The Department of Small Business Development is working towards reversing the high failure rate of new small businesses.
“We are determined to create a conducive environment for the development and growth of small businesses and cooperatives through the provision of enhanced financial and non-financial support services, competitiveness, market access, promotion of entrepreneurship, advancing localisation and leveraging on public and private procurement,” Minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu said.
Speaking at the 2014 Consumer Goods Council Summit in Midrand on Tuesday, she said her department was concerned that small businesses had a high failure rate.
“Researchers tell us that the failure rate for new businesses is almost 80 percent in the first year, and only about half of those who survive remain in business for the next five years.
“We are confident that together, we will be able to help reverse this trend,” Minister Zulu said. READ MORE
Friday, 31 October 2014
Centres will nurture entrepreneurs
THE government plans to establish more than 20 centres for entrepreneurship, aimed at fostering a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem in SA, Small Business Minister Lindiwe Zulu says.
Small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) are expected to create 90% of the 11-million jobs envisaged by the National Development Plan (NDP) by 2030.
Ms Zulu said the government remained concerned that small businesses had an exceedingly high failure rate, and that most of the casualties were of women-owned businesses. The centres would act as nurturing ground for the sector.
"Researchers tell us that the failure rate for new businesses is almost 80% in the first year, and only about half of those that survive remain in business for the next five years," she told the Consumer Goods Council of SA summit this week. READ MORE
Source: www.bdlive.co.za
Small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) are expected to create 90% of the 11-million jobs envisaged by the National Development Plan (NDP) by 2030.
Ms Zulu said the government remained concerned that small businesses had an exceedingly high failure rate, and that most of the casualties were of women-owned businesses. The centres would act as nurturing ground for the sector.
"Researchers tell us that the failure rate for new businesses is almost 80% in the first year, and only about half of those that survive remain in business for the next five years," she told the Consumer Goods Council of SA summit this week. READ MORE
Source: www.bdlive.co.za
Consumer education essential to understanding food labels
Nutritional information on food labels is often complex and difficult to understand, consumer education is therefore essential.
This is according to panellists at the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) Summit 2014, who believe that South Africa’s Department of Health need to not only enforce legislation but also develop initiatives in consumer education.
“The impact of a food label’s ability to allow consumers to make informed decisions depends on how well the consumer understands the label,” said Jane Badham, a registered dietician and nutritionist at JB Consultancy.
She explained that a food label is the most direct means for a food producer to communicate with its buyer in terms of basic product information, nutritional facts, health and safety.
“Labelling must be absolutely truthful, definitely not misleading, evidence based and easily understood by consumers but it requires huge amounts of consumer education and enforcement of regulations.” READ MORE
Source: www.cnbcafrica.com
This is according to panellists at the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) Summit 2014, who believe that South Africa’s Department of Health need to not only enforce legislation but also develop initiatives in consumer education.
“The impact of a food label’s ability to allow consumers to make informed decisions depends on how well the consumer understands the label,” said Jane Badham, a registered dietician and nutritionist at JB Consultancy.
She explained that a food label is the most direct means for a food producer to communicate with its buyer in terms of basic product information, nutritional facts, health and safety.
“Labelling must be absolutely truthful, definitely not misleading, evidence based and easily understood by consumers but it requires huge amounts of consumer education and enforcement of regulations.” READ MORE
Source: www.cnbcafrica.com
Social media: Giving the public a louder voice
Individuals’ views are becoming increasingly louder online through social media platforms, impinging on business reputations.
“In the 1990’s, if people wanted to complain about brands, they would have to develop an entire website from scratch, find an audience and submit their URL’s to different search engines,” said Chris Botha, managing director of the online complaints management service Getclosure, speaking at the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) Summit 2014.
He said that once social media was introduced to the internet, it completely altered user generated content.
“Things that used to make it hard for people to communicate on the internet were broken down by social media. Most of your (brand) consumers are participating in some form of social media,” he said.
Botha explained that there were a number of factors that brands should consider when setting up their profiles, such as the objectives they want achieved, the kind of customer issues they’re ready to engage with, what news will be shared and how active are they’re willing to be. READ MORE
Source: www.cnbcafrica.com
“In the 1990’s, if people wanted to complain about brands, they would have to develop an entire website from scratch, find an audience and submit their URL’s to different search engines,” said Chris Botha, managing director of the online complaints management service Getclosure, speaking at the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) Summit 2014.
He said that once social media was introduced to the internet, it completely altered user generated content.
