Organizations across various industries are addressing consumer and investor concerns regarding sustainability and emission standards. In the financial services sector, regulators are encouraging institutions to evaluate climate-related financial risks. Credit unions are not immune to this trend. More and more,…
30 January 2025 – South Africa saw 1,551 business shut their doors through liquidation processes in 2024—the lowest number of closures over the past seven years. Stats SA recorded its final liquidation figures for the year, counting 90 liquidations in…
Defining Commodities We can classify most financial instruments and securities as being part of a general class of intangible financial assets. Financial assets for the most part, are created on exchanges, in the boardrooms, at corporations or in the dealing…
Water is the lifeblood of agriculture, essential for crop growth, productivity and farm sustainability. In many regions, up to 70% of freshwater is directed towards irrigation. However, with increasing demands and environmental challenges, efficient water management is more crucial than ever. For…
In the vast agricultural landscapes of sub-Saharan Africa, smallholder farmers form the backbone of food production. Yet, they face a multitude of challenges exacerbated by climate change, including unpredictable weather patterns, soil degradation, and dwindling yields, leading to poorer yields…
In the pursuit of sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the modernisation of agriculture, South Africa faces significant challenges in promoting the adoption of digital technologies among small-scale farmers. The state, economic, political, and social factors all affect the adoption of digital…
If you have a passion for agriculture, a love for the land and a desire to cultivate crops or raise livestock, starting a farming business can be a fulfilling and rewarding venture. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the…
The report summarizes modern concepts to assess risk across agricultural lending portfolios, challenging the long-respected ‘Five C’s of Lending’ and revealing principles that every agricultural lender should know. Agri Buro, a South African agricultural company leading the industry in commercially…
Let us start with agriculture’s direct contribution to South Africa’s GDP, which currently stands at a little over 2% as per the most recent analysis. This figure, while seemingly modest, is sometimes strategically employed for political reasons, often to diminish…