Today on the agricultural agenda, the minister of environment, forestry, and fisheries will announce the recipients of the R1,3 million cash injection for their projects that contribute to a more environmentally friendly economy and society.
Also, on Food For Mzansi’s radar is weekly grain trade data to be released for the week of 20 November 2020, as well the producer price index data for October 2020.
We then end another busy day with an agricultural TV show that unpacks the success story of a 25-year-old female stud breeder who is proof that agriculture is not just a boy’s club.
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Climate change: Recipients of change grant announced
The minister of environment, forestry and fisheries, Barbara Creecy, will today announce the thirteen successful projects for the R1,3 million Driving Force for Change initiative.
On Youth Day, more than 100 youth from across South Africa took part in a virtual dialogue during which they expressed concerns about the dire economic impact of covid-19, and its effect on achieving the goals set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Among the many suggestions presented to the minister was a green recovery mechanism that is gender-and-youth-responsive.
In response to their concerns, Minister Creecy announced that a total of R1 million had been set aside to enable the selected youth projects to implement ideas that will support young innovators and entrepreneurs to create a more environmentally friendly economy and society.
A total of 13 finalists will be supported through the Department as originally announced. In addition, the department secured an amount of R300 000 from the British High Commission.
The announcement will be made at the South African National Biodiversity Institute in Pretoria at 09:00.
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Weekly grain trade data released
During the course of the day the South African Grain Information Service (SAGIS) will release the weekly grain trade data also for the week of 20 November 2020.
In the previous week of 13 November 2020, Agbiz reports that South Africa’s 2020-2021 total maize exports were at 1.71 million tonnes, which equates to 68% of the seasonal export forecast (2.5 million tonnes).
In terms of wheat, South Africa is a net importer, and in the week of 13 November 2020, the seventh consignment for the 2020-2021 marketing year had arrived. This positioned the total imports at 403 835 tonnes. This equates to 26% of the seasonal import forecast of 1.54 million tonnes (down by 18% y/y because of the improved domestic harvest, as previously stated).
Visit South African Grain Information Service to view the report.
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Stats SA to release producer price index
Also, happening today, Statistics South Africa is set to release the producer price index (PPI) data for October 2020.
South Africa’s food producer’s price inflation accelerated to 5.2% y/y in September 2020, from 4.2% y/y in the previous month. It will be interesting to see what the percentage change is – if it at all, and what the contributors were.
The PPI index is a family of indexes that measures the average change over time in the selling prices received by domestic producers of goods and services. PPIs measure price change from the perspective of the seller.
Keep an eye out for the producer price index on Statistics South Africa.
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25-year-old female stud breeder talks agri on TV show
On tonight’s episode of the agricultural TV show Vir die liefde van die land (For the love of the land), fans of the show get to meet 25-year-old Annalea van Niekerk, a Free State stud breeder who is proof that agriculture is not just for boys.
Hosts of the show, Ivor Price, co-founder of Food For Mzansi, and Piet Potgieter, manager for developing agriculture with the VKB Group visit Van Niekerk’s farm Welverdiend in Reitz. There, she manages and runs her business, Sonador Stud, breeding Sussex cattle.
The episode featuring Van Niekerk airs Thursday, 26 November at 18:00 on VIA, DStv channel 147. There are repeats of the show daily, please check the channel guide for details.
- Do you have an upcoming event that should be on Food For Mzansi’s watchlist? Drop us an email to diary@foodformzansi.co.za and we’ll do our best to include it in this weekday feature.
