The government should not waste its second opportunity to lower food prices for poor people by removing value-added tax (VAT) from chicken.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has repeated that it is government’s intention to increase the number of essential foods that are free of the country’s 15% value added tax.

In theory, Africa is creating the world’s largest free trade area. In practice, progress has been slow and it will be a long time before even limited benefits are realised.

World trade is going to be complicated in 2025, because US President-elect Trump sees tariffs not as a trade measure but as a stick to make other countries do what he wants.

Making chicken VAT-free is a practical, cost-effective, and socially just policy to alleviate poverty, improve nutrition, and drive economic growth. The potential revenue loss is small compared to the profound benefits for South Africa’s most vulnerable citizens.

The chicken products from which VAT should be removed have been carefully selected to have the most benefit for South Africa’s poorer households.

Chicken is rich in vitamins and other essential nutrients. Making it more affordable would help prevent stunting and malnutrition.

Because of widespread malnutrition, South Africa has one of the highest child stunting rates in the world. Stunting affects both the children concerned and reduces national economic growth, the VAT-free chicken proposal states.

The revenue lost by exempting chicken from VAT is relatively small and would be countered by benefits to poorer people and society as a whole, the proposal for VAT-free chicken states.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a sweeping food safety crackdown on spaza shops in South Africa’s townships and informal settlements, as well as tighter regulations for general dealers and all food handling and distribution facilities.

The South African poultry industry is confident that VAT-free chicken would benefit low income households rather than affluent consumers, and believes the savings will be passed on by producers and retailers

Chicken is an essential source of meat protein for South Africa’s low-income households, and VAT-free chicken is needed as an additional measure to keep prices down.

The South African poultry industry’s recovery from last year’s devastating losses is illustrated by the return to profitability of Astral Foods, the country’s largest poultry producer.

Gary Arnold will succeed the long-serving Chris Schutte as CEO of Astral Foods, South Africa’s largest poultry producer.

South Africa’s unemployment rate dropped slightly in the third quarter of this year, but millions of people, particularly young aspirant workers, remain without a job.

Bird flu has probably hit Marion Island, threatening almost half of the world’s wandering albatrosses, the South African government has reported. At the same time, bird flu outbreaks in Europe are increasing as the northern winter approaches.

The need for stricter food safety measures in South Africa’s informal markets has been highlighted by recent incidents following purchases from what are known as spaza shops, which are common in informal areas.

The South African poultry industry has squashed the argument that chicken imports do not compete with local chicken or harm local producers.

Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen believes South Africa’s sugar industry should diversify into other crops, and mass produce crops used in ethanol production.

Agriculture is South Africa’s “quiet giant”, contributing significantly to food security, employment, export earnings, and the broader economy and providing the foundation for rural life.

The UK government celebrated the lifting of South Africa’s bird flu ban on British poultry, only for the ban to be reimposed a month later due to a new outbreak.

A new Industrial Policy Masterclass at the University of Pretoria offers insights that could benefit local industries and help create stronger, fairer markets across Africa.

More investment in agricultural research and development (R&D) in Africa would pay huge dividends and result in cheaper food, says development economist Dr Ralph Nordjo.

South Africa spends a huge R680 billion a year to tackle child poverty, but 13 million children live below the poverty line, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund reports.

South Africa’s “mini budget” this month gave supporters of VAT-free chicken some encouragement and some food for thought.

The slow implementation of the poultry master plan, particularly regarding chicken exports, is highlighted in the first annual report from newly listed Rainbow.

The two largest poultry producers in South Africa, Astral Foods and Rainbow, continue to produce improved results after a disastrous 2023 caused by bird flu, power outages and high feed costs.

South Africa’s crop production should recover later this year after an earlier poor harvest, according to agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo.

South African consumers got some sort of relief the day after the mini-budget, when deputy finance minister David Masondo said the government did not intend to increase taxes over the next few years.

The poor would benefit most if 15% value added tax (VAT) is removed from selected chicken portions, according to Izaak Breitenbach of the SA Poultry Association.

VAT-free chicken was needed now “more than ever before”, said FairPlay founder Francois Baird.

South Africa’s food prices will continue to rise in coming months, but the increases will be far more moderate than seen in 2023.

South Africa’s Competition Commission is going to monitor food value chains to understand why retail prices have remained high despite cost pressures easing.

South Africa should use its political links to boost agricultural exports to other BRICS countries, according to agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo.

Poultry farmers remain uncertain about compensation for bird flu culls, as the government has yet to comment or confirm if it will comply with a court ruling.

Child stunting is a national crisis and should be a national shame.

South Africa’s slow progress in addressing food insecurity was one of the causes of high rates of child malnutrition and stunting, Child Gauge reported back in 2017.

One of the people who can make a real contribution to combating South Africa’s high level of malnutrition and child stunting is agriculture minister John Steenhuisen.

South Africa’s food security dropped last year to its lowest level in more than a decade, the Shoprite retail group has reported.

For South Africa to achieve the United Nations goal of “Zero Hunger”, the country must enhance agricultural productivity and ensure equitable access to nutritious food.

The British government is treating the routine lifting of a long-standing bird flu ban on its chicken imports into South Africa as if it were an historic new trade deal.

The benefits for South Africa’s poorest people are going to be a focus of the submission by South Africa’s poultry industry for the removal of the 15% value added tax (VAT) from chicken products.

It’s unfair that South Africa’s poorest consumers have to pay an extra 15% on every chicken portion that they buy.

VAT-free chicken is vital for South Africa and its children, FairPlay founder Francois Baird told a TV audience.

South Africa faces a deepening malnutrition crisis, with more than 60% of households suffering some form of food insecurity and more than 40% unable to afford nutritious items, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has found.

South Africa’s poultry producers will be pleased with the continued decline in imports of the bone-in chicken portions which caused a crisis in previous years.

Chicken importers are on a mission to get more and cheaper mechanically deboned meat (MDM) into South Africa, but the facts don’t always support their good story. And sometimes there’s a back story that isn’t told.

The South African poultry industry is pushing for a renewed focus on restructuring the country’s trade tariffs to curb illegal chicken imports.

There is an urgent need for the South African government and the poultry industry to find a solution to the impasse which is preventing vaccination against bird flu.

FairPlay founder Francois Baird is optimistic that chicken will at last be added to the essential foods that are exempt from South Africa’s 15% value added tax (VAT).

South Africa needs a bold, export-driven strategy to boost agricultural production, according to agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo.

A million tonnes of chicken is smuggled into Nigeria every year, according to the country’s animal feed producers. This nearly three times the domestic chicken production of 355 000 tonnes annually.

A global bird flu outbreak has claimed the lives of dozens of tigers in Vietnam and has now spread to humans in the US, raising concerns about the potential for wider transmission.

Removing the 15% value added tax (VAT) from chicken would make it more affordable for poor people in South Africa – directly and through the economies of scale created by an expanded poultry industry.

VAT-free chicken, bird flu vaccinations and chicken exports – these are South African poultry industry’s strategic priorities as the poultry master plan gets set for a remake.

The South African poultry industry had increased capacity by 10% since the poultry master plan was signed in 2019, says SAPA’s Izaak Breitenbach.

Removing VAT from chicken would be a low-cost social programme and job creator, according to FairPlay founder Francois Baird.

Expanding trade within Africa will involve the transport of increased volumes of refrigerated or frozen food, with food safety risks if the required cold temperature is not constantly maintained.

South Africa needed effective law enforcement to ensure speedy compensation for food poisoning victims and others claiming against large corporations.

South Africa’s new agriculture minister, John Steenhuisen, is pushing a renewed focus on structural reforms, biosecurity and improved trade relations with other countries.

Growth in global poultry consumption is poised to return to historic levels after several years of slow progress.

South African agriculture could soon recover from the mid-season drought which resulted in major summer grain crop losses this year.

Africa’s food insecurity crisis will be the focus of a conference in Cape Town that will bring together 800 delegates from governments and the private sector in order to promote investment in agriculture.

