12
eNewsletter
2016/04
11 February 2016
Policy and Legislation
 
Parliament Cape Town
Please click on SONA 2016 to peruse the State of the Nation Address of President Zuma on Wednesday evening.  Please click on BUSA press statement on  the necessary elements that BUSA believe that are necessary for sustainable and inclusive economic growth.  It is  highly questionable whether the  actions indicated in the SONA will provide the right environment for the sustained economic growth South Africa urgently requires.

 
Parliament_CT
Find linked the Agbiz Parliamentary Report for January - February 2016. 

 
The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) presented to the Portfolio Committee in Parliament during its strategic session last week. Included in the presentations were progress with achieving MTSF Outcome 7, Auditor General findings on DRDLR, DRDLR Strategic Plan , PLAAS on Land Tenure, and Land Tenure in Communal Areas by LARC of University of Cape Town. 
 
 
Land_Reform
The Restitution Commission last week presented to the Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform. Click to download the presentation�
 
Waste Classification and Management Regulation were developed to replace the Minimum Requirements for the Handling and Disposal of Waste. Shortcomings in the Minimum Requirements saw the disposal of waste to landfill being the major waste management option used by waste generators in South Africa. The regulations on Waste Classification and Management aims to provide mechanisms which could implement the waste hierarchy to move away from landfill to treatment, reuse and recovery, and to put measures in place to monitor this progress. The linked Implementation Guideline for the Waste Classification and Management Regulations includes information gathered through engagements with provincial officials and waste managers, as well as BUSA. 
Agribusiness Intelligence
 
At a meeting held on 11 February 2016, the Crop Estimates Liaison Committee (CELC) oversaw the process for the finalisation of the crop production figures of commercial white and yellow maize, sunflower seed, soybeans, groundnuts and sorghum for 2015. More information�
 
BFAP released a report that evaluates the impact of the current drought on the South African economy, on commercial and smallholder producers, and on consumers. Whilst the impact of the drought on current prices is undeniable, the effect of the depreciation in the value of the Rand also remains undisputed. It not only shifts the level of the import and export parity price band, but also impacts on every stage of the food value chain. Download the report here�
 
Requests have been received from Agbiz members as to how the Land Bank's deposit scheme on forced livestock sales works. The following is a summary of the scheme:

* Funds to be accepted in this account are as a result of extensive damage to grazing lands or prolonged drought conditions.

*  Client has to produce evidence of sale of livestock.

*  The proceeds have to be kept in the account for a period of 6 months before the first withdrawal in order to qualify for the tax benefit, all interest is paid to the client yearly in January and July,  and these interest payments carry a tax liability.

*  The maximum period a farmer can keep forced sale proceeds in this account is 6 years, post this period the funds will carry a tax liability.

*  Withdrawal should be used to replace the livestock sold.

 
To peruse detailed documentation in this regard, please click on scheme rules, rules as per government gazetteFICA and other requirements.

In the Land Bank, Mr. Jannie Du Toit has worked extensively with this account and is now based at the Vryburg AFC where he can be contacted at +27 53 928 1700, or at [email protected], for further detail.
 
A transition to ENSO-neutral is likely during late Northern Hemisphere spring or early summer 2016, with a possible transition to La Ni�a conditions during the fall. Read more�
International Trade Intelligence
 
Agbiz, together with Tutwa Consulting, hosted a Roundtable Discussion on EU-SA trade and economic relations on 9 February 2016. The discussion focused on the trajectory of the EU's trade policy over the past decade, and more specifically on how global, regional and domestic developments will shape EU trade and investment relations with South Africa in the future. Read more�
 
Regarded as the market's leading pan-African trade finance gathering, GTR Africa Trade Finance Week will return to Cape Town in March 2016.  GTR are giving Agbiz a limited amount of free corporate passes for exporters, importers, traders, manufacturers, distributers and producers of physical goods only. All members thereafter receive a 15% discount with the code AGBIZ15.  More information�
Members' News
 
Absa, a member of Barclays Africa, has donated R1-million towards AgriSA's efforts to assist drought-stricken farmers and the communities that depend on farming around the country.   Sazini Mojapelo, Head of Citizenship at Barclays Africa, says: "As a leading corporate citizen and financial services provider in South Africa and the agricultural sector in particular, Absa is concerned about the impact of the current drought as well as the threat it poses to food security." Media release�
Industry News
 
In this SACAU News:  Harness technology to meet farming challenges; SACAU to take up southern African drought; Dairy farms in the spotlight at SADC meeting; SACAU to attend 6th Global Farmers' Forum. Click to download SACAU News
News around the web
- www.bdlive.co.za


- www.moneyweb.co.za

- www.bizcommunity.com
Upcoming Events
Israeli Agri-Innovation Seminar
17 February 2016 | Lord Charles Hotel | Somerset West, Cape Town
E-mail: [email protected] or call 011 783 9605 for seat reservation
78th AGM of the SA Chamber of Baking
25 February 2016 | Misty Hills Hotel | Muldersdrift
Anti-Corruption & Anti-Fraud Workshop
25 February 2016 | Misty Hills Hotel | Muldersdrift
State Visits
1 - 2 March 2016  Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
3 March 2016 Abu Dhabi, United Arab
For more information e-mail [email protected]
Global Trade Review's Annual GTR Africa Trade Finance Week 2016
2 - 4 March 2016 | The Westin | Cape Town
National Chamber of Milling (NCM) 80th Annual General Meeting
10 - 11 March 2016 | Drakensberg Sun Resort | Central Drakensberg, Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal
2016 GOSA Symposium
16 - 17 March 2016 | Club Mykonos | Langebaan
More information: Karen Greeff on 082 042 3890
Undercover Farming Expo
15 - 16 March 2016 | Saint George Hotel, Irene, Pretoria
17th Annual Road Transport Legislation Workshop
27 May | Spier, Stellenbosch
26 May | Protea Hotel Edward, Durban
7 June | CSIR, Pretoria
Agbiz Congress 2016
1 - 2 June 2016 | Somerset West, Cape Town
Agri-finance for non-financial managers, Africa edition
31 May - 3 June 2016 | Johannesburg
IFAMA 26th Annual World Conference
19 - 23 June 2016 | Denmark
Farmbiz Agribusiness Africa Conference 
27 - 28 July 2016 | Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand
Enquiries: Marianna du Plessis,  [email protected] or 082 337 6127
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