“Things that used to make it hard for people to communicate on the internet were broken down by social media. Most of your (brand) consumers are participating in some form of social media,” he said.
Botha explained that there were a number of factors that brands should consider when setting up their profiles, such as the objectives they want achieved, the kind of customer issues they’re ready to engage with, what news will be shared and how active are they’re willing to be. READ MORE
Source: www.cnbcafrica.com
Informal traders play a big role in South Africa's economy
With the informal sector contributing around 29 per cent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), it is a force to be reckoned with. This is according to panellists speaking at the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) Summit 2014, on the importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) including informal businesses.
Dr Mlenga Jere, a senior lecturer at the Graduate School of Business, pointed out that research conducted in 2010 by non-profit organisation Finmark Trust indicated that there are around six million small businesses in South Africa, with the majority of them being informal.
Seventy-nine per cent of small businesses are in the retail sector while 21 per cent are in services-related sectors.
“SMEs offer over 11.6 million employment opportunities. They are a significant player that we need to pay attention to,” said Jere. READ MORE
Source: www.cnbcafrica.com
Dr Mlenga Jere, a senior lecturer at the Graduate School of Business, pointed out that research conducted in 2010 by non-profit organisation Finmark Trust indicated that there are around six million small businesses in South Africa, with the majority of them being informal.
Seventy-nine per cent of small businesses are in the retail sector while 21 per cent are in services-related sectors.
“SMEs offer over 11.6 million employment opportunities. They are a significant player that we need to pay attention to,” said Jere. READ MORE
Source: www.cnbcafrica.com
Wednesday, 29 October 2014
Consumer education essential to understanding food labels
Nutritional information on food labels is often complex and difficult to understand, consumer education is therefore essential. This is according to panellists at the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) Summit 2014, who believe that South Africa’s Department of Health need to not only enforce legislation but also develop initiatives in consumer education.
“The impact of a food label’s ability to allow consumers to make informed decisions depends on how well the consumer understands the label,” said Jane Badham, a registered dietician and nutritionist at JB Consultancy.
She explained that a food label is the most direct means for a food producer to communicate with its buyer in terms of basic product information, nutritional facts, health and safety.
“Labelling must be absolutely truthful, definitely not misleading, evidence based and easily understood by consumers but it requires huge amounts of consumer education and enforcement of regulations.”
“The Department of Health needs to develop consumer education initiatives.”
Badham added that while most research conducted indicates that consumers want to make healthy choices when food shopping, many of them tend to buy what their families like and what they can afford. READ MORE
“The impact of a food label’s ability to allow consumers to make informed decisions depends on how well the consumer understands the label,” said Jane Badham, a registered dietician and nutritionist at JB Consultancy.
She explained that a food label is the most direct means for a food producer to communicate with its buyer in terms of basic product information, nutritional facts, health and safety.
“Labelling must be absolutely truthful, definitely not misleading, evidence based and easily understood by consumers but it requires huge amounts of consumer education and enforcement of regulations.”
“The Department of Health needs to develop consumer education initiatives.”
Badham added that while most research conducted indicates that consumers want to make healthy choices when food shopping, many of them tend to buy what their families like and what they can afford. READ MORE
Wednesday, 22 October 2014
Farmers' body rejects land proposal
The African Farmers' Association of South Africa (Afasa) has weighed into the land redistribution debate saying that the government's 50/50 share proposal made no sense.
The government recently proposed that farms be split 50/50, with farmworkers owning half of the land they worked on.
"We reject 50/50. It makes no sense to us and I don't think it makes sense to workers too. We have just said to the minister, we are going to re-look at the issues of land ceilings and see how to make those ceilings stronger or how to make the debate around land ceilings stronger to the effect that it becomes a policy," Afasa president Mike Mlengana said in an SABC report.
The ANC's Gwede Mantashe meanwhile said that farmers should not panic on the proposal. He said that the debate on the proposal would continue until April next year. He also called for more ideas on the topic to be put forward.
"I'm not worried about people who are complaining, I get excited when people throw ideas. So we say this cannot work, but we think this idea can work, that is what is important," the ruling party's secretary general said.
Source: www.business.iafrica.com
The government recently proposed that farms be split 50/50, with farmworkers owning half of the land they worked on.
"We reject 50/50. It makes no sense to us and I don't think it makes sense to workers too. We have just said to the minister, we are going to re-look at the issues of land ceilings and see how to make those ceilings stronger or how to make the debate around land ceilings stronger to the effect that it becomes a policy," Afasa president Mike Mlengana said in an SABC report.
