AGRICULTURAL NEWS - Countries in Africa were still South Africa’s largest trade partner, and local agribusinesses needed to take note of megatrends affecting these African markets.
According to Prof Ferdi Meyer, director at the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), the imports of higher value products into Africa were increasing, with particular demand for processed products such as dairy and cereals.
Meyer was speaking at the Farmer’s Weekly Agribusiness Africa Conference, which was being held at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg.
Many African countries were also showing growth in their agricultural sectors. Zambia, for example, had a net deficit in maize production 10 years ago, and was now a maize exporter with a surplus of grains.
It had also added 800 000ha to its maize production, Meyer said.
Meyer explained that those countries that had showed growth, often demonstrated a good uptake of technology.
