Historically, the agriculture and mining sectors have played dominant roles in shaping South Africa’s socio-economic, political and natural landscape. Today, both remain crucial to addressing the legacies of our country’s past and responding to the challenges and opportunities of the future. This will require clear vision and strong leadership from government, labour, business and social partners.
Government’s policies are characterised by low levels of financial and institutional support for the commercial farming sector, and an emphasis instead on emerging-farmer development and the transformation of land ownership. Of late, government appears to be showing renewed interest in the sector, focusing in particular on its potential to create employment. This is evident from the negotiations taking place during the drafting of South Africa’s Agricultural and Agro-processing Master Plan, which is currently under way, as well as the Presidency’s Operation Vulindlela initiative.
Despite its abundance of mineral resources, South African mining faces a systemic crisis. The sector comprises massive coal production (about 75% of the total weight of all minerals produced in the country) at a time when climate change pressures are seeing a global move away from coal-fired energy production. Mining employment in South Africa stood at 451 427 in 2020, down from 538 144 in 2012, as the sector went through job cuts.
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Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
