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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.