|
|
|
|
Market Research
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
StatsSA explained the sources, methods and results of calculating, and the application of the new Consumer Price Index (CPI) at NEDLAC. CPI, which is a measure of average price changes for consumer goods and services, is the measure for inflation in the economy and provides an indication on the cost of living. It is very important in macro-economic analysis and the monetary policy debate, as well as in wage negotiations and for adjustments to pensions, grants, and also various business contracts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarterly Food Price Monitor
| 2010 |
| August |
Quarterly Food Price Monitor |
759 KB |
| May |
Quarterly Food Price Monitor |
867.81 KB |
| February |
Quarterly Food Price Monitor |
1.28 MB |
| 2009 |
| November |
Quarterly Food Price Monitor |
193.96 KB |
| August |
Quarterly Food Price Monitor |
1.26 MB |
| May |
Quarterly Food Price Monitor |
983.02 KB |
| February |
Quarterly Food Price Monitor |
1.41 MB |
| 2008 |
| November |
Quarterly Food Price Monitor |
855.16 KB
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| July |
Cost of Grape Production and Producer Profitability |
511.44 KB |
| July |
Electricity Costs on a Typical Irregation Farm |
327.12 KB |
| April |
Update: Trends in Transport Cost and Fuel Price |
394.74 KB |
| Maart |
Update: Trends in Selected Agricultural Input Prices |
528.16 KB |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The National Agricultural Directory contains 672, A4 pages of information printed in full colour covering the A - Z of Agriculture in South Africa.
Download the National Agricultural Directory / Nasionale Landbougids free of charge on Google Books
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Input cost trends - Thursday, April 15, 2010The NAMC published a report which contains information on the input cost trends for selected fertilisers, trends for the Baltic Freight Index, fuel prices and the cost for electricity and gas. read more ...
|
|
| Trends in selected input prices - Friday, December 04, 2009The NAMC released a document on the most recent trend in various selected input prices. Input prices are considered one of the most constraining factors for many industry’s competitiveness. Being informed on the trend will allow agribusinesses to manage their costs better. read more ...
|
|
| The Story of Potatoes reports - March 2009 - Wednesday, March 25, 2009The Story of Potatoes reports on broad trends in input costs for table potatoes with detailed graphs and findings. The contribution of different variable input costs to total production cost of table potatoes and trends in individual input cost items are also covered in this issue, published in March 2009.
read more ...
|
|
| Story of Fruit - October 2008 - Wednesday, November 26, 2008NAMC published a detailed report in October 2008 on broad trends in input costs for fruit, especially the deciduous fruit industry. This report, the Story of Fruit, investigates broad trends in input cost movements for the fruit industry, the contribution of different variable input costs to the total variable input cost of deciduous fruit and trends in individual input cost items. read more ...
|
|
| Story of Maize & Wheat - July 2008 - Wednesday, July 30, 2008The NAMC’s published a report in July 2008 namely the Story of Wheat and Maize which contains information on broad trends in input costs for grains. Although these trends relate specifically to the maize and wheat industry, it is also applicable to other grains. Issues that are covered in this report are broad trends in input cost movements for the grain industry, the contribution of different variable input costs to total variable input cost of maize and wheat and trends in individual input cost items. read more ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SA lost 59 000 jobs in the second quarter of 2010. Over the past year, Primary Agriculture lost almost 100 000 jobs and Manufacturing, which includes the agri-industrial sector, lost 217 000 jobs. The section of the population choosing not to work grew by 25% over the past decade.
SA is losing jobs!
Jobless growth is being recorded!
Agribusinesses are losing market share in the world, because the country exports its primary products and imports its value added/processed products. The lack of employment opportunities in the industry can directly be linked to the deficient local value adding. There is a very urgent need to focus on support structures and stimulation of the local agri-industrial sector, by both government and private sector, to enable business growth, which will allow stability, income generation and therefore employment. Basic education and technical and professional skills development, together with enabling labour policies and business growth, are the foundations of improving employment.
