Wandile Sihlobo, a renowned agricultural economist, recently penned an article titled Rain Brings Grain, offering a hopeful outlook on the rains currently blessing South Africa. These rains signal recovery for the agricultural sector, particularly after the challenges posed by last year’s drought. In this article, we explore Wandile’s insights, break down the weather forecasts for […]
The Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) for Q4 2024, issued by Wandile Sihlobo, Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), reflects an encouraging sentiment in South Africa’s agribusiness sector. The ACI rose by 10 points from Q3 to reach 58, marking its highest level since Q2 2022. This improvement underscores a […]
South Africa’s canola production has steadily grown into one of the country’s major agricultural success stories. According to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), the 2024-25 canola season is shaping up to be the most successful on record, with forecasts estimating a bumper crop of 294,000 tonnes. This […]
The Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index Recovers Slightly in Q3 2024since the 2009 financial crisis. While this recovery is positive, the index remains below the neutral 50-point mark, suggesting that agribusinesses are still wary of the overall business climate. The earlier drop was largely due to uncertainty around the national elections, but the establishment of a […]
The Animal Feed Manufacturers Association of South Africa (AFMA) has named Wandile Sihlobo as its 2023/2024 Person of the Year. This award, presented at AFMA’s 77th Annual General Meeting at the picturesque Cathedral Peak Hotel, celebrates Sihlobo’s remarkable contributions to the agricultural sector and his tireless efforts to advance the animal feed industry. A Champion […]
For South Africa’s agriculture to thrive globally, it must stay updated with the latest in seed breeding and agrochemicals. These elements often go unnoticed by the public eye, overshadowed by the final products like crop yield and animal health. Over the years, South Africa’s agricultural sector has seen remarkable growth, thanks to increased exports and […]
Amidst a growing sense of unhappiness amongst farmers globally, recent events in the European Union (EU) are sending ripples of concern throughout South Africa’s agricultural sector. These protests, while geographically distant, bear relevance as they underscore broader issues affecting agricultural communities worldwide. The EU farmers’ protests, fueled by grievances over import protection, declining agricultural subsidies, […]
