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Agbiz gains access to broad network of US companies
 A trade mission of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agribusiness Trade Mission (ATM) last week visited South Africa. The ATM involved B2B meeting sessions between various US exporters and Sub-Saharan African (SSA) agribusiness firms. By participating in the trade mission, Agbiz gained access to a broad network of US companies that are looking to do business in South Africa, engaging specifically with companies whose products are likely to improve the bottom line of South Africa's agribusiness sector. More»
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Africa now the number one export destination for SA agricultural exports
 South Africa's exports are growing strongly in emerging markets - Africa, Asia as well as BRICS countries according to a recent BFAP report. South Africa's agricultural export growth to Africa has been particularly significant. In 2012, South Africa's agricultural exports to Africa exceeded those to Europe for the first time. Africa now represents the number one export destination for South Africa's agricultural exports, constituting 31.2% of total agricultural exports compared to Europe's 29.9%. Agricultural commodity exports driving the growth into Africa include fruit and vegetable juice (mainly to Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia) as well as re-exports of refined soybean oil (primarily to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Congo). More»
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Modelling the impact of the 'fast track' land reform policy on Zimbabwe's maize sector
 Zimbabwe has recently gone through a widely criticised land reform process that is argued to be the cause of subdued agricultural production. The linked paper attempts to present a counterfactual picture of the maize market in Zimbabwe had land reform been managed appropriately. View full paper»
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Investment and Trade Initiative to Zimbabwe
 An Investment and Trade Initiative (ITI) is being organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) to Zimbabwe from 14 - 18 October 2013.
The objective of this mission is to further increase trade and investment between South Africa and Zimbabwe. The initiative serves as an ideal platform for South African companies who are seeking opportunities in exporting value added products and services as well as seeking to invest in the economy of Zimbabwe.
Key Sectors of interest with emerging opportunities are:
* Agriculture and Agro-processing
* Built Environment Professionals (consulting engineers, civil engineering contractors, quantity surveying architects)
* Energy (Oil and Gas)
* Mining and Capital Equipment
* Electro technical (electronics, electrical engineers, ICT)
A draft agenda/programme and a brief country note on Zimbabwe is linked for your reference.
More information: Dorin.nelson@busa.org.za.
Closing date: 30 September 2013.
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Final production estimate for summer crops for 2013
 The potential size of the maize crop was increased by 209 150 tons or 1,82% to 11,723 mill. tons, mainly based on actual producer deliveries, as reported by SAGIS.
The area estimate for maize remained unchanged at 2,781 mill. ha, while the expected yield is 4,21 t/ha. The area estimate for white maize is 1,617 mill. ha and for yellow maize it is 1,164 mill. ha.
The production estimate of white maize remained unchanged at 5,580 mill. tons and the expected yield is 3,45 t/ha. In the case of yellow maize the production estimate is 6,142 mill. tons, which is 209 150 tons or 3,53% more than the 5,933 mill. tons of the previous forecast. The yield for yellow maize is 5,28 t/ha as against the previous 5,10 t/ha.
Click here to peruse the final production estimate for summer crops for 2013.
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Agbiz Parliamentary Report
 Agbiz's representative in Parliament, Mrs Annelize Crosby, last week released the linked Parliamentary Report for July - September this year.
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Joint Parliamentary Sitting on GMO's
 This past week the Departments of Health (DoH), Trade and Industry (the dti), Science and Technology (DST), and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) respectively made submissions to a Joint Parliamentary Sitting on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's) and the regulatory environment that governs them in the agro-food system. It remains a concern that malicious misinformation and ignorance continue to constrain the full implementation of this technology as a tool to ensure greater global food security, and especially in Africa.
Please click on the following links to peruse the respective submissions:
DoH»
DTI»
DST»
DAFF»
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SACAU Newsletter
In this SACAU Newsletter:
- Transformation of African agriculture from subsistence to growth oriented was a key focus of the Southern African Confederation
of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) policy conference this year.
- Highlights from keynote address given by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.
- SACAU argues that whilst food security is indeed an important
objective, this level of ambition is inadequate, especially when
the agricultural sector has so much more to offer.
- While Europe experiences uncertainty arising from the global debt situation, African volatility of currencies has been observed in some of the SACAU member countries, says Loffie Brandt from ABSA Agribusiness.
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Apply now for the Agribusiness Centenary Bursary
 Agbiz is making an annual bursary of R25 000 available to a South African student registered for a Masters or PhD degree in either agricultural economics or agribusiness management, at any recognised South African university. Closing date for applications: 10 December 2013. More information»
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