The ANC's Gwede Mantashe meanwhile said that farmers should not panic on the proposal. He said that the debate on the proposal would continue until April next year. He also called for more ideas on the topic to be put forward.
"I'm not worried about people who are complaining, I get excited when people throw ideas. So we say this cannot work, but we think this idea can work, that is what is important," the ruling party's secretary general said.
Source: www.business.iafrica.com
Farmers: Prioritise food during land redistribution
Government must ensure that national priorities including food security and economic stability are not jeopardised when land redistribution is rolled out, the Agri-Sector Unity Forum (Asuf) said on Tuesday.
“Land will be redistributed in this country. We all accept that. It is just a matter of how. It should be done in such a way that it would be affordable. It should be done in such a way that most of the people in this country buy into it,” Asuf chairman Japie Grobler said in Pretoria.
“We should at least have food for our people in this country. While doing the redistribution and after it, we should be exporting food to earn foreign currency. We should have peace and quiet in the country.”
Grobler made the remarks at the third annual conference of the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa, which began on Sunday.
He said proper pre-planning and management were critical for the reallocation programme. READ MORE
Source: www.news24.co.za
“Land will be redistributed in this country. We all accept that. It is just a matter of how. It should be done in such a way that it would be affordable. It should be done in such a way that most of the people in this country buy into it,” Asuf chairman Japie Grobler said in Pretoria.
“We should at least have food for our people in this country. While doing the redistribution and after it, we should be exporting food to earn foreign currency. We should have peace and quiet in the country.”
Grobler made the remarks at the third annual conference of the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa, which began on Sunday.
He said proper pre-planning and management were critical for the reallocation programme. READ MORE
Source: www.news24.co.za
Give land to able people – farmers
Government must ensure land is allocated to individuals who have the capacity to use it, the African Farmers’ Association of SA (Afasa) said on Tuesday.
“We are saying to the minister (of Rural Development and Land Reform Gugile Nkwinti), we need to have criteria for the farmers’ selection,” Afasa president Mzamo Mlengana said in Pretoria at the end of the association’s summit.
“When you select a farmer who is not a farmer, it works to the negative of what we are doing. It opens us and government to criticism. Once again, perception will be ‘look at the black farmers who have been given land, it’s not working’.”
He said a well thought-out land redistribution process would not threaten national food security and should benefit the country. READ MORE
Source: www.citizen.co.za
“We are saying to the minister (of Rural Development and Land Reform Gugile Nkwinti), we need to have criteria for the farmers’ selection,” Afasa president Mzamo Mlengana said in Pretoria at the end of the association’s summit.
“When you select a farmer who is not a farmer, it works to the negative of what we are doing. It opens us and government to criticism. Once again, perception will be ‘look at the black farmers who have been given land, it’s not working’.”
He said a well thought-out land redistribution process would not threaten national food security and should benefit the country. READ MORE
Source: www.citizen.co.za
Thursday, 16 October 2014
6Rand: When food is the issue
SA's unemployment rate and the high cost of food mean many people go hungry. We look at how the R6 food challenge can raise awareness around this.
#6Rand is a symbolic campaign that Mail & Guardian launched this week after years of all our reporters touching on aspects of poverty and food security. Also, today is the UN’s World Food Day, and nearly a billion people worldwide and 14-million in South Africa go to bed hungry.
We took the inspiration for this number from a family of four – twin sisters, each with a child – who live outside Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. They do odd jobs. And when they have work, they buy four potatoes and a cup of rice with the R6 that they have. This covers their day’s food.
When the twins do not have R6, they share a white bread loaf and sugary water. This meal is quite common and is called the “poppie water diet” in the area. A large number of South Africans do not have access to enough food because of their economic circumstances. And when they do have food, it is not nutritious. This is the case for 14-million South Africans and the 2012 General Household Survey states that many do not know where their next meal is coming from.
Our official unemployment rate of 25% and the high cost of healthy food mean that people in this country are starving. Various branches of government are dealing with this. The department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries has a Food Security Policy. But even this admits that it would be good to have an Act to unify efforts. READ MORE
Source: www.mg.co.za
#6Rand is a symbolic campaign that Mail & Guardian launched this week after years of all our reporters touching on aspects of poverty and food security. Also, today is the UN’s World Food Day, and nearly a billion people worldwide and 14-million in South Africa go to bed hungry.
We took the inspiration for this number from a family of four – twin sisters, each with a child – who live outside Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. They do odd jobs. And when they have work, they buy four potatoes and a cup of rice with the R6 that they have. This covers their day’s food.