Nearly 50 of the world’s largest food manufacturing companies have invested in the production of plant-based or cell-cultured meats.

A very favourable report on South Africa’s business and economic prospects has been compiled by the international news agency Bloomberg.

South Africa’s chicken imports have been declining from a peak in 2018 and that trend has continued this year.

As chicken import volumes dropped in recent years, the origin of those imports has changed, and so has the composition of the chicken products being imported.

Lower feed prices should help South Africa’s chicken producers to limit price increases this year, according to a report in the Daily Maverick.

South Africa is missing out on the huge potential for agricultural exports to China, according to leading agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo.

Malnutrition is “the world’s worst child health crisis”, according to philanthropist Bill Gates.

In 2016 dumped chicken imports reduced Ghana’s poultry industry to 5% of its local market. The government has since spent millions to rebuild local poultry producers, but now imports are mounting once again. Development economist Dr Ralph Nordjo suggests some solutions.

As individual countries suffer outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu), the worldwide impact of the virus on birds, mammals and humans is often overlooked.

While bird flu is a rising global concern, two measures to prevent another devastating outbreak in South Africa are on hold, awaiting government decisions.

South Africa has expanded access to China for South African agricultural products, and there is more good news to come later this year, according to agriculture minister John Steenhuisen.

South Africa’s trade regulator, the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC), has defended itself against criticism that its tariff investigations take far too long.

South Africa’s agriculture minister John Steenhuisen has promised to address the shortage of veterinarians in the country and the challenging conditions under which they work.

South Africa’s worst food safety lapse – the 2017 listeriosis outbreak which killed more than 200 people and sickened more than 1 000 – may finally be approaching closure.

In our series of insights into the poultry industry, Gary Arnold from Astral Foods, South Africa’s largest poultry producer, explains how the company dealt with the huge setbacks from last year’s bird flu outbreak, and how its actions can show the way for others.

South African poultry producers will push for all frozen chicken, both locally produced and imported, to be exempted from the country’s 15% value added tax (VAT).

The South African government is encouraging beef producers to take advantage of the lifting of the 21-year import ban of South African meat products by Saudi Arabia.

Rainbow Chicken, South Africa’s second largest poultry producer, has turned from loss to a significant profit in the year to end June 2024.

South Africa is awaiting documentation from Brazil before it lifts a ban on poultry imports from that country’s Rio do Sul province, according to a report on News24.

Donald MacKay, CEO of XA Global Trade Advisors, is a tenacious proponent of the idea that import tariffs should serve a purpose, and be scrapped when they are no longer needed.

While South Africa’s poultry industry has long recognised the strategic importance of exporting to international markets, very few producers have actually engaged with these markets, writes Chris Coombes and Gerald Walter from Sovereign Foods.

A new survey has revealed that more than 70% of households in KwaZulu-Natal province are food insecure, with 17.1% facing severe shortages.

South Africa’s food inflation rate dropped further to 4.5% in July, but may be set to rise again as cost pressures come up through the value chain.

France is planning a second season of vaccination against bird flu, with the government picking up most of the costs.

RCL Foods, former owner of Rainbow Chicken, says Rainbow operations contributed substantially to the improved results it will report next week.

South Africa’s agricultural sector can help address the country’s record high unemployment rate, according the new agriculture minister, John Steenhuisen.

South Africa’s Competition Commission is investigating vertical integration in the poultry industry, where large producers combine all stages of chicken […]

South Africa’s rising unemployment rate made removing value added tax (VAT) from chicken even more urgent, according to FairPlay founder […]

If Europe’s large-scale poultry producers resume their chicken exports to South Africa, the local industry may face a renewed threat […]

South African poultry and beef producers will have to expand exports over the next decade to absorb production growth, but […]

South African food producers should emulate countries like Italy and Japan, which legally protect local produce and foods, and market […]

Australia has limited poultry imports by applying strict health requirements rather than import duties, explains David Wolpert, who used to oversee […]

FairPlay founder Francois Baird has made a strong attack on Brazilian calls to other countries to drop their restrictions on […]

Chicken dumping is a strange global trade phenomenon. It is not caused by production efficiencies but by northern hemisphere dietary […]

South Africa’s egg producers are still suffering the effects of last year’s devastating outbreaks of bird flu. Egg production has […]

The pernicious effect of dumped imports has been shown in Chile, where the country’s largest steelmaker is to close, affecting […]

Chris Schutte is to retire next year from his position as CEO of South Africa’s largest poultry producer, Astral Foods. […]

Celebrate agriculture’s successes, says Christo van der Rheede, adjunct professor at the faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, University of Free […]

South Africa faces a deepening malnutrition crisis, with more than 60% of households suffering some level of food insecurity and […]

The HSRC survey reported an overall prevalence of stunting for children under the age of 5 years of 28.8%, of […]

The steady rise in South Africa’s imports of chicken offal showed the need to keep chicken affordable, including pressing retail […]

After years of battling unsuccessfully against “unscientific and discriminatory” European Union restrictions on South African citrus imports, the industry has […]

South Africa’s food inflation rate in June was the lowest since the Covid lockdowns of 2020, according to a statement […]

In a recent conversation with agricultural economist, Wandile Sihlobo, we elicited his insights on the key priorities and opportunities for South […]

The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) has come out in full support of the removal of value added tax (VAT) […]

Removing value added tax (VAT) from chicken would not only help feed millions of poor people, but it would have […]

President Ramaphosa has most likely urged swift action on his proposal to extend the list of VAT-exempt essential foods, potentially […]

A South African government delegation has returned from the United States optimistic that its mission to cement trade ties between […]

One of South Africa’s leading agricultural economists has urged Botswana and Namibia to come to an agreement with South Africa […]

South African poultry producers were generous donors to the annual challenge to cook up 67 000 litres of soup for distribution […]

Agrarian reform expert, Dr Marc Wegerif, believes that South Africa is food secure at a national level, but more could be […]

The drive for VAT-free chicken has been given welcome impetus by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s promise that the new government of […]

South Africa’s new agriculture minister, John Steenhuisen, is taking a close look at one of the country’s agricultural master plans. […]

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has yet to address two critical issues: bird flu vaccination and culling compensation for affected farmers. […]

It’s planned to be the world’s biggest free trade area and Parks Tau, South Africa’s new Minister of Trade, Industry […]

Amid concerns about South Africa’s foreign policy stance, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau heads to Washington to […]

If the South African government does not appeal against a judgment that would force it to compensate a farmer for bird flu losses, it could face a flood of claims from other poultry producers. The total could run into billions of rand.

South Africa’s new agriculture minister, John Steenhuisen, says he is determined to improve things for farmers, farmworkers and agricultural exporters.

South Africa’s chicken imports were down again in May, according to the latest official statistics, and 2024 may be heading for another annual drop.

South Africa’s new government must urgently address inefficiencies and delays to foster sustainable growth in the agricultural sector.

New agriculture minister John Steenhuisen has pledged to champion the whole agriculture sector, but particularly the empowerment of black and emerging farmers.

Chicken importers have fallen so much in love with rebates on chicken imports that they would like them to be implemented permanently.

With China importing less chicken, poultry exporting countries like Brazil and the United States will be looking for new markets, according to the food and agribusiness bank Rabobank.

One consequence of the formation of South Africa’s government of national unity is that it has brought supporters of VAT-free chicken into positions of power.

South Africa’s leading poultry producer, Astral Foods, plans to test the market for canned chicken. It’s a product popular in other countries, the SA Poultry Association (SAPA) has pointed out.

Supporting local poultry farmers is not just a nice thing to do but a rational one, says development economist Dr Ralph Nordjo

The formation of South Africa’s government of national unity (GNU) has put two brand new cabinet ministers in charge of the country’s two agricultural master plans.

Ahead of this year’s general elections, FairPlay has solicited the views of experts on the priorities, opportunities and constraints facing South Africa’s agriculture sector.

