ASUF engages with Labour and DoL on labour unrest
 The recently launched Agri-sector Unity Forum (ASUF) held a meeting with organized labour, as facilitated by the Department of Labour (DoL) and the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), on the recent labour unrest and demands for a minimum wage of R150 per day, in Cape Town on Thursday 22 November 2012. Please peruse the attached media statement for further detail. This labour unrest issue, together with the demands tabled, hold serious consequences for the whole of industry, as well as for food prices and national food security. |
Agriculture launches Unity Forum
 Following on the increasing need to engage government on policy and legislation issues on a united basis, the Agri-Sector Unity Forum was launched at a function in Pretoria last week. The plenary elected Ms Ntombi Msimang as chairperson of the forum and Mr Japie Grobler as deputy chairperson. Read media release» |
Co-operatives Amendment Bill finalized by Portfolio Committee in Parliament
 The Co-operatives Amendment Bill, which is the result of the consolidation of the Cooperatives Amendment Bills B17 and B18 of 2012,
has been approved by the Portfolio Committee this past week. The Bill still has to be addressed within the National Chamber of Provinces and the National Assembly, but it is not foreseen that any further major changes will be made. It is important that agricultural co-operatives peruse the approved Bill carefully to understand how it will affect their respective enterprises. Download the Bill» |
Absa releases agricultural outlook for 2013
|
Fruit industry support for sustainable practices on farms
 Agriculture, and the fruit industry in the Western Cape in particular, have faced serious challenges in the past two weeks, particularly with the violence, threats, and intimidation that have underscored the demonstrations in rural areas. It is therefore timeous that the fruit industry's ethical trade programme, the Sustainability Initiative of South Africa (SIZA), has been launched in a bid to support growers and employees with the continuous improvement of working conditions on farms throughout South Africa. Read more»
|
Are we playing with fire?
- It is plainly irresponsible to underestimate the role of agriculture!
(Potatoes SA )
 The role of agriculture in the economy is often underplayed in so far as its monetary contribution to the GDP is concerned. If the strikes in the Western Cape manifests in the regions where foodstuffs such as grains and fresh vegetables are produced it would have a major impact on food security with resultant higher prices and job losses further fuelling the instability. Read full media release»
|
Technology Trends Shaping the Supply Chain of the Future
Integrate or disintegrate! This was one of the messages that Volition Consulting Services Managing Director Dean Tebbutt shared in his presentation at a recent Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) round table event. Volition, a leading independent supply chain consulting firm in SA, is a member of the IMPERIAL Logistics group.
Outlining supply chain technology trends that are impacting the industry, Tebbutt stressed that business to business integration of processes, data and applications has become a basic necessity. "If you want to be competitive, you cannot be paranoid about sharing data and integrating processes and systems with your supply chain partners," he stated, adding that the tools and methods for internal and external integration are now mature, and that skills and paranoia cannot be a constraint any longer. Read more» |
Zambia Copperbelt Mining and Agricultural Show 2013
29 May - 2 June 2013 | Kitwe | Zambia Closing date for complete applications is 30 November 2012
|
Absa Business Bank released its agricultural outlook for 2013 on Wednesday. Linked please find Mr Ernst Janovski's