An Analysis of Alternative Maize Marketing Policies in South Africa

The maize-oriented agricultural economies throughout Southern Africa are in fundamental transition. Increased recognition of the costs of historical controls on pricing and marketing already has led to partial maize market liberalization in several countries in the region. However, there is still intense debate over the appropriate scope and implementation of future food market reform. Much of the debate derives from uncertainty over the consequences of comprehensive and politically risky changes to domestic markets, especially at a time when regional market conditions are also in flux due to agricultural restructuring in neighboring countries. There is currently little information on the direction and magnitude of grain trade between South Africa, Zimbabwe, and other countries in the region under a deregulated external trading environment. There is also a lack of information on the regional consequences of alternative domestic maize policy scenarios currently under deliberation in South Africa. The purpose of this research is fourfold. First, we consider the role of food market reform in affecting future economic growth and food security in South Africa, and discuss the congruence between the government's food policy objectives and the existing marketing and pricing system. Second, trends in maize production, trade, prices and marketing costs in South Africa and Zimbabwe, the two largest maize traders in the region, are presented. Third, we present four alternative maize policy scenarios in South Africa, and then estimate their effects on maize production, gross revenues, consumer prices, and