Wandile Sihlobo @WandileSihlobo Twitter profile

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

Some of these songs may have served a purpose in the past but today, they are deeply unhelpful.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

Folks, I realize that some people may unintentionally share wrong statistics about agricultural land ownership in South Africa. We wrote this piece as an attempt to clarify some misconceptions. Please read.

Land reform in South Africa: 5 myths about farming debunked

Based on official statistics, we conclude that the country has made more progress towards land reform than is generally suggested.

theconversation.com

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

2 years

We need standardized training for barbers in South Africa. Our hairline is under attack by the poorly trained and naughty barbers!

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

5 months

Restaurateurs should be honest with South Africans (and tourists) about the lamb (and other foods) they serve. Telling folks that the lamb on their plate is from the “Karoo lamb” when it is actually sourced from a feedlot far away from the Karoo is food fraud.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

Over the past five years, South Africa’s total exports to Russia averaged a mere 0,4% per annum. Russia is the 52nd largest export market for South Africa. China, the US, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Mozambique, India, Botswana, Belgium, Namibia,

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

Folks have been sending me a screengrab from SABC news with a headline that China cancels big US maize orders to choose to import from South Africa. South Africa is an essential player in global agriculture but can never replace the US in the Chinese market. We don’t have the

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

The Eastern Cape government cannot pride itself on championing the agricultural sector and yet have minimal interest in improving the roads and water infrastructure, which are critical for the success of the agricultural sector. The photos I receive from various dairy farmers,

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

South Africa benefits far more from trade with the US than with Russia. Therefore, from a purely economic standpoint the better approach in an increasingly uncertain world is to nurture relationships with countries with which the country already has strong economic ties.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

3 years

I'm now a “fully vaccinated” economist. How cool is that! 😎🇿🇦.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

4 months

Fellow South Africans, Karan Beef, through the “THE KARAN BEEF ACADEMY”, has published an excellent educational video series designed to provide essential cattle farmer training to the future commercial farmers of South Africa. This 10-part series aims to equip aspiring and

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

3 years

31 today. Praises to God for everything.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

I know my colleagues at Business Day will probably not be happy with me sharing the whole ⁦ @Bruceps ⁩ column like this. But Peter’s column is so important and all caring South Africans should read it.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

9 months

When some South Africans realize that the country imports roughly half of its annual wheat consumption, the question they typically ask is; why is South Africa not expanding its domestic production in all the fallow land in some provinces? This is a fair question to ask in a

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

This morning at the office 😃🇿🇦. The book is out nationwide and on all ebook platforms.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

South Africa benefits immensely more from trade with the United States than Russia. Therefore, from a purely economic standpoint, the reasonable step to take in a world of uncertainty is naturing relationships with countries with which a country has strong economic ties. The

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

11 months

Happy World Food Day, folks. And birthday for me ✨😎. Now, 33 y/o. Praise to God for all the blessings!

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

10 months

The message carried by some newspapers today regarding South Africa's agricultural exports to the EU needs to be corrected. There are no changes in regulations -- the status quo remains. Farmers will continue to access the EU market, which is vital to our fruit and wines.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

2 years

Folks that drive blue lights cars; it's not okay to bully hard-working fellow South Africans on the roads in the early morning.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

2 years

Forget about Valentine's roses, tell your uncles, I'm ready to pay lobola!

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

3 years

Go and get vaccinated tomorrow.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

South Africa exported 124 899 tonnes of maize last week. About 65% of these maize exports went to China, 20% to South Korea, and the remainder to our neighbouring countries. China was a surprise; we haven't sent such a large volume of maize there in the recent past. I'm looking

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

I spent my day in Middelburg, the Karoo region of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, attending the Karoo Winter Wool Festival. It was an excellent festival showcasing the value chain activities of the South African sheep industry and the Karoo Heritage. In the speaking

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

5 months

If you would like to know what food grows where in this great country of ours -- Republic of South Africa -- this map should help. It shows the agricultural production areas across the country. Each colour represents an agricultural subsector.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

3 years

Greetings from the Wild Coast 🇿🇦✨. uMzimvubu river is nicely full!