Unlike other countries, the South African government has refused to compensate poultry farmers for the chickens they are ordered to cull to stop the spread of bird flu. That may be about to change.

South Africa’s stalled bird flu vaccination programme is going to be another priority for Minister Steenhuisen.

South Africa’s Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) reached a 15-year low in the second quarter of this year.

The Cape Town High Court has ruled against the government’s refusal to compensate poultry farmers for chickens culled during bird flu outbreaks.

Cocaine has been found in two containers of chicken packed for export in Brazil – one destined for South Africa, the other for the Netherlands.

Agriculture should be an area on which political parties can agree, and not become a victim of divisive and populist politics, says agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo.

South Africa’s veterinary services are in a crisis, with an increasing number of vets resigning and many of them emigrating to other countries.

A third South African poultry company has announced that is on the road to recovery after the disastrous outbreaks of bird flu last year led to massive cost increases, turning profits into losses.

In an interview ahead of Rainbow’s stock exchange listing this week, Rainbow MD Marthinus Stander stressed what he called the wonders of chicken and said the company focused on keeping prices down.

Unless the South African government relents, chicken importers missed out on a bonanza in April, because the substantial tariff rebates from which they would benefit have not been renewed.

Chicken imports rose substantially in April this year, including in all the categories to which tariff rebates had applied for the previous three months.

Co-ownership by local communities of game lodges and tourist operations is increasing in Southern Africa, contributing to wildlife conservation and boosting national tourism revenues.

In America and Europe, vaccines are being developed to prevent humans being infected with avian influenza (bird flu).

Despite many growth constraints in the first three months of this year, South Africa’s agricultural sector rebounded strongly, with agriculture GDP growing by 13.5%.

The canned chicken market in South Africa will see rivalry between Astral Foods, South Africa’s largest poultry producer, and Oceana, which sells the popular Lucky Star brand of canned pilchards.

Two agricultural sector master plans that have yet to deliver fully on their promises of growth and jobs should be high on the priority list for South Africa’s next government.

While consumers paid more to buy chicken between February and April this year, farmers were paid less for this commodity, according to the latest Farm-to-Retail Price Spread report, published in May this year by the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC).

Rainbow, South Africa’s second largest poultry producer, returns to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) this month after an absence of more than a decade.

Fears of a possible resurgence of bird flu in South Africa this winter have been highlighted by the international publication WATTPoultry.

Each year, African political leaders gather to set an agenda for the transformation of the region. While efforts have been made, the region – as compared to the rest of the world – continues to record little economic growth and high levels of poverty.

Chicken importers are agitating for a renewal of rebates on import tariffs that applied for the first three months of the year. As usual, their arguments ignore key facts.

Slow but steady progress is being made in vaccinating poultry against avian influenza (bird flu).

Chicken is the world’s most popular meat, and will account for nearly 30% of the growth in global meat consumption over the next three years.

South Africa’s largest poultry producer, Astral Foods, is planning a canned chicken product to rival tinned pilchards and sardines.

One of the big post-election questions, for the poultry industry in particular, is who will succeed Ebrahim Patel as Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.

South Africa’s unemployment rate is dangerously high and keeps on rising. The government desperately wants more jobs. Why then does it keep on putting obstacles in the way of the poultry industry with its proven job creation capability?

African mega-farming offers huge growth potential, with plans to boost exports to China and Europe. Yet, to succeed, investment in infrastructure and strong governance are crucial to tackle food insecurity and unstable institutions.

We asked a handful of key opinion leaders and experts this question: Following the general elections, what do you think a new government could do to quickly unlock South Africa’s agricultural potential, and kick-start growth?

We’ve asked the largest parties in South Africa about their plans for the agricultural sector, jobs and food security. This is what they had to say.

FairPlay has extended its criticism of the South African government’s refusal to compensate poultry farmers for bird flu culls, saying the policy was probably contributing to the spread of the virus.

It’s not only in South Africa that eggs are becoming more expensive.

France is attributing a sharp drop in the number of bird flu cases to a successful pilot campaign to vaccinate millions of ducks.

Good news for South African consumers – drought damage to maize crops is less than had been feared.

The Biden administration has taken strong measures to protect the US steel, shipbuilding and manufacturing industries threatened by cheap imports of steel and aluminium from China.

Astral Foods, South Africa’s largest poultry producer, is slowly recovering from the worst year in its history.

FairPlay has hit out at the South African government’s continued refusal to compensate poultry farmers for chickens culled during bird flu outbreaks.

South Africa has renewed anti-dumping duties on dumped chicken imported from the US. However, due to the Agoa trade deal, these anti-dumping duties are largely meaningless.

Brazil is selling more and more poultry to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, two markets on South Africa’s export list but where progress has been painfully slow.

While the South African government continues to put obstacles in the way of the country’s huge poultry industry, it has come out in unreserved support for the important, but smaller, citrus industry.

South Africa’s food price inflation was down again in March, continuing a steady decline since it peaked at 14% in March 2023.

As bird flu devastated poultry flocks around the world in recent years, it has also infected an increasing number of mammals – seals, sea lions, bears, minks, domestic cats and, most recently cows in Texas.

The South African poultry industry has advised the government that there is no need to continue the tariff rebates on chicken imports, and that doing so would be illegal.

The debate about tariff rebates on South Africa’s chicken imports featured strongly in the Citizen newspaper this week.

Import tariff rebates were in effect for January, February and March to encourage additional chicken imports into South Africa because the government wrongly believed there was a shortage of chicken on the market.

The fearsome powers of South Africa’s competition-related market inquiries are among the reasons that the country’s poultry industry does not like the market inquiry which will investigate the workings and structure of the industry.

South Africa’s trade regulator suffered a ransomware attack in January and has alerted its stakeholders to the risk that their personal information may have been extracted.

As the southern African region battles an El Niño-induced drought, South Africa’s food supplies remain sufficient, says the government.

Chicken feet are tasty and very, very good for you.

The concentrated nature of the South African poultry industry is a benefit not a fault to be rectified, says Izaak Breitenbach of the SA Poultry Association (SAPA).

Dumped chicken imports from the European Union continue to harm Africa’s poultry producers and cost local jobs.

The big mystery about South Africa’s rebates on chicken imports is why they were approved when they weren’t needed.

If you listened to South Africa’s chicken importers, you might believe that tariff rebates on chicken imports are a wonderful thing, and that there is really no competition between importers and local chicken producers.

If the world’s meat eaters switched to chicken, the beneficial environmental impact would help the world to feed itself in the future.

United States officials have announced the country’s second case of bird flu in a human being.

Chicken importers are being hit hard by a sudden intensification of veterinary inspections at South African harbours.

South Africa’s food price inflation continues to drop, and is now closer to overall inflation, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI).

High food prices are forcing South Africans to tighten their belts, with nearly half of them switching to lower priced products.

Disruption of vulnerable shipping routes is the biggest “wild card” threat to the global poultry trade, according to Rabobank, which conducts global food and agribusiness research.

Despite having procedures in place, South Africa’s agricultural authorities are refusing to pay any bird flu compensation at all.

Bird flu has been identified in dairy cattle in the United States, and questions are now being asked whether this has happened, undetected, in other countries as well.

The South African poultry industry will be engaging with government authorities in an attempt to prevent additional chicken imports being encouraged through tariff rebates for the second quarter from April 2024.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is determined to add to the number of competition-based market inquiries being held in South Africa.

Sophisticated, large-scale commercial farming can improve food security and global trade for African countries, according to FairPlay founder Francois Baird.

The independent Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) says the decline in South Africa’s agricultural sector last year was not nearly as bad as portrayed in official statistics.

The rising trend in chicken imports into South Africa has continued in 2024, and import tariff rebates will continue that trend by encouraging importers to buy more chicken from abroad.

Chicken imports rose in January, including across all categories covered by the controversial import tariff rebates, designed to incentivise additional imports.

