South African News
South Africa Weighs Risk to Pork Industry Amid US Trade Pressure over Citrus Exports
South Africa is under pressure from the United States to ease import protocols for American pork in exchange for continued duty-free citrus exports under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Local pork producers warn that relaxing regulations could expose the industry to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), a highly contagious and costly disease. Industry leaders emphasise that the current protocols are risk-mitigation measures, not trade barriers. With a looming July 9 deadline and the threat of US tariffs, South Africa must balance protecting its pork sector with preserving access to US markets for citrus.
Read full story: South Africa’s Freight News
Date Published: July 3, 2025
Daybreak Workers Block R50 Over Unpaid Wages and Provident Fund Delays
Over 100 Daybreak Foods employees staged a protest outside the company’s Delmas facility on 3 July, blocking the R50 road to demand unpaid salaries and access to their provident funds. Workers say they received only half their May wages and nothing for June, leaving many unable to afford basic needs. Despite R74 million in emergency funding from the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), frustrations persist as staff remain in limbo—neither paid nor formally retrenched, preventing access to UIF or fund payouts. The company’s Business Rescue Plan is expected by 22 August, but workers insist they need immediate relief.
Read full story: Farmer’s Weekly
Date Published: July 3, 2025
African News
Zimbabwe’s Digital Fair Plants the Future of Farming in Rural Communities
Zimbabwe’s Bikita District hosted a groundbreaking Digital Fair in late June as part of the FAO’s Fostering Digital Villages Initiative (FDiVi), showcasing smart farming tools to rural communities. Featuring AI crop diagnostics, drone services, mobile marketplaces, and digital wallets, the fair empowered over 3,000 farmers—particularly youth and women—with practical, tech-driven solutions. Digital Champions, including trained lead farmers and extension officers, are now cascading digital skills across wards. Despite infrastructure and affordability challenges, the initiative is transforming agriculture from manual labour into tech-enabled enterprise, positioning Zimbabwe’s rural regions as pioneers in climate-smart, market-linked farming.
Read full story: Africa.com
Date Published: July 3, 2025
Global News
Extreme Heat Threatens Southern Europe’s Farms Amid Soaring Temperatures
Southern Europe is grappling with severe heatwaves disrupting agriculture, with temperatures in parts of Spain and Portugal soaring above 46 °C and 21 Italian cities on red alert. France has halted fieldwork during peak heat to protect workers and reduce fire risks. Farmers across Spain, Italy, and southern France rely on intensive irrigation to prevent crop failure, particularly in the potato sector, where heat threatens yields. The European Commission warns that climate-related losses already cost EU farmers €28 billion annually, projected to rise to 10% of output by 2050. Health risks and infrastructure strain further underscore the crisis's urgency.
Read full story: Fresh Plaza
Date Published: July 3, 2025
Early Heatwave Grips Eastern China, Threatening Crops and Industry
An early and intense heatwave has struck eastern China, with temperatures in Anhui, Zhejiang, Hubei, and Henan provinces forecast to exceed 40 °C. The subtropical high-pressure system, arriving weeks ahead of the traditional ‘Sanfu Season’, is endangering agricultural production and industrial operations along the Yangtze River. Analysts warn of reduced crop yields, power disruptions, and pressure on healthcare systems, particularly as hydropower-reliant Sichuan faces drought. While current conditions are severe, experts say they are not yet surpassing the extremes recorded in 2023. Nonetheless, climate-linked heatwaves are becoming a growing policy and economic concern across China.
Read full story: CNA
Date Published: July 4, 2025
India Resists U.S. Agricultural Demands Ahead of Tariff Deal Deadline
U.S. and Indian trade negotiators are racing to finalise a tariff-cutting deal before President Donald Trump's 9 July deadline, but key disputes over American dairy, ethanol, and GM crops remain unresolved. The U.S. is pressuring India to open its markets to a wide range of agricultural goods, including dairy, corn, and soybeans. However, India's small-scale farmers and cultural food norms make such concessions politically and economically sensitive. The Indian government fears cheap imports will undercut local producers and threaten its ethanol programme, which supports domestic distilleries and reduces reliance on fuel imports.
Read full story: The Economic Times
Date Published: July 3, 2025
Mexico Revives Dairy Sector to Cut Milk Powder Imports
Mexico is pushing to achieve self-sufficiency in milk powder production by revitalising old dairy plants, increasing subsidies to farmers, and expanding its social milk programme. Through SADER, the government aims to reduce reliance on imports, particularly from the U.S., by reopening facilities like the Campeche plant and boosting daily fresh milk purchases in Jalisco and Chihuahua. The “Leche para el Bienestar” programme will now serve 7 million beneficiaries. Despite strong political support, industry experts warn of competition from cheaper U.S. imports. The plan seeks to redirect the 700 million pesos spent annually on imports into strengthening domestic production.
Read full story: Dairy News Today
Date Published: July 4, 2025