Media Release
29 July 2010
Job losses in SA! What’s Agribusinesses’ take on these depressing figures?
By: Lindie Stroebel, Economic Intelligence Manager, Agricultural Business Chamber (ABC)
Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey indicated that South Africa’s labour force decreased by 59 000 in the second quarter of 2010. The formal sector lost 129 000 jobs and the informal sector gained 115 000 jobs.
Over the past ten years, the recorded population growth in South Africa was almost 13%. The labour force, however, grew only by 4,3%, which shows that population growth has completely outstripped the rate of employment. According to the United Association of South Africa (UASA) it seems that a big cultural change has taken place in South Africa with a growing number of people choosing not to work; the “not-active” part of the population increased by nearly 25% over the past decade. It is argued by well known economist, Mike Schussler, that a disincentive to work has been created by the social grants system. This situation is not at all sustainable, because 12,8 million people work, while 13,8 million people receive welfare payments.
Agriculture, with Stats SA refering only to the primary agricultural sector, lost 32 000 jobs in the second quarter of 2010. Almost 100 000 jobs in primary agriculture have already been lost over the past year; to bring the total employment down to 618 000. This is a 13% loss for primary agriculture’s employment, compared to the total economy’s loss of 5%. The recession is clearly only now starting to take its toll on primary agriculture’s employment figures. The lower commodity prices also place much pressure on farmers; the cost-price squeeze experienced, together with the less favourable and often costly labour regulations, contribute to lower employment on farms.
The employment figure for the agri-industrial sector are largely reflected under the statistics for manufacturing. An UASA report indicated a decrease of almost 11% in employment in manufacturing since 2006. Stats SA’s report also indicated that the manufacturing sector lost the most jobs, relative to other sectors, with 53 000 jobs lost in the second quarter of 2010, and a total of 217 000 jobs lost over the past year.
It is as presumed that business/industry growth stimulates employment opportunities. When considering the trade balance for primary and processed agricultural products, the evidence shows that jobs are being lost, because processed products are being imported, instead of being produced and manufactured locally. Stimulation of agribusiness growth, through local value adding and manufacturing of agricultural products, would have allowed for employment figures which are inverted from what was recently released from UASA and Stats SA. South Africa has always been a net exporter of primary agricultural products, but we have become a net importer of processed products since 2006. The lack of employment opportunities in the industry can directly be linked to the deficient local value adding and manufacturing.
One of the sub-indices measured by the Agricultural Business Chamber and the Industrial Development Corporation to construct the ABC/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index, represents the perception of agribusiness executives regarding employment. Agribusinesses across the country, serving a wide range of industries within the sector, were considerably more positive about employment when compared to last year. However, the sub-index has been mostly negative (below 50) over the past ten years, which indicates the perception that generally the environment for employment is not favourable.
There is a very urgent need to focus on support structures and stimulation of the local agri-industrial sector, by both government and private sector, to enable business growth, which will allow stability, income generation and therefore employment. A major reason for the poor employment outlook is the country’s rigid labour policy, which does not allow ease of employment and lay-off of workers, and results in high labour administrative costs. The skills factor is another major concern. The ABC’s 2010 Agribusiness Executive Survey specifically highlighted that the lack of requisite skills and professional workers inhibit the sector’s competitiveness immensely. Basic education and technical and professional skills development, together with enabling labour policies and business growth, are the foundations of improving employment in the agribusiness sector and the economy as a whole.
Click here to download the media release with tables and graphs.
The following documents are supplementary to the media release:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The World Bank released its latest outlook report on the world economy on 21st January 2010. IFAP was invited to the presentation made in Paris by Mr. Andrew Burns, lead author of the report. The report, titled the "Global Eocnomic Prospects 2010" place emphasis on the Slow recovery from world recession, the Human face of the global crisis and a brief Sectorial outlook for agriculture.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|