When the twins do not have R6, they share a white bread loaf and sugary water. This meal is quite common and is called the “poppie water diet” in the area. A large number of South Africans do not have access to enough food because of their economic circumstances. And when they do have food, it is not nutritious. This is the case for 14-million South Africans and the 2012 General Household Survey states that many do not know where their next meal is coming from.
Our official unemployment rate of 25% and the high cost of healthy food mean that people in this country are starving. Various branches of government are dealing with this. The department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries has a Food Security Policy. But even this admits that it would be good to have an Act to unify efforts. READ MORE
Source: www.mg.co.za
Wednesday, 15 October 2014
South Africa should urgently address land policy
Speaking at the just ended World Bank and IMF annual meeting that took place in Washington, DC last week, Patrick Dlamini the chief executive of Development Bank of Southern Africa said the country offered huge opportunities.
“South Africa offers huge opportunities when it comes to agriculture. We are still a long way to go in South Africa on our land policy, it is something we have to address as a matter of urgency,” added Dlamini.
Dlamini bemoaned inadequate funding in the country’s critical sector saying current trends did not reflect the level of need in the agricultural sector.
“Agriculture creates jobs especially for the country’s rural population and the rest of the continent. We should pay attention to agriculture sector so as to ensure food security for our countries and people in the continent,” he said.
“Currently we are importing additional agricultural products from outside the continent.”
Dlamini called on various stakeholders to work on collaborative efforts as to improve activities and productivity in the sector.
“We need the government, the private sector and the farming community to make collaborative initiatives,” he noted. READ MORE
Source: www.cnbcafrice.com
“South Africa offers huge opportunities when it comes to agriculture. We are still a long way to go in South Africa on our land policy, it is something we have to address as a matter of urgency,” added Dlamini.
Dlamini bemoaned inadequate funding in the country’s critical sector saying current trends did not reflect the level of need in the agricultural sector.
“Agriculture creates jobs especially for the country’s rural population and the rest of the continent. We should pay attention to agriculture sector so as to ensure food security for our countries and people in the continent,” he said.
“Currently we are importing additional agricultural products from outside the continent.”
Dlamini called on various stakeholders to work on collaborative efforts as to improve activities and productivity in the sector.
“We need the government, the private sector and the farming community to make collaborative initiatives,” he noted. READ MORE
Source: www.cnbcafrice.com
SA’s move from proven market-friendly policies is the path to disaster
South Africa, for once, is in step with the world’s leading countries — those with the world’s highest living standards, least corruption, best healthcare, lowest inflation, strongest property rights, most liberty and greatest rule-of-law score.
None of that actually describes SA, so what might the similarity be? The move away from proven market-friendly policies towards failed interventionism.
Many of the world’s poorest countries are rising like genies from a bottle. As if we’re in neighbouring lifts: theirs going up, ours going down. For a century, countries called the "West", "First World" or "North", have been top dog. No one knows what the implications are of formerly "backward" people of colour and followers of other faiths taking over. The cacophony of twaddle about "rising inequality" conceals the fact that, thanks to economic freedom in poor countries, global poverty is declining precipitously. READ MORE
Source: www.bdlive.co.za
None of that actually describes SA, so what might the similarity be? The move away from proven market-friendly policies towards failed interventionism.
Many of the world’s poorest countries are rising like genies from a bottle. As if we’re in neighbouring lifts: theirs going up, ours going down. For a century, countries called the "West", "First World" or "North", have been top dog. No one knows what the implications are of formerly "backward" people of colour and followers of other faiths taking over. The cacophony of twaddle about "rising inequality" conceals the fact that, thanks to economic freedom in poor countries, global poverty is declining precipitously. READ MORE
Source: www.bdlive.co.za
Thursday, 9 October 2014
Unions warn of farm invasions
Zimbabwe-style land invasions could become "inevitable" if farm evictions persisted and farmers resisted change in land ownership, labour organisations have warned.
The slow pace of land redistribution has led to sporadic land occupations around the country.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in the Western Cape and the Bawsi Agricultural Workers’ Union of SA (Bawusa) on Tuesday threatened to bring farming to its knees if evictions continued.
Cosatu claimed there had recently been "mass evictions" on farms throughout the country and especially in the Western Cape.
The union federation said the evictions were the unintended consequence of land reform proposals announced recently by Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti.
