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The drop takes the confidence index to its lowest levels since the second quarter of 2020 when Covid-19 restrictions were first implemented, says Janine Ryan the editor of Farmer's Weekly.

Amongst the sub-indices measured, debtor provision for bad debt increased by two points to 36, signalling growing worries about worsening financial conditions in the agricultural sector.

FNB’s Dawie Maree says the decline in business confidence was expected considering that general business confidence was also down in the country due to the challenging economic environment. He adds that to restore business confidence, the electricity crises have to be resolved, inflation has to be kept under control and interest rates need to be stabilised.

ALSO READ: The art of Aquaponics

Furthermore, in this week's feature section, Farmer’s Weekly focuses on hydroponics production and irrigation technology. Ryan says they look at the differences between hydroponics and aquaponics.

They also offer some advice on which of these systems would work best for farmers or aspiring farmers venturing into these forms of production. The expertise and capital needed are also discussed.

The publication also takes a look at South Africa’s poultry industry, which according to experts is well-positioned for long-term growth. However, the industry is currently in distress due to a raft of local as well as global challenges.

Ryan says the value of the South African poultry industry has grown by R3 billion over the past three years to R59 billion, primarily due to additional investments by industry participants.

However, there are numerous challenges that the industry faces which could hamper its future growth.

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