ITAC reveals that meat importers are granted flexibility in choosing which chicken products to apply tariff rebates to, despite objections from local poultry producers who argue there’s no supply shortage.

While South Africa’s chicken industry is back to full production after last year’s avian influenza (bird flu) outbreaks, the egg industry may take a year to return to normal – provided bird flu remains at bay this winter.

South African poultry producers have condemned the government’s approval of rebates to encourage more chicken imports, saying it is “unnecessary, unjustified and damaging to the domestic poultry industry”.

Individuals and businesses have until 4pm tomorrow, 15 March, to submit comments to South Africa’s Competition Commission on the terms of reference of its market inquiry into the country’s poultry industry.

After a delayed arrival, the El Niño weather phenomenon is making itself felt in southern Africa. Hotter and drier conditions are expected to reduce grain harvests, spreading hunger and poverty in the region.

Bird flu losses suffered by South Africa’s poultry industry helped drag the country’s agricultural sector down to a surprisingly large contraction in the second half of 2023

Business Day warns of potential food price inflation due to heat-damaged crops in South Africa’s main grain regions, exacerbating challenges for poorer households heavily reliant on staple foods.

EU chicken exports dropped in 2023 due to competition from cheaper Brazilian products, especially in African markets, with bird flu outbreaks further impacting exports.

In apparent defiance of both facts and logic, South Africa’s trade regulator has approved tariff rebates on the import of some 43 000 tonnes of chicken, and may repeat that in the second quarter.

Fewer South African companies are applying for import duty protection because the investigations take too long and the government demands onerous undertakings in return for tariff approval.

Rainbow is to be spun out of RCL Foods and listed separately on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

In a poultry market update included with its results, RCL Foods took issue with recent announcements of rebates on chicken import tariffs and a poultry market inquiry.

South African poultry prices declined in January as demand weakened after the December peak, according to the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP).

A South African meat producer hopes expansion into Saudi Arabia will help double South Africa’s beef exports.

The decision to approve tariff rebates on thousands of tonnes of chicken imports is unbelievable and must be reversed.

A tariff restructure to curb illegal chicken imports was considered urgent four years ago. Since then, nothing has happened.

Quantum foods, South Africa’s largest egg producer, expects the country’s egg supply to remain constrained for much of this year as the industry recovers from last year’s avian influenza (bird flu) outbreaks.

Amidst unprecedented challenges, South Africa’s vital industries face an additional hurdle: burdensome market inquiries risking further setbacks and hampered competitiveness.

In the past two years, avian influenza (bird flu) has encompassed the world, from east to west and now also from north to south.

The newspaper Business Day has come out in strong opposition to the Competition Commission’s market inquiry system, and in particular to the latest one into the poultry industry.

In its poultry probe, the Competition Commission should acknowledge findings from the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy’s 2021 study, which shows that the agriculture sector has one of the lowest market concentration levels in South Africa.

Year-end imports statistics for 2023 confirm that South Africa’s poultry imports showed their first annual increase in four years, ending a steady decline in import volumes.

South African food inflation dropped to 8.5% in December 2023, however concerns remain over rising grain prices and the impact of the El Niño weather pattern.

South Africa faces the possibility of a review of its Agoa membership by the US Congress, with concerns over potential implications for the country’s access to US markets.

South Africa’s poultry industry is in for a tough 2024, as the government introduces measures to discount chicken imports, and launches an inquiry into the local poultry market. This adds to the numerous challenges faced by local chicken farmers who have already suffered enormous losses due to bird flu and load-shedding.

The South African government’s unexpected inquiry into the local poultry market has sparked disbelief among analysts and role-players. The South African Poultry Association says that it could exacerbate existing challenges faced by the industry.

Chris Schutte, CEO of Astral Foods, says the recent announcement of a poultry market inquiry was an unjustified assault on the industry, stressing that the struggling poultry sector needs support and investment, not further scrutiny.

South African poultry producers and importers are at odds over the introduction of rebates in chicken import tariffs. Producers fear a surge in imports, while importers express concern that the rebates might not materialise due to stringent conditions set by the trade regulator.

The announced rebates on poultry imports have sparked confusion and concern among stakeholders, with discrepancies emerging between what South Africa’s trade regulator has announced and what was initially proposed.

FairPlay has urged South Africa’s finance minister Enoch Godongwana to consider removing the 15% value-added tax (VAT) from locally produced chicken portions, stressing the urgency to make chicken more affordable for low-income households

The South African poultry industry voices its discontent over proposed import tariff rebates amidst a surplus of chicken, highlighting concerns about import policies and their potential effects on local producers and consumers.

Recently announced import tariff rebates could have unintended consequences on the local poultry industry, as highlighted by XA Global Trade Advisors. Their analysis shows a discrepancy between gazetted tariff reductions and the original intentions of trade regulator, ITAC.

FairPlay has urged Trade Minister Ebrahim Patel to abandon his proposed import rebate scheme, warning that it could devastate South Africa’s poultry industry.

The South African poultry industry says the strict conditions farmers must meet before they can vaccinate their chickens against bird flu will prevent large numbers of poultry producers getting permits to vaccinate their flocks.

In the middle of the controversy over the proposed rebates on chicken import tariffs came some encouraging news for the South African poultry industry.

South Africa’s food price inflation dropped in December and economists expect it to continue to decline in 2024.

South Africa’s inaugural shipments under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTFA) mark a pivotal moment in continental economic integration, yet challenges persist, notably conflicts and coups disrupting trade flows, according to AfCTFA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene.

It’s only just started, but 2024 has already delivered a huge mystery – why has the government authorised rebates on chicken import tariffs to counter a shortage which doesn’t exist?

An angry South African poultry industry has urged the government not to approve any applications for tariff rebates on chicken imports.

Trade and industry minister Ebrahim Patel had “kicked the poultry industry when it’s down,” FairPlay said in a statement in reaction to tariff rebates for chicken imports.

For a government minister to introduce import tariff rebates to solve a problem that did not exist was “irrational” and “astonishing”, FairPlay founder Francois Baird said in a radio interview with Moneyweb.

Chicken importers still haven’t committed to passing on lower prices that may result from the rebates on import tariffs that the government plans to implement.

Importers welcome tariff rebates, but their emphasis on pricing overlooks that imports make up only 20% of the local chicken market, raising concerns about the impact on local producers and jobs.

Guidelines published this week put an annual cap of 172 000 tonnes on the amount of chicken meat that could be subject to rebates on the applicable import tariffs. This is nearly equal to the total amount imported last year under these tariff headings.

Despite hopes that 2024 will be a better year for South Africa’s battling poultry farmers, the industry starts with a number of problems unresolved from the previous year.

The drop in chicken prices this year, and the lack of any shortage in December, has been confirmed by Izaak Breitenbach of the SA Poultry Association (SAPA).

Another problem for South Africa’s poultry farmers is the delays in implementing vaccination against avian influenza (bird flu) because the government has imposed onerous conditions on farmers wanting to use them.

South Africa’s poultry and irrigation-dependent farmers will be dreading the double-digit electricity tariff hikes coming this year.

South Africa is the only country in the world where businesses list infrastructure failure as the principal risk they face in the year ahead. They’ve done so for two years in a row.

South African companies have signed a R300 million a year deal to supply chicken feet to China where they are a delicacy in great demand.

The government has put veterinary doctors and nurses back on the critical skills list, making it easier for foreign vets to work in South Africa.

Instead of a plan to support South Africa’s beleaguered poultry industry, the government has imposed another unnecessary burden in the form of subsidised imports of nearly every chicken product.

The South African government’s controversial proposal to encourage more chicken imports through lower import tariffs has not gone away.

Trade statistics show that poultry imports into South Africa are rising, posing concerns for local producers.

South African poultry producers may see a rebound in 2024 following a challenging 2023 marked by factors like power outages, municipal decay, and avian flu.

Trade minister, Ebrahim Patel, is confident that South Africa’s Agoa participation will not suffer when the US congress legislates to renew the deal next year.