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

3 months

Newspaper headlines: “Sihlobo charms the ladies” 🤣

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

24 days

Why should Karoo farm be paid a premium for their lamb? The Karoo region of South Africa is unique and beautiful — the true South African heartland. The farming activity is mainly sheep production — wool and meat. The meat is of superior quality because of the region's

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

19 days

Tell your uncles that the lobola is ready. In addition to cattle, we have karoo lamb, which is highly valued, almost as much as some cattle. My chief lobola negotiator is @aycawe ; he will be in touch with your uncles.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

I just listened to the Western Cape’s government’s economic strategy launch. The guys are doing encouraging work there. We need such focus in other provinces, and for the Western Cape government to continue to broaden its work and impact all communities there that have not

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

In South Africa, we are fine. We don't want free grain.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

3 years

The panic buying will potentially cause problems in the South African food supply chain that would have otherwise not been there. The food supply chains in the country are functional and we shouldn't be panic buying stuff.

South African riots and food security: why there’s an urgent need to restore stability

South Africans should not panic about the food system. But authorities will need to act swiftly and assertively to restore stability.

theconversation.com

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

A very important issue in the Business Day’s Editorial this morning. We are in crisis. “SA spiralling into a gangster state”

EDITORIAL: SA spiralling into a gangster state

Country’s deterioration as crime increases exposes the ineptitude of the police

www.businesslive.co.za

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

2 years

Merry Christmas from the banks of the uMzimvubu River, nicely flowing into the Indian Ocean, in Port St Johns, Eastern Cape.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

2 years

I see folks saying in 5-years there will be a food shortage in South Africa; there is no evidence pointing to such an outlook. It seems misguided.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

2 months

Very gratifying to receive this recognition.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

Introducing my new book, "A Country of Two Agricultures". It will be available in all major bookstores from this Friday, 01 September 2023. The Kindle version is already out:

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

10 months

Farmers in Mpumalanga (and across South Africa) are hard at work preparing for the 2023/24 summer crop season 🇿🇦✨

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

Earlier this week, I met with South Africa’s current Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development, Ms. Thoko Didiza, for a discussion about my new book, “A Country of Two Agricultures”. She is currently reading the book and will share her reflections at the

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

2 years

The Eastern Cape government and business community should take its tourism sector seriously, market it and fix roads, etc. We have so many beautiful places for folks to come and enjoy.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

8 months

Merry Christmas from the banks of the Umzimvubu River in the Wild Coast region of beautiful South Africa. The water is flowing into Port Saint Johns. 🇿🇦✨

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

3 years

“South Africa has a stockpile of 7.8m J&J jabs and 9m Pfizer shots due to the low take-up, with administered vaccines peaking at 280,000 per day (in August), but dropping off to about 110,000 per day.” -- Citi Vaccinate today 🇿🇦

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

Phakamisa wrote such an important book, and I'm positive South Africans would find it valuable and support it. I don't know why most bookstores don't order and showcase it.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

If you didn’t read ⁦ @Bruceps ⁩’s column in the Business Day yesterday, please do. It is just brilliant! 🤍🇿🇦🤍

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

3 years

“Over the past five years, South Africa’s blueberries exports grew from 1 792 tonnes in 2015 to 15 636 tonnes in 2020. This was accompanied by eightfold growth in employment from 1 000 workers in 2014 to 8 000 in 2019.” -- Justin Mudge, Chair of BerriesZA

OPINION | Blueberries: SA's surprise contender for exports and job creation | Business

In four years, blueberry production in SA grew sixfold and jobs in the sector grew eightfold. An industry body aims to triple exports - but it needs access to the lucrative Chinese market.

www.news24.com

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

10 months

No more farming in spreadsheets, I'm out in the field, folks 😎🇿🇦

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

7 months

Sorghum is one of the nutritious grains, but its production in South Africa has declined notably over time as consumption has also remained weak. I am glad to see that South African farmers have increased the plantings by 17% y/y to 39 600 hectares this year.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

3 years

Young farmers in the Eastern Cape (Ugie area) are harvesting their soybeans – receiving yields that are well above the national average of 1,8 tonnes per hectare. This is a province to expand agricultural production, and KZN and LP, which still have tracts of underutilised land

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

9 months

It is disappointing to see our friends in Botswana have extended the ban on imports of vegetables (including high-quality vegetables from South Africa). This is not good for consumers in Botswana and the South African farmers.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

Oom Nick Serfontien, one of South Africa’s foremost agriculturalists who also cares deeply about inclusion and assisting new entrants farmers, mainly in livestock, is reading “A Country of Two Agricultures”. I’ve featured the encouraging work of his organization, the Sernick

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

8 months

I have been driving a lot in small towns in Free State and the Eastern Cape for various reasons, even now during the summer holidays. Typically, during the December holidays, there would be increased activity with people doing Christmas shopping, but this year, most towns seem

