Two new developments will add to an already uncertain agricultural sector in South Africa, namely the potential rise in oil prices and weak demand in most agricultural export regions.

Cyril Ramaphosa was entirely presidential when he stepped up to the podium on Thursday night and asked South Africans to “make an even greater sacrifice” and “endure” another two weeks of lockdown. He revealed that the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in SA had risen by 4.8% to 1,934 people by Thursday.

Relatively favorable conditions for isolated to scattered thundershowers will be present over the central parts of the country initially, remaining in place until the weekend.

At the ports of Durban and Cape Town, Transnet has announced it would relax staffing constraints, so it is expected that the pace of loading will pick up within the coming weeks. An additional vessel has been added to the berthing line-up at those two harbours.

Any assistance to farmers during the current lockdown should be welcomed.

The minister of agriculture, land reform and rural development, Thoko Didiza, today announced funding allocations to mitigate food security in the country through a R1.2 billion cash injection for small-scale farmers.