While South Africa is classed as the most food secure country in sub-Saharan Africa, millions of South Africans go to bed hungry at night.

The Democratic Alliance has issued a statement calling on government to urgently fill more than 100 state vet vacancies.

Brazil sets a record with over 5 million tonnes of poultry exported in 2023, marking a 6.6% increase from the previous year.

The lengthening list of mammals affected by avian influenza (bird flu) now includes polar bears.

Renewed bird flu outbreaks in the United States prompt Russia to consider banning the transit of US poultry, potentially escalating tensions between the two nations.

Will South Africa’s chicken importers persist in exaggerating figures and making outlandish predictions to advocate for reduced import tariffs, masking potential profit gains, and overlooking the impact on local farmers and jobs?

The poor performance of South Africa’s poultry industry contributed substantially to the 9.6% contraction in the gross value added by the country’s agricultural sector in the third quarter of 2023.

Brazil, the world’s leading poultry exporter, is likely to show increased export volumes for 2023, according to statistics up to November last year.

Brazil supplies 90% of all poultry imports into South Africa. What happens to that trade if and when avian influenza (bird flu) hits Brazil’s commercial poultry flocks and bird flu bans come into place?

South Africa’s food price inflation remains high, while overall consumer price inflation levels are dropping.

The poultry and aquaculture sectors set to see modest growth in 2024, while the beef, pork and wild seafood sectors were likely to contract.

Amidst a tumultuous year, FairPlay’s advocacy for fair trade reached a critical juncture, as we fought against dumping threats on the South African poultry industry and confronted government proposals that could impact local jobs.

Animal diseases have become a significant global challenge. But few countries have had to deal with the intensity of these disease outbreaks — foot and mouth, African swine fever and avian influenza — almost simultaneously, as South Africa has had to do.

In a world where global competitiveness is key, South Africa’s chicken industry must navigate the complexities of international trade, and scrutinise the hurdles and opportunities on the path to global prominence.

2023 has been the most challenging year in the South African Poultry Association’s century-old existence.

Chicken importers continue to call for import tariff rebates, but they are using questionable calculations to justify the proposal.

South Africa’s unemployment rate remains one of the highest in the world, despite a slight improvement in the latest numbers.

Bird flu will come back every year and the only way poultry farmers can protect their flocks is through vaccination, says Astral CEO Chris Schutte.

The DA says it may apply to place the Department of Agriculture’s animal health division under administration, citing delays in avian flu vaccine procurement and complex requirements harming poultry farmers.

South Africa’s electricity shortages and the spread of bird flu have tipped the country’s largest poultry producer, Astral Foods, into the first loss in its 23-year history.

Astral Foods says that it needs to increase chicken prices to recover losses due to bird flu, load shedding and high input costs. The government says that, if prices go up, it will encourage chicken imports by lifting anti-dumping duties.

Meat importers are selling more chicken in South Africa than Astral, the country’s largest poultry producer.

South Africa’s worst avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak is under control, says the government, but the country’s largest poultry producer takes a wait-and-see approach.

South Africa’s food price inflation continues to be driven by the impact of regular power cuts known as load shedding, according to the independent Bureau for Food and Agriculture Policy (BFAP).

There was some good news in the unemployment report as South Africa’s agricultural sector added jobs in the third quarter, employing 61 000 more people than in the previous quarter.

The South African parliament’s standing committee on finance has recommended expanding the basket of foods on which no value added tax (VAT) is paid.

In a Carte Blanche expose, South Africa’s small-scale poultry farmers face financial ruin due to bird flu. Without government compensation, rebuilding seems impossible.

Executives from the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) present conflicting views on chicken import rebates, causing confusion.

Former meat import executive David Wolpert proposes import quotas to address challenges faced by South African poultry companies. He urges government support to restore profitability and uphold the local poultry sector’s vital role in providing affordable protein.

Two University of Cape Town academics are advocating for temporary chicken import rebates, emphasising potential relief to consumers. However, FairPlay raises concerns about the focus of their report.

The South African Human Rights Commission says child malnutrition in the Eastern Cape is a disaster, following an investigation revealing alarming rates and underreporting. Remedial steps with set deadlines are advised for urgent intervention.

South Africa ranks as the fifth largest market for KFC globally, surpassing the United Kingdom, India, Malaysia, and Australia.

Brazil, the world’s leading poultry exporter and bird flu-free, anticipates record-breaking sales this year, reaching over 5 million tons. China, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa top the list of major export destinations.

Will South Africa experience a shortage of chicken over Christmas and New Year, or will local supply be able to meet the festive demand?

The SA Poultry Association opposes rebate proposals on chicken import tariffs, warning that this could devastate local poultry producers.

Chicken importers are pushing for specific tariff reductions that would significantly undercut local chicken farmers.

As the local poultry industry asks for emergency support measures, the government considers incentives to boost chicken imports.

The extent of poultry industry difficulties will be revealed later this month when Astral Foods, South Africa’s largest poultry producer, announces its year-end results.

Just when South Africa seemed certain to retain its benefits under the Agoa trade deal with the United States, a new threat has emerged.

Amid South Africa’s devastating bird flu outbreak, poultry producers are pinning their hopes on a government relief package. With losses reaching R4.8 billion, the stakes are high.

While the Democratic Alliance’s stance on South Africa’s poultry industry has proven to be inconsistent, the party now supports relief for bird flu-affected farmers.

Proposed chicken import tariff rebates continue to face scrutiny, especially as the local industry has reportedly contained the bird flu outbreak and is stabilising chicken supplies. Consumer benefits from rebates also remain uncertain and contested.

FairPlay’s founder, Francois Baird, argues that reducing anti-dumping duties on imported chicken may not benefit consumers as much as importers.

Optimism surrounds South Africa’s diplomatic and trade relations with the United States post the Agoa Forum meeting as talks of a long-term renewal for the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act offer reassurance.

As South Africa contemplates Agoa renewal, a key question remains to be answered: Will the substantial US quota of duty-free chicken imports continue?

The upcoming FairPlay Food Security Summit has been cancelled. Despite this, founder Francois Baird stresses the ongoing need for food security solutions, emphasising the vital collaboration between government and the private sector to address South Africa’s pressing food security concerns.

South Africa faces food security threats due to rising costs, reduced produce volumes, and infrastructure challenges. Economists warn of potential price increases and urge government-business collaboration for resolution.

In September 2023, South Africa’s food price inflation inched up after a five-month decline, nearing headline inflation. Poultry and pork prices defied global trends due to the weak exchange rate, with poultry prices rising by 1.4%.

The SA Poultry Association says there will be little or no local chicken shortage in South Africa for the festive season. The impact of avian influenza is being mitigated by various contingency plans.

The SA Poultry Association emphasises the need for government compensation for culled chickens due to bird flu outbreaks. The industry also opposes import tariff rebates, calling for support of local poultry production and food security.

FairPlay challenges the CEO of the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) for making exaggerated claims about potential chicken shortages due to bird flu, pointing out that lower import tariffs won’t necessarily benefit consumers and that it is more important to support the local poultry industry.

Brazilian chicken imports to South Africa are being exploited by drug cartels to conceal cocaine shipments, raising concerns over the need for stricter inspections.

As South Africa confronts an escalating food security crisis, a looming spectre of household hunger threatens millions. The latest research warns of a dire situation, and solutions will be sought at FairPlay’s upcoming Food Security Summit.

South Africa’s food security has improved slightly in recent years, but by 2025, almost half the population could still face hunger, according to research commissioned by retailer Shoprite.

Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza commends the agricultural sector’s growth but emphasises the need for more to be done to tackle South Africa’s food security challenges, at the AgriSA congress.

South Africa’s poultry industry anticipates relief as bird flu infections peak, which means a more stable chicken supply for the upcoming holiday season.

AgriSA raises concerns over the government’s proposed tariff rebates on imported chicken, citing potential harm to the domestic poultry industry and the risk of job losses.