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

5 months

What’s up with South African retailers labelling lamb as “free range lamb” — if it is Karoo Lamb, state it that way, and if its Namibian, Overberg and Free State lamb state it so the consumer has a better grasp of the traceability of the meat.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

8 months

We should plant more trees in villages across South Africa, especially in the central and northern regions of our country. This will also help in these extremely high temperatures.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

It is devastating to watch the destruction of the great University of Fort Hare. Professor Buhlungu and his team are trying hard to clean up the endemic corruption there and should be protected and supported.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

Over Paarl and Ceres 🇿🇦, slightly chilly day.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

3 months

God help us.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

Since we are looking at an El Niño possibility this coming season, I thought sharing this chart that illustrates the El Niño impact globally might be helpful. For South Africa, the expected weather changes would be a shift from a prolonged period of La Niña to El Niño. South

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

At Stellenbosch University, we have the best AgriScience faculty in Africa. Good school for students to join. We probably have the best Agricultural Economics department in Africa. We have good links with Fort Hare, UP, UFS, and other universities, especially post-grad.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 month

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

3 years

This is such a positive story in a space that has chaotic management and corruption. I wish many municipalities in the Eastern Cape, and across the country can be inspired by this wonderful example. 1/

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

10 months

just got this from an Eastern Cape farmer — they are hard at work planting summer grains and oilseeds 🇿🇦✨

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

China bought 108 104 tonnes of maize from South Africa in the last week of March into April 2023. This activity formed part of South Africa’s maize exports in the 2022/23 marketing year. Importantly, this was not the first time China bought South African maize, but the volumes

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

Just been on a long call with folks from Loxton, a small town in the Karoo region of the Northern Cape, listening to them talk about the severe socioeconomic challenges and economic possibilities of their town. We need to think of ways of rejuvenating South Africa’s small

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

South Africa has had four seasons of La Niña induced heavy rains from 2019/20 to 2022/23. These above-normal rains supported agriculture leading to higher yields across various field crops, fruits and vegetables. The livestock industry also benefitted from improved grazing

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

4 months

Zimbabwe was never the breadbasket of Africa.

ANALYSIS: Was Zimbabwe ever the breadbasket of Africa?

A hackneyed expression is that Zimbabwe went from the breadbasket of Africa to its basket case under long-time autocrat Robert Mugabe. But was the first part true?

africacheck.org

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

South Africa’s great wheat and canola fields. This is in the Overberg region of the Western Cape, South Africa ✨🇿🇦🌾

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

10 months

Valuable clarification from South Africa’s Agricultural Ministry on this issue of agricultural exports to the EU and UK. The statements on the weekend papers are incorrect.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

Amazon should move my book out of the damn garden category 😊. It's a political economy book.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

4 years

If would like to know what food grows where in this great country of ours -- Republic of South Africa -- this map should help you get a rough idea. It essentially shows the agricultural production areas across the country. Each colour represents an agricultural subsector.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

8 months

Appreciate everyone who supported this work in 2023; thank you!

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

I have just been to Exclusive Books at Woodlands Mall and signed a few copies. If you are in Pretoria, please go visit the folks there. I appreciate your support 😃🇿🇦

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

Thug life!

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

Good morning folks, Agriculture remains one of the success stories in South Africa’s economic progress, irrespective of the various challenges the country has faced over the past few decades.

South Africa's agricultural growth story

Agriculture remains one of the success stories in South Africa's economic progress, irrespective of the various challenges the country has faced over the past few decades

wandilesihlobo.com

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

9 months

The unfriendly and protectionist posture of some of South Africa’s neighbors is troubling.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

South Africa exported 131 694 tonnes of maize last week. Of this volume, about 42% was exported to Taiwan, 23% to Japan, 16% to Vietnam, 11% to South Korea, and the balance to the neighbouring countries. This placed South Africa's 2023/24 maize exports at 430 451 tonnes out

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

4 years

It’s a sad period in SA agriculture Yesterday we lost Prof Mohammed Karaan, one of SA’s preeminent policy advisors in the fields of agriculture development & land reform He was also a mentor for the younger generation of agricultural economists like myself We mourn his passing

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

“Africa’s coup belt spans the continent: a line of six countries crossing 3,500 miles, from coast to coast, that has become the longest corridor of military rule on Earth.” NYT Worrying.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

10 months

🇿🇦✨

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

10 months

The weather outlook bodes well for South Africa’s agriculture

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 month

The hostility towards South African agriculture by neighbouring Botswana and Namibia is not in the spirit of building regional agricultural cooperation. On July 19, @OfficialMasisi , the president of the Republic of Botswana, wrote on X that "Our ban on imported vegetables was a

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

South Africa expects an ample maize harvest of 16,1 million tonnes in the 2022/23 season. This is 5% the previous season and the third-largest crop on record.

