South African News
Upbeat Agbiz/IDC Index Signals Optimism in South Africa’s Farming Sector
The Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) for Q2 2025, published in mid-June, dropped slightly from its Q1 peak but remains well above the neutral 50 mark at 65. This suggests sustained optimism among South African farmers and agribusinesses, driven by favourable production conditions for crops, vineyards, fruits and vegetables, alongside improved export logistics thanks to better port operations. Persistent concerns include global trade uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and animal disease outbreaks—particularly foot-and-mouth disease. While growth expectations are positive, sectoral recovery is uneven. Continued market diversification and strengthened biosecurity measures, supported by public–private collaboration, are vital long‑term priorities.
Read full story: Mail and Guardian
Date Published: June 19, 2025
Farmers Risk Losing Insurance Claims Over Unreported Business Changes
South African farmers are being urged to disclose operational changes to their insurers after Western National Insurance cautioned that even minor undisclosed adjustments—such as leasing land, installing solar panels, or hardwiring cold-storage facilities—can invalidate policies and result in denied claims. The National Livestock Farmers’ Association (NaLFA-SA) highlights how this poses serious economic risks: failed claims could force farm layoffs, weaken food security, and threaten livelihoods, especially as 60% of livestock is farmed by black producers. NaLFA-SA advises its 10,000 members to update insurers quarterly, using tools like livestock nose-print tracking, to ensure full transparency and protection.
Read full story: IOL
Date Published: June 19, 2025
African News
Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Boom Emerges as Premier Agribusiness Investment
Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry is now thriving, with flue-cured Virginia (FCV) output reaching 285 million kg by mid‑2025—94 percent of the 300 million kg target—and fetching approximately US$958 million in sales. The number of growers surged from 113,000 to 126,000 since 2023, partly due to government-driven regional expansion. Export markets are diversifying beyond China—its top purchaser at 38.8 percent—to include the Middle East and Asia, with prices rising by 8 percent year-on-year. The country aims to increase local processing from 10 percent to 30 percent by 2025, supported by favourable currency retention policies and the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan targeting resilience, tech adoption and better farmer economics.
Read full story: AInvest
Date Published: June 19, 2025
Global News
Smart Fish-Feeder Robot Ushers in a Greener Future for Malaysian Aquaculture
An AI-powered, automated fish feeder installed in Malaysian tilapia ponds is revolutionising small-scale aquaculture by cutting manual feeding time by around 70% and reducing feed waste by 20%. Developed by Universiti Putra Malaysia and SEARCA’s GRAINS initiative, the device uses computer vision to estimate biomass and IoT sensors to monitor water quality, delivering feed precisely as needed. It's low-cost and built with locally sourced materials—including repurposed bottles and 3D-printed components. Farmers report improved efficiency, growth rates and earnings. Future enhancements aim to incorporate disease detection and automated water control, transforming it into a holistic farm-management tool.
Read full story: Focus Malaysia
Date Published: June 19, 2025
U.S. Tariffs Prompt Surge in Peru’s Blueberry Exports to China
Facing fresh U.S. tariffs imposed on all Peruvian exports, blueberry producers in Peru are strategically redirecting shipments to China. Peru, the leading blueberry supplier to the U.S. since 2019, now benefits from the newly opened Chinese-controlled Chancay Port, which slashes Pacific transit times to Asia by around half—down to roughly 20 days—enhancing access to eastern markets. Valle y Pampa, a major grower, reports tenfold production growth since 2012 and is expanding its first large-scale exports to China this year. Export earnings were approximately US $2.3 billion in 2024, and seasonal output is projected to rise 25% to 400,000 tonnes.
Read full story: Produce Report
Date Published: June 19, 2025
Heatwave Intensifies Pressure on Farmers Amid Rising Extreme Weather
A fierce heatwave sweeping the UK is placing considerable strain on farmers, compounding existing challenges from increasingly erratic weather patterns. Crops are wilting under prolonged high temperatures, irrigation demands are spiking, and livestock face heat stress, threatening both yields and animal welfare. Farmers are being forced to invest more in water resources and protective measures to safeguard their produce and animals. Industry advocates warn that without improved support systems, including infrastructure upgrades and financial aid, farmers may struggle to adapt to the growing frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events.
Read full story: Sidmouth Herald https://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/national/25251779.heatwave-latest-hit-farmers-struggling-increasingly-extreme-weather/
Date Published: June 2025
China’s 26‑Storey Pig Skyscraper Still Turning Heads
Opened in late 2022 in Ezhou, Hubei Province, China’s 26‑storey “pig skyscraper” continues to impress with its capacity to raise and slaughter up to 1.2 million pigs annually. Operated by Yangxiang, which produces 2.5 million pigs per year, the facility uses gravity‑fed silos and elevators to efficiently distribute feed and manage livestock. A high‑tech control centre monitors animal health, feed intake and waste output—approximately 25% of which becomes methane to power the building. Recycled factory heat provides warm baths to promote growth. Employing around 800 staff, each oversees roughly 1,500 pigs. While controversial over welfare concerns, it exemplifies large‑scale solutions to China’s pork demand.
Read full story: Top South Farming
Date Published: June 20, 2025