Salga is joining the call for the removal of VAT from chicken, aiming to alleviate food price inflation’s burden on struggling households.

British scientists are pursuing the possibility of creating bird flu-resistant chickens through gene editing, potentially ending mass cullings and vaccinations. Initial research shows promising results.

FairPlay makes a submission to ITAC on the the proposal for chicken import rebates in response to a potential shortage. FairPlay argues that the rebate proposal is not the right solution and proposes a negotiated approach under the poultry master plan.

Amid the ongoing bird flu outbreak, tensions rise between chicken importers and local poultry producers, prompting a call by FairPlay for a cooperative approach to address supply challenges.

The South African poultry industry and government have embarked on a high-level cooperative effort to combat the avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak in the country, which may include fast-tracking vaccine imports and addressing stringent requirements for poultry vaccination.

SAPA warns that, despite a bird flu vaccination programme, shortages of eggs and chicken meat will persist, with imports expected to increase to meet demand, particularly during peak months. Restocking farms after mass culls may take up to 18 months.

South African poultry producers reveal a harrowing seven-year toll of more than 13 million chickens culled due to avian influenza outbreaks, with devastating impacts on egg producers and a lack of government compensation contributing to the crisis.

After addressing vaccine import challenges, the next hurdle is the massive task of administering injections to approximately 40 million chickens in South Africa as part of an ongoing bird flu vaccination programme.

15,000 people were hospitalised for severe malnutrition over the past year, as Department of Health statistics show a deepening food security crisis.

The Democratic Alliance’s call to suspend tariffs on imported chicken reflects a profound misunderstanding of anti-dumping duties, with potentially dire consequences for South African jobs and the vital poultry industry.

The rapid and deadly spread of avian influenza strain H7N6 in South Africa is hammering poultry producers – as millions of chickens are culled without government compensation – intensifying the industry’s challenges amidst power cuts and infrastructure woes.

Poultry farmers are grappling with major financial losses as the government declines compensation for culling healthy chickens during the avian influenza outbreak, potentially hampering disease control efforts and prompting legal action.

Agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo says that food security depends on economic growth and job creation, not food prices, and emphasizes the need for broader socioeconomic measures, including infrastructure improvements.

Consumer inflation has come in at 4.8% in August and food price inflation is down to 8%, but economist Maarten Ackerman warns of challenges as growth hit 0.6% amid economic stress, power cuts, and job market strain.

Oceana, maker of Lucky Star canned pilchards, sees a chance to address a chicken shortage caused by bird flu, as pilchards are exempt from South Africa’s 15% VAT.

In South Africa’s Limpopo province, 27-year-old entrepreneur Martin Boima’s business, Martin’s Nature Care, is thriving with vegetable farming, poultry production, and innovative food products, backed by local support and the possibility of international expansion.

FairPlay founder Francois Baird underscores the vital connection between energy and food security in Africa, emphasising how the lack of electricity can adversely impact economies, social stability, and the fight against hunger and poverty.

South Africa’s high food price inflation is mainly attributed to persistent power cuts, or load shedding, which impacts essential food items, according to the Competition Commission’s September report.

Bird flu outbreaks are causing South African egg shortages and higher prices, with potential impacts on poultry meat prices in the coming weeks.

South African poultry producers will soon import avian influenza vaccines, providing a vital alternative to culling millions of healthy birds amidst bird flu outbreaks, particularly benefiting the hard-hit egg industry.

Despite low-priced dumped chicken imports in South Africa, consumers don’t experience cheaper chicken in retail stores, raising questions about where the profits are going.

Chicken importers in South Africa are making exaggerated claims about the impact of anti-dumping duties, mainly focusing on a 265% rate, but in reality, most imports face duties of only 2% to 7%. This raises doubts about the accuracy of their statements.

FairPlay is convening a national Food Security Summit at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on 2 November. The Summit will bring together leaders from various sectors, including government, to address South Africa’s pressing food security crisis.

South Africa’s food inflation rate is dropping but, at just under 10%, it remains stubbornly high.

A BFAP study highlights the need for investment in reducing high costs along Africa’s food value chain to combat food price inflation and make food more affordable.

AgriSA has issued a stark warning that the combined challenges of electricity shortages and surging fuel costs are poised to drive up food prices in stores.

Bird flu outbreaks, which have led to over four million chicken cullings and substantial financial losses, are now causing egg shortages in some areas, likely resulting in increased egg prices.

New Zealand scientists are researching lab-grown fruit tissue to combat climate-driven food shortages, but this process, including regulatory approvals, may still take years.

South African consumers will come under added pressure in the months ahead as increases in the price of chicken – the country’s most popular and most affordable meat protein – lead to agonising choices in retail stories.

As Rainbow moves towards independence, it plans to significantly boost chicken production and economic growth in the Hammarsdale community.

As South Africa’s poultry industry grapples with a resurgence of avian influenza and a lack of government compensation, it raises concerns of supply chain shortages.

Highlighting the ongoing struggles within South Africa’s poultry industry, the SA Poultry Association has raised concerns about the economic environment and the urgent need to remove VAT on chicken portions.

The World Bank warns of a global food crisis and projects continued hunger for up to 670 million people by 2030.

The New York Times cautions, as avian influenza extends its reach to mammals, that there is growing concern about the possibility of human transmission, highlighting the need for global pandemic preparedness.

The return to full production at the Rainbow plant in Hammarsdale, outside Durban, is a historic event. The plant was partly shuttered in 2017, due to rising levels of dumped chicken imports.

The Rainbow re-opening ceremony was attended by the two government ministers who signed the 2019 poultry master plan – trade and industry minister Ebrahim Patel and agriculture minister Thoko Didiza.

DTIC Minister Ebrahim Patel emphasised the need to expand market share and exports while tackling issues such as dumping, high input costs, infrastructural constraints and environmental challenges.

Rainbow celebrated the re-opening of the Hammarsdale production plant as “a strategic leap forward” for the company.

Hammarsdale has special significance for FairPlay. The Hammarsdale closure, and the plight of the workers and communities affected, resulted in the launch of FairPlay as a movement opposed to dumping and unfair and illegal trade

China believes African countries will be able to feed themselves, and has promised Chinese investment to help the continent to achieve that objective.

Izaak Breitenbach of the SA Poultry Association discusses the impact of new anti-dumping duties on dumped chicken imports, focusing on potential industry relief and growth without significant effects on retail prices.

Journalists and publications have been led to believe that anti-dumping duties were all about retail prices. They have been put right by FairPlay founder Francois Baird.

South Africa’s chicken imports will hit a low point in 2023 and then rise over the next decade.

South Africa’s chicken imports for the first half of 2023 remain high, although monthly totals are dropping.

While South Africa continues to record one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, there is good news from the agricultural sector, where jobs are being created.

After a run of favourable publicity, alternatives to farmed meat, such as laboratory-grown food or plant-based meat alternatives, are meeting some resistance.

Anti-dumping duties are in place against five countries, and the sky has fallen. Except that it hasn’t, but chicken importers don’t tell you that. They like to pretend that disaster has happened and it’s only going to get worse.

The facts about anti-dumping duties were explained by FairPlay founder Francois Baird in a radio interview with Moneyweb.

The South African poultry industry is gearing up for a new export market, selling fresh and frozen chicken to Saudi Arabia.

Food security is one of the priority areas for agricultural co-operation between the five BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The international implications of the coup in Niger, particularly for the United States and France, were spelled out in a US publication by FairPlay founder Francois Baird.

As the implementation of carbon border taxes by the European Union approaches, South Africa grapples with the complexities of the issue.

The Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU) has released a statement in support of the decision to impose anti-dumping duties on dumped chicken imports from Brazil, Denmark, Poland, Ireland and Spain.

Having at last given the South African poultry industry the anti-dumping duties it should have had a year ago, Minister Patel should now fix the poultry master plan – chicken farmers face huge hurdles and industry growth initiatives are incomplete.