A solid maize harvest in South Africa

South Africa's Crop Estimates Committee lifted the country's 2022/23 maize production estimate by 2% from last month to 16,1 million tonnes. This crop is 5% more than the 2021/22 season and the...

wandilesihlobo.com

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

4 months

"You know, farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil, and you're a thousand miles from the corn field." — Dwight Eisenhower.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

How to broaden farm ownership for successful inclusion of black farmers in South African agriculture

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

South Africa’s economic choice between Washington and Moscow is clear.

South Africa’s economic choice between Washington and Moscow is clear

The US was SA’s second-largest export market in 2022, accounting for 9% of the total. China was the leading export market, accounting for 10% of our exports. Other important markets include Germany,...

wandilesihlobo.com

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

2 years

I’ve made people upset, understandably as food security is a serious subject. So, to be a responsible citizen, here is a context. 1/2

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

4 months

South Africa is a significant producer of avocados (see charts). The country exports over a third of the domestic produce, around 50k tonnes (see charts). South Africa typically exports its avocados to Europe, the Middle East and the African continent. China is a new and

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

3 years

Vaccinate today! 🇿🇦

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

3 years

Putin’s agriculture policy

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

The poor state of South African roads destroys government’s lofty talk of agricultural development, job creation and agri-tourism.

LETTER: Agriculture in a pothole

Poor state of SA roads destroys government’s lofty talk of agricultural development, job creation and agri-tourism

www.businesslive.co.za

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

6 months

South Africa’s agricultural exports reached a new record of US$13,2 billion in 2023, up 3% from the previous year. Here are the key markets by share: - Africa: 38% - Asia: 28% - EU: 19% - UK: 7% - Americas: 6% - Rest of the World: 2% Read more:

South Africa’s agricultural exports hit record despite logistical bars

Despite challenges at the ports and in various export markets, the SA agricultural sector has continued to realise excellent export activity. Total agricultural exports reached a new record of...

wandilesihlobo.com

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

3 years

South Africa’s food supply chains are functional and the interruptions caused by unrests in KZN didn’t have a notable nationwide impact. There is work underway to restore operations within KZN. An update on such efforts there, from @Ntombela_SM and I.

No shortage of food in SA but distribution still faces headwinds

The opening of national roads closed due the unrest will go a long way to alleviating the shortages in some areas

www.businesslive.co.za

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

The economic choice between Washington and Moscow is clear

WANDILE SIHLOBO: The economic choice between Washington and Moscow is clear

The US was SA’s second-largest export market in 2022, while Russia took up a mere 0.2%

www.businesslive.co.za

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

3 years

In the Sunday Times today

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

South Africa has the second-largest maize harvest on record; about 16, 4 million tonnes. We consume just under 12 million tonnes of maize a year.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

We are not looking good on the international relations front. 🇿🇦

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

3 months

South Africa is the only African country in the top 40 agricultural exporters globally. We rank the 32nd place, and our agricultural exports were at a record US$13, 2 billion in 2023.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

Pretoria folks, Bargain Books at The Grove Mall has copies of my first book, “Finding Common Ground: Land, Equity & Agriculture”. Please visit them. They have other excellent titles from ⁦ @MMkhabel ⁩, ⁦ @phakie101 ⁩, Tembeka, etc. Happy reading! 🇿🇦

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

5 months

Food security is national security.

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

3 years

a very nice and informative one-pager from our colleagues @Vinpro_za highlighting the economic contribution of the South African wine industry

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

I hear there are some incorrect land reform stats being mentioned somewhere at a gala dinner. So, it might be useful to repost this piece we wrote some time ago highlighting a few misconceptions about South Africa’s land and agricultural ownership.

Land reform in South Africa: 5 myths about farming debunked

Based on official statistics, we conclude that the country has made more progress towards land reform than is generally suggested.

theconversation.com

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

Since it's cold and most South Africans are probably indoors and have some time, I should repost this presentation focusing on "Land Reform in South Africa".

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Wandile Sihlobo

@WandileSihlobo

1 year

Since folks are worried about the expected El Nino and its impact on food prices in South Africa, I should make a few observations on this issue. A major challenge that could confront South Africa's agricultural sector in a few months is a change in weather conditions from

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