He proposed long-term farm workers be given a 50% equity share of the farms on which they worked, to speed up land reform. READ MORE
Source: www.bdlive.co.za
The slow pace of land redistribution has led to sporadic land occupations around the country.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in the Western Cape and the Bawsi Agricultural Workers’ Union of SA (Bawusa) on Tuesday threatened to bring farming to its knees if evictions continued.
Cosatu claimed there had recently been "mass evictions" on farms throughout the country and especially in the Western Cape.
The union federation said the evictions were the unintended consequence of land reform proposals announced recently by Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti.
He proposed long-term farm workers be given a 50% equity share of the farms on which they worked, to speed up land reform. READ MORE
Source: www.bdlive.co.za
SA farmers make a success of move into continent
MOZAMBIQUE is not much smaller than South Africa but it has more arable land and a dependable rainfall so it is attractive to the 1 000 South Africans, with their families, who are now farming there commercially.
They have not trekked far, but others have. South Africans are today farming in 42 African states. AgriSA has helped and advised 2 800 individual farmers and believes there may be 1 500 more.
A few farmers now farm in Croatia. There is even a South African farmer in the former soviet republic of Georgia (where Stalin was born and raised).
These figures suggest there is something in the DNA of Afrikaners that compels them to move ever deeper into the continent, but in fact, the prime driver is that governments are begging them to come. They welcome the injection of their skills in producing food in African conditions. READ MORE
Source: www.iol.co.za
They have not trekked far, but others have. South Africans are today farming in 42 African states. AgriSA has helped and advised 2 800 individual farmers and believes there may be 1 500 more.
A few farmers now farm in Croatia. There is even a South African farmer in the former soviet republic of Georgia (where Stalin was born and raised).
These figures suggest there is something in the DNA of Afrikaners that compels them to move ever deeper into the continent, but in fact, the prime driver is that governments are begging them to come. They welcome the injection of their skills in producing food in African conditions. READ MORE
Source: www.iol.co.za
Wednesday, 8 October 2014
Our planet is changing — so must our global food system
With the world’s population predicted to reach 9-billion by 2050, we collectively face a dual challenge: ensuring that everyone will have access to affordable, nutritious food without decimating the earth’s natural resources in the process.
This is easier said than done. Our current food system is dysfunctional in its effect on people and the planet. Unless we change course, we will fail to meet the challenge of feeding the world without destroying the planet.
Today, millions do not have enough to eat and billions lack the right nutrients to be healthy. The United Nations’ (UN’s) food organisations — the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) — have just published their annual 2014 report on global food insecurity. Their report highlights that despite some evidence of progress, 805-million people, or one in nine people, still suffer from hunger. READ MORE
Source: www.bdlive.co.za
#agbizsa
This is easier said than done. Our current food system is dysfunctional in its effect on people and the planet. Unless we change course, we will fail to meet the challenge of feeding the world without destroying the planet.
Today, millions do not have enough to eat and billions lack the right nutrients to be healthy. The United Nations’ (UN’s) food organisations — the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) — have just published their annual 2014 report on global food insecurity. Their report highlights that despite some evidence of progress, 805-million people, or one in nine people, still suffer from hunger. READ MORE
Source: www.bdlive.co.za
#agbizsa
COSATU THREATENS TO BRING 'FARMING TO ITS KNEES'
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in the Western Cape has threatened to bring farming to its knees if evictions aren't immediately stopped. Cosatu, the African National Congress (ANC) and farmworker organisations are calling on government to end illegal evictions by introducing a moratorium. Cosatu's Tony Ehrenreich says there has been a marked escalation in farm evictions, not just in Cape Town but across the country. Ehrenreich called on farmworkers to unite but admitted tensions are running high in the country and that renewed strikes could exacerbate the situation. READ MORE
Source: www.ewn.co.za
Source: www.ewn.co.za
Thursday, 2 October 2014
Unlocking the potential of Africa
The potential of new technologies to transform financial services in Africa has long been heralded. From the sands of the Sahara in the north to the Limpopo river which marks the border with South Africa to the south, economic, political and technological changes are emerging that favour new opportunities for banks.
Giant US corporation Cargill is a good example of the new wave of African corporate investors. The company is active across Africa purchasing and distributing grain and other agricultural products, trading in energy, steel and transport, and raising livestock and producing feed, producing food ingredients, for processed foods and industrial use. It also has a large financial services arm which manages financial risks in the commodity markets. Cargill is working with Barclays to disburse payments such as salaries and grants to its employees, clients and customers through mobile networks in several African countries.