The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) is delighted that the anti-dumping duties for which it applied are now in place, calling the duties a positive step towards ending unfair trade and promoting industry growth, while emphasising that the impact on retail chicken prices will be minimal.

The new anti-dumping duties came with a warning from Trade, Industry and Competition minister Ebrahim Patel that the duties would be suspended if the poultry industry used them to make unfair profits.

FairPlay has taken issue with the financial newspaper Business Day over a report predicting that the anti-dumping duties would result in a huge increase in the retail price of chicken.

The implementation of anti-dumping duties provoked an unfortunate reaction from South Africa’s official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance.

Amidst sensational claims, a former meat industry CEO’s rational assessment sheds light on the realities of anti-dumping duties and their potential impact on chicken prices.

South Africa imposes anti-dumping duties on dumped chicken imports from Brazil and four EU countries.

These are the reasons why it would be a mistake for the US to kick South Africa out of Agoa.

FairPlay has reached out to nearly 50 stakeholders and organisations to gather support for the implementation of anti-dumping duties on dumped chicken imports.

FairPlay exposes the hollowness of the arguments made by chicken importers who are trying to persuade the government not to impose new anti-dumping duties.

FairPlay founder Francois Baird responds to importers, highlighting the difference between dumped imports as ordinary imports.

Pressure mounts as FairPlay urges minister Patel to take action against chicken dumping to defend the local industry and safeguard thousands of jobs.

Fact or fiction? SAPA sets the record straight on claims made by chicken importers.

Research shows that the impact of anti-dumping duties on the retail price of chicken would be “negligible at best”

Discover the crucial difference between fair trade and dumping, and how anti-dumping duties play a role in countering this market threat.

Research shows that anti-dumping duties on chicken imports to South Africa would not lead to significant price increases.

Read FairPlay’s open letter to Minister Ebrahim Patel

Africa has the highest levels of food insecurity in the world, and it will get significantly worse by 2030, according to the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).

Two African countries – Nigeria and Namibia – highlight Africa’s worsening hunger rates. The situation is so bad in Nigeria that President Bola Tinubu has just declared a state of emergency over food.

The Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) has analysed the impact of regular national power cuts on agriculture. These were some of their findings.

South Africa should seek urgently to diversify its export markets, whether or not the country retains its benefits under the United States trade legislation the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).

The lifting of bird flu bans on two EU countries means they are cleared to resume poultry shipments to South Africa.

The nationwide donation of soup to the needy, collated by Chefs with Compassion, is the largest soup kitchen in South Africa for Mandela Day.

South Africa is pulling out all the stops to ensure that it retains its trade benefits under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) – legislation in the United States that gives designated African countries preferential access to US markets.

The South African government’s delay in blocking dumped chicken imports was creating jobs in Brazil instead of in South Africa, according to FairPlay founder Francois Baird.

South Africa’s high unemployment rate is not only bad, but on closer inspection “it gets worse and more complicated”, according to a report in the Daily Friend.

South Africa’s high unemployment rate and high levels of power cuts add up to a high risk of social unrest such as it experienced two years ago, according to the head of the state insurance company Sasria.

Load shedding continues to impact the financial health of South Africa’s poultry producers.

South African industries threatened by imports have to rely on more than an official investigation to secure protection through tariffs and anti-dumping duties. They also, it seems, have to give something in return.

Bone-in chicken imports from Brazil to South Africa rose from 572 tonnes last August, to 3 530 tonnes in April.

Importers are manipulating statistics in an effort to further delay the imposition of anti-dumping duties on unfair, dumped chicken imports to South Africa from Brazil and four EU countries.

Dumped imports of frozen bone-in chicken portions have damaged the South African poultry industry for decades.

Under Agoa, the US is allowed to dump close to 72 000 tonnes of chicken in South Africa each year.

PwC warns that South Africa’s food supply chain is under immense pressure, largely due to the extended power cuts that have plagued business and agriculture.

New European Union pest control rules could cut South Africa’s orange exports to Europe by 20% this year.

ChickenFacts, the mouthpiece of the meat importers association, has released an investigation into brined chicken in South Africa.

For the past year, as thousands more join the ranks of the unemployed, the South African government has been exporting poultry jobs to Brazil.

With food price inflation declining, and imports climbing, now is the time for government to impose anti-dumping duties.

South Africa’s agricultural master plan will not get going unless all those involved agree to increase production, employment and exports.

Local manufacture is bringing prices down at one of South Africa’s largest clothing retailers.

While South Africa’s poultry farmers lose millions every year because of compulsory bird flu culls, French poultry producers are to get even higher compensation payments from their government.

The United States has made headlines around the world by approving the sale of chicken meat grown in a laboratory.

Import statistics show how poultry imports have climbed since the South African government refused to implement anti-dumping duties on chicken portions from Brazil and four European Union countries last year.

South Africa’s trade minister, Ebrahim Patel, will be concerned with wider trade issues than poultry when he goes to the United States next month.

The US plans to follow the EU in imposing a carbon border tax. How might this affect South African exports?

A national billboard campaign aims to make basic nutritious foods more affordable in South Africa in order to combat hunger and SA’s high rate of child stunting, which is caused by malnutrition.

South Africa’s poor agricultural performance in the first quarter of 2023 nearly pushed the country into a recession, but the prospects for the rest of the year are better.

Children are bearing the brunt of food insecurity and hunger in South Africa.

Top United States congressmen have given a clear indication that South Africa may lose substantial trade benefits under Agoa, when the provisions are renewed in 2025.

Before a US statement that its benefits were in danger, the South African government was hopeful of keeping preferential trade terms with the US when Agoa is renewed in 2025.

If South Africa remains in line to keep its Agoa trade benefits, poultry will once again be an issue in pre-renewal discussions over the next two years.

The problems South African businesses have been facing were spelled out in a television interview by Chris Schutte, CEO of South Africa’s largest poultry producer, Astral Foods.

Top business leaders are working with government to address the problems that are holding back economic growth, foreign investment and job creation.

If anti-dumping duties on dumped chicken imports are not imposed in August, the local industry will continue to decline, threatening long-term domestic food security.

An eye-watering amount of potential state revenue being lost through illicit trade, threatening stability and economic growth.

As chicken becomes more expensive in South Africa, low-income consumers are switching to pilchards for affordable food.

As the latest – and so far limited – bird flu outbreak in South Africa results in more cullings on egg-producing poultry farms, questions are once again being asked about the possibility of a vaccination against the virus.

El Niño brings hotter and drier weather to South Africa. Its last visit, from 2014 to 2016, hammered South Africa’s agricultural sector. Now its coming back.

The government and state-owned entities are the cause of South Africa’s food price inflation, according to the boss of the country’s largest poultry producer, Astral Foods.

South Africa’s poultry industry was “on its knees” because of government incompetence and negligence in providing basic services, financial newspaper Business Day wrote in an editorial comment.

South Africa’s food price inflation remains stubbornly high, and more than double the consumer price inflation index.

FairPlay founder Francois Baird has taken issue with chicken importing organisation AMIE over the cause of chicken shortages for fast food outlets last December.

A sensible approach to localisation would benefit South African industries and create local jobs, says Eustace Mashimbye, CEO of Proudly South African.

The Vietnam Poultry Association (VIDA) is warning that the poultry industry there is on the brink of collapse, with illegal imports accounting for a large portion of the problems.

South Africans will be forgiven a wry smile if Germany has to implement load shedding next year, as the government is warning.

Load shedding listed as a major cause of the 89% drop in Astral’s operating profit.

Will the SA government defend poultry producers against dumping, in the same way that it has just defended the potato industry?

South African potato farmers have waited a long time for renewed protection against dumped potato imports from three EU countries.

Poultry imports into South Africa are on the rise, and we may be seeing the end of the long downward trend in import volumes since they peaked in 2018.

Former CEO of the chicken importers group AMIE, calls for tariff protection for the South African poultry industry.

As South Africa “stumbles into a hunger pandemic”, FairPlay calls for an emergency national summit on food security.

