The sale of agricultural machinery has boomed in South Africa over the past two years, according to the sales reports published by the South African Agricultural Machinery Association.
Jaco du Preez, marketing manager for New Holland in Southern Africa, says that the boom in sales is largely due to the high prices of commodities. Favourable weather conditions have also seen local farmers produce bumper maize, wheat and soya bean crops, while the Russia-Ukraine conflict has driven the prices of these commodities even higher.
“There is a lot of opportunity for farmers to export their produce to international markets. While exporting to Europe is becoming more difficult, due to the Russia-Ukraine war, there is still plenty of opportunity for farmers to export commodities to other countries in Africa,” says Du Preez. He adds that South Africa is in a good position to assure not only its own food security, but also to improve the food security of other countries on the continent. “Farmers have produced high yields of good-quality crops over the past few years. Therefore, their cash flow is much better now than it has been for a while. We see this in the boom in machinery sales; farmers buying machinery is an indication of good yields.
“This is a good opportunity for farmers to invest in machinery with improved technology, as they are currently in a position to afford this.”
In 2020/21, New Holland saw a particular jump in the sale of combine harvesters, with a market of around 300 units in this year alone.
Denne historien er fra Farmer's Weekly 26 August 2022-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Farmer's Weekly 26 August 2022-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Understanding eye conditions in horses: causes and first aid
A horse can get a swollen eye from bumping it against a tree, shaking its head to keep flies away, or even snake venom
IPM requires a completely different mindset
You need to investigate any beneficial insects that may appear on your plants, or you can purchase them
Does parrot farming protect wild species?
Those in favour of commercial captive breeding argue that breeding parrots to sell can relieve pressure on wild populations. Researchers Neil D'Cruze and Rowan Martin review the evidence.
Bacterial and fungal diseases of garlic
Garlic can be prone to bacterial and fungal diseases, and it's important that farmers are proactive in preventing infection and practise appropriate management. Magda du Toit reports.
Responsible wastewater management: a crucial part of farming
The inadequate management of waste water is a challenge that the agriculture sector needs to deal with. Magda du Toit spoke to experts in waste and water management about a cost-effective treatment system.
Technology that can help protect South Africa's farms
Farm attacks, murders, livestock and crop theft, and other rural crimes are a growing concern in South Africa. As a result, more and more farmers are turning to advanced security technology to protect their lives, properties, and livelihoods. Sinenhlanhla Mncwango spoke to experts about the security strategies that producers can adopt to combat these threats.
The impact of theft on farms in South Africa
A high number of livestock are being stolen every year in South Africa. Insurance is expensive and farmers are battling to find solutions to the problem, says Dr Lindie von Maltitz, agricultural economics lecturer in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State.
Staying afloat amid the cost-price squeeze
John Hudson, head of agriculture at Nedbank Commercial Banking, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the importance of environmental and social sustainability for a prosperous agriculture sector.
Free State has no reason to mark Transport Month
Free State Agriculture (FSA) is very concerned about the extremely poor state of rural paved and gravel roads in the province and has very little, if anything, to celebrate during Transport Month, which takes place every October.
SA's food system ‘vulnerable to climate change'
The Just Transition Agenda for Food System Policymaking in SA webinar, hosted by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) in October, highlighted the role that South Africa’s food system plays in contributing to climate change and how vulnerable it is to the impact thereof.