Cargill says it has invested in businesses including cocoa, grain and oilseeds, cotton, food ingredients and animal nutrition that “support African farmers and local agriculture and enable us to provide products and services to customers across the continent and around the world”. In addition, the US corporation says it has partnered with international and local organisations to help improve the education, health and livelihoods of African communities through better access to schools, basic healthcare, clean water and nutrition. READ MORE
Source: www.bankingtech.com
Giant US corporation Cargill is a good example of the new wave of African corporate investors. The company is active across Africa purchasing and distributing grain and other agricultural products, trading in energy, steel and transport, and raising livestock and producing feed, producing food ingredients, for processed foods and industrial use. It also has a large financial services arm which manages financial risks in the commodity markets. Cargill is working with Barclays to disburse payments such as salaries and grants to its employees, clients and customers through mobile networks in several African countries.
Cargill says it has invested in businesses including cocoa, grain and oilseeds, cotton, food ingredients and animal nutrition that “support African farmers and local agriculture and enable us to provide products and services to customers across the continent and around the world”. In addition, the US corporation says it has partnered with international and local organisations to help improve the education, health and livelihoods of African communities through better access to schools, basic healthcare, clean water and nutrition. READ MORE
Source: www.bankingtech.com
Sun energy rises over Karoo
A new 75MW solar farm near De Aar in the Karoo has been officially opened.
The Solar Capital De Aar Project, the largest thin film solar farm in Africa covers 270ha in the Northern Cape.
The plant is made up of 203 948 thin film solar panels, which has an installation capacity of 85,26 MWp and has been fully operational since 15 August 2014.
The project is part of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme and has a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement to feed 75MW in Eskom’s grid.
It supplies the Eskom 132kV grid line and generates around 150 000 MWh per year - enough clean renewable energy to power more than 35 000 households. READ MORE
Source: www.news24.com
The Solar Capital De Aar Project, the largest thin film solar farm in Africa covers 270ha in the Northern Cape.
The plant is made up of 203 948 thin film solar panels, which has an installation capacity of 85,26 MWp and has been fully operational since 15 August 2014.
The project is part of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme and has a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement to feed 75MW in Eskom’s grid.
It supplies the Eskom 132kV grid line and generates around 150 000 MWh per year - enough clean renewable energy to power more than 35 000 households. READ MORE
Source: www.news24.com
South Africa: Drive to Improve Food Security
Government will launch a massive food security drive in Vanderbijlpark, south of Gauteng, on Friday to reduce poverty and hunger in the country.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has adopted October as Food Security Month, where they will drive a massive awareness campaign about food production.
During the month, South Africans will be mobilised to take action against food insecurity and to help one another with donations of food and planting of food gardens.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Deputy Minister Bheki Cele will launch the food security drive themed 'Through Food Security, Job Creation and Economic Growth - We move South Africa Forward'. READ MORE
Source: www.allafrica.com
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Deputy Minister Bheki Cele will launch the food security drive themed 'Through Food Security, Job Creation and Economic Growth - We move South Africa Forward'. READ MORE
Source: www.allafrica.com
Poultry makes concessions for US
South African poultry producers are considering granting concessions on the access of US chickens into the local market in order to help secure the renewal of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa). US poultry producers have threatened to block the renewal of the act in the US Congress if SA does not allow some of their products to enter the domestic market.
SA applies anti-dumping duties on the import of US bone-in chicken portions and while these will remain in place in future, there was scope to allow a specified quantity of chicken leg quarters from the US to enter the country, CEO of the South African Poultry Association Kevin Lovell said on Friday. Agoa provides SA with duty-free access into the US and it is due to expire on September 30 next year. READ MORE
Source: www.bdlive.co.za
SA applies anti-dumping duties on the import of US bone-in chicken portions and while these will remain in place in future, there was scope to allow a specified quantity of chicken leg quarters from the US to enter the country, CEO of the South African Poultry Association Kevin Lovell said on Friday. Agoa provides SA with duty-free access into the US and it is due to expire on September 30 next year. READ MORE
Source: www.bdlive.co.za
Wednesday, 1 October 2014
Commercial agriculture faces up to climate change
Ever wondered about the rapid proliferation in recent years of fine wines from areas such as Hermanus or Walker Bay — rather than more traditional areas such as Stellenbosch?
The industry has exploded in the past 20 years. But while Stellenbosch now boasts 190 wine producers — three times the number it had in 1994 — there has been a more than tenfold increase in the number of producers in the cooler coastal areas around Somerset West, Elgin, Walker Bay and the southern Cape. Read more
Source: www.bdlive.co.za
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