Small farmers produce one million birds a week, and are an important component of the country’s food system.

Meat importers resort to mistruths and cherry-picking to make the case for more chicken imports.

The costs to South African poultry producers of the latest outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) are already mounting.

The South African government has announced a R2.5 billion fund to help farmers install renewable energy.

FairPlay founder Francois Baird appears on BBC’s Newsday to discuss South Africa’s hunger crisis.

FairPlay founder Francois Baird tells Newzroom Afrika that the cost of food is too high and that South Africa is heading into a food security crisis.

Will DTIC Minister Patel act on the facts, or will anti-dumping duties be determined by politics and a desire not to offend his BRICS allies?

The huge slump in profits at Astral Foods, South Africa’s biggest poultry producer, shows the extent of the challenges faced by chicken farmers.

“misguided and self-serving” chicken importers want anti-dumping duties to remain suspended.

SARS says load-shedding has cost the economy over R560 billion. Experts are increasingly warning of social unrest and a deepening food crisis.

Nearly half of the honey that is imported into the EU is fake, a new report from the European Commission shows.

Brazil, the world’s largest chicken exporter, is moving to avoid being cut off, if and when bird flu breaks out in that country.

Outbreaks on two layer farms in the Paardeberg area, north of Paarl, in the Western Cape have resulted in the culling of 120 000 birds.

A steep rise in the price of electricity is the latest blow to South African farmers who have battled with daily power cuts this year.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has criticised the European Union over “rising protectionism” and “unfair” trade practices blocking South African agricultural imports.

Speedier customs processes between African countries are needed to speed up intra-African trade.

Hunger relief NGO, SA Harvest, needs help getting food to hungry households in Durban and Johannesburg.

A quota that allows for more chicken to be dumped in South Africa, from the US, has been increased.

Food inflation in South Africa may be about to peak, providing some relief for consumers

Free trade in Africa faces slow progress due to poor infrastructure, says SA deputy president.

Italy looks likely to be the first country to ban laboratory-grown meat or animal feed.

Eskom blocks a town’s use of privately generated renewable energy, despite the national power crisis.

Rainbow Chicken, South Africa’s second-largest poultry producer, has announced that R620 million will be invested to bring its Hammarsdale production plant back to full capacity.

Ghana has long been an example of what can go wrong when dumped chicken imports flood in and destroy an industry.

Chicken products that should not be accepted as imports are being landed in the country.

Below-normal rainfall and hotter temperatures are expected in South Africa. But how bad will things really get?

Bird flu vaccines are slowly becoming a reality as the global poultry industry tries to find an alternative to mass cullings.

South Africa’s citrus industry believes exports could grow by 10 million cartons, if long-standing delays could be cleared up speedily.

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Irish poultry producers are free to flood South Africa with dumped chicken imports, as a bird flu ban on Irish chicken is lifted and anti-dumping duties remain suspended.

Chicken has regained its rightful place as South Africa’s most affordable meat protein.

The USDA says South Africa’s poultry industry is poised for growth. Yet trading updates by Astral and RCL paint a different picture.

Promoting affordable energy in Africa would increase stability on the continent, FairPlay founder Francois Baird has told an international gathering of parliamentarians.

The non-profit DG Murray Trust has proposed plan to cut the price of selected foods by 30% and improve the diet of South Africa’s most deprived children.

While bird flu is not yet a threat to humans, scientists are watching closely as the virus spreads around the world.

SA’s Competition Commission has come in for a hammering over its findings on food producers and retailers in its latest food price report.

In a report, PwC says the price of household goods have skyrocketed, and consumers face longer queues and stock shortages.

CEO of South Africa’s largest chicken producer calls for the removal of VAT from portions most bought by poor households.

Tariff investigations by South Africa’s trade regulator are taking far too long and up billions in duties.

Chicken farmers in rural Virginia, US, are battling to survive as Tyson Foods shuts a crucial processing plant.

As winter approaches, electricity demand begins to peak. Will load shedding intensify? How will businesses cope?

Jannie Durand, CEO of Remgro, predicts that the private sector would take over from Eskom.

The short-term outlook for South African agriculture is not good. That means food security remains at risk.

South Africa’s inflation rate – including food inflation – is rising, and consumer confidence is dropping rapidly.

Could South Africa’s apparent support for Russia affect its exports to the US, EU and UK?

Are South Africa’s chicken imports going up or down? And how might bird flu impact imports in 2023?

If bird flu outbreaks affect Brazil’s poultry industry, it could halt imports of MDM and bone-in portions to South Africa.

Australia is exporting chicken drumsticks to South Africa at such a low price that even Brazil can’t compete.

The threat from load shedding to South Africa’s food security has been spelled out in chilling detail by Christo van de Rheede, chief executive of Agri SA.

Growing concerns about the economic conditions in South Africa’s agricultural sector resulted in a further drop in the Agribusiness Confidence Index in the first three months of 2023.

The poultry master plan is way behind schedule. It needs urgent government attention. Jobs and food security are at stake.

Poor households are hardest-hit by food price inflation and need government support.

Local food prices are going to remain high because of power problems and the declining rand, says BFAP.

Poultry producers in the UK have called on government to better support the industry and ensure food security.

South Africa plans work with BRICS partners to advance the African economic agenda.

Proudly South African’s annual Buy Local Summit & Expo, will once again showcase the successes and opportunities in South African-made products.

South Africa’s poultry sector is choosing to invest in growth under very difficult circumstances.

SA’s poultry industry is exporting chicken to the UAE, and plans to target Saudi Arabia and the EU next.

Good news as prices of agri commodities are expected to decline over the next two years.

Local poultry producers report dip in earnings, as rising costs and load shedding take their toll.

Dept of Agriculture says it wants to provide financial support to farmers for backup electricity generation.

If South Africa wants to build on the good performance of its agri sector, it needs to find new markets.

Why do food prices in South Africa keep going up, and what can be done to ease the burden on consumers?

As the agricultural sector reels from loadshedding, an effort is underway to quantify its impact on food producers.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has raised global food prices, disrupted industries, and spurred a shift towards renewable energy.

South Africa’s sugar tax is postponed for two years due to the sugar industry’s difficult operating environment.

Plant-based food sees “massive growth” in South Africa, with some retailers doubling stock due to high demand.

The poultry industry in Brazil, the world’s largest poultry exporter, is on high alert as bird flu spreads through South America.

Statement: Farmers likely to be disappointed by lack of support in this week’s budget speech.

FairPlay has written to five South African government ministers explaining the urgent need to remove VAT from chicken.

Imports of chicken offal to South Africa are rising sharply.

The United States has announced anti-dumping duties against South African lemon juice.

South African manufacturers of steel and other carbon-intensive products may soon face a new difficulty for their exports to the European Union.

South Africa’s annual state of the nation address did not do enough to help the country’s poultry industry, which is in crisis due to rising feed costs, failing infrastructure, and daily power outages.

AgriSA has called for agriculture to be declared an essential service in South Africa, stating that the industry has lost R23 billion in nine months due to rapidly rising input costs and failing infrastructure.

SA’s food inflation rises as loadshedding drives prices higher, says BFAP.

The lack of compensation to poultry farmers for culling healthy birds during bird flu outbreaks in South Africa has led veterinarians to conduct urgent research into vaccines.

ITAC’s failure to renew anti-dumping duties on European Union potato chip imports has caused delays and uncertainty for South Africa’s potato industry.

The South African poultry industry is under severe pressure.

Statement: President Ramaphosa’s SONA address has failed South Africa’s poultry producers, and in particular small-scale farmers.

Cosatu and the Democratic Alliance (DA) have joined the ranks of those calling for the removal of VAT from chicken portions.

While calls mount for the removal of the 15% value added tax (VAT) from chicken, the Treasury says it has no plans to do so.

An IDC report says government should increase support for South Africa’s soyabean and maize producers.

South Africa’s R30-billion citrus industry and its 140 000 jobs are on the line in a dispute with the European Union.