Farmer's Weekly 24 & 31 December 2021

Ever since South Africa went into its first COVID-19 lockdown in March last year, it seemed as if for every one step forward the country took, it took two steps back. Over the past two years, unemployment has increased from 30,1% to 34,9%, and just as economic growth was starting to show sustained signs of recovery, the third-quarter GDP figures dipped by 1,5% due, in large part, to tighter COVID-19 lockdown restrictions and the civil unrest that took place in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in July. If we look at the data for the expanded definition of unemployment, as given by Statistics South Africa, the unemployment rate for South Africa now stands at 46,6%. This means that almost half of the adult population that is available to work is without a…

Challenges show the resilience of SA farmers Neo Masithela, chairperson, African Farmers’ Association of South Africa “On behalf of the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (AFASA), I would like to wish all farmers and farmworkers a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2022. Farmers and farmworkers have worked hard for the country, and their contribution cannot go unnoticed. Thank you for sacrificing so much of your time, including time spent with your family, to produce food and contribute to South Africa’s GDP. You did all of this while confronted with the COVID-19 pandemic, outbreaks of animal diseases, and drought. Without you, this country would not survive. Without you, food security, employment creation and economic growth would not be attained. Take a well-deserved break and come back next year feeling revived. Be safe! Throughout 2021…

“COVID-19-related lockdowns caused disruption of value chains and linkages to markets, and resulted in changing consumer preferences. These forced many farmers to restrategise and restructure their enterprises to survive and thrive. Producers felt it in their pockets as input costs, such as those of fertilisers and agrochemicals, skyrocketed. Farmers also suffered as restaurants, fast-food outlets, school feeding schemes, kiosks and canteens closed their doors, and street vendors stopped selling a quick bite to commuters passing by on their way to work. People obviously did not stop eating during lockdown, but their eating habits changed; they resorted to family meals, their own cooking, and even their own garden production in those weeks and months when offices and factories were closed. On the one hand, the disruptions caused by COVID-19 led to surpluses on farms,…

“As 2021 draws to a close, I wish to congratulate the men and women in the agriculture sector for their tremendous dedication and perseverance. This past year was truly a year of extremes. With the easing of some COVID-19-related restrictions, the economy slowly emerged from the pandemic, but it didn’t do so unscathed. The unemployment rate reached a record high in 2021, which, in turn, affected consumers’ buying power. And with the emergence of the third wave of COVID-19 infections, subsectors such as the wine industry continued to battle disruptions and restrictions. Despite these difficulties, the broader agro-food value chain performed remarkably well. South Africa exported a record 161,1 million cartons of citrus fruit, there was a 9% year-on-year increase in apple and pear exports, and the country produced the second-largest grain…

“It’s Christmas time again and 2021 is drawing to a close. While many of us are relaxing with our loved ones, let us spare a thought for the farmers and farmworkers who not only provide our festive food, but feed us throughout the year. This year was an eventful one, especially for agriculture. The COVID-19 pandemic, along with climate change and political turmoil, has placed the sector under enormous strain. Despite this, agriculture is expected to be a key driver of economic growth and post-COVID-19 economic recovery, both locally and internationally. While South Africa’s economy has seen a decline since the onset of the pandemic, Statistics South Africa found that the agriculture sector showed the highest growth in the second quarter of 2021. Many challenges came to the fore during this year, including…

“The world will remember 2021 as the year in which we failed to bring COVID-19 under control, and saw the disruption of businesses and value chains, and contentious vaccination debates and campaigns. As food producers, however, farmers were granted a special dispensation. Moreover, the markets were good to us, there was newfound appreciation for good-quality food and the awareness of the link between it and health, and the world recognised that people can live without nearly everything they thought was a necessity, but no one can live without food. This was also the year of the UN Food Systems Summit, the G7 Summit on Nature and Biodiversity, the CBD COP15 Summit on Biodiversity, the COP26 and its pre-summits on climate change, the G20 summit on zero hunger, and the Nutrition for Growth…