South Africa’s farm jobs up 2% y/y in the second quarter of 2023

Aug 28, 2023

In the second quarter of 2023, about 894 000 people were employed in South Africa’s primary agriculture, up 1% q/q and 2% y/y. This is the highest farm employment level since the last quarter of 2016 and is well above the long-term agricultural employment of 780 000....

Poor roads limit South Africa’s agricultural potential

May 16, 2023

Despite various challenges in trade and animal diseases, South Africa’s agricultural sector has had a good few seasons. But one other crucial issue is road deterioration; in some provinces, such as the Eastern Cape, roads are almost non-existent in various regions....

From communal to commercial: a Bonsmara farmer’s success story

May 5, 2023

“I go full force for Bonsmara. When you farm cattle, it’s good to focus [on a specific breed].” So says Mthobeli Dintsi of his approach to beef production on his 646ha farm, Flatfield, near Cathcart in the Eastern Cape, which is home to about 100 Bonsmara-type...

Weekend podcast: New trust to help farmers grow

Mar 14, 2022

For Jac Jordaan, a farmer and founder of the newly launched Real Farmers Trust, farming has always been a passion and part of his family tradition which spans over decades. The initiative empowers farmers with the bargaining power and support they need on their growth...

Young farmers ‘should harness power of social media’

Jan 5, 2022

Harnessing social media in agriculture has transformed Kwanda Nyanzeka into a go-to source for a new generation of farmers. His Facebook group, Agriculture & Young, has close to 40 000 people just three months since it was established. The 24-year-old...