Industrial hemp stalled behind South African regulation while Lesotho and Zimbabwe licensed cannabis faster — and where the realistic markets actually are.
Section
Farming
From Lint to Levi’s: The Textile-Industrialisation Dream
South Africa’s textile decline weakened cotton demand while Lesotho and Ethiopia rode AGOA garment booms — and how durable those preference-built booms are.
The Ginning Gap: Where Cotton Value Leaks Away
South Africa’s thin cotton ginning-to-textile link shows raw cotton exported is a textile industry exported — why Ethiopia’s integrated model leads the field.
Cotton’s Collapse: A Cautionary Tale of Global Subsidies
South Africa’s tiny cotton sector — GVP around R242m in 2011/12 — was flattened by subsidy-driven world prices the Cotton Four fought at the WTO.
The Wool Auction: Price Discovery as a Competitive Edge
South Africa’s transparent wool auction turns fleece quality into verified price — the price-discovery institution Lesotho is fighting to build at home.
Biosecurity Breaches Trigger FMD Crisis and Abattoir Shutdown
The April 2026 FMD outbreak at the Ramatlabama AI centre likely came from contaminated clothing or equipment; BMC abattoirs shut after slaughtering 12,291 cattle for the EU market.
Wool’s Global Reach: From the Karoo to Milan
South African merino wool reaches Milan through a testing, classing and auction system — the regional template, with Australia the global benchmark.
Compliance Is Key: EU Beef Market Hinges on FMD Control
Acting agriculture minister Dr Edwin Dikoloti told farmers that strict foot-and-mouth compliance could restore green status in 3 to 6 months, protecting the EU premium beef market.
Small Butcheries Caught in the Foot-and-Mouth Crossfire
Kgalagadi butchery owners warn that prolonged foot-and-mouth slaughter bans could ruin their businesses, and are calling for swift resolution.