citrus Research International says that it is unlikely that there will be a sufficient market to absorb the increase in supply in the next two years, especially as more citrus trees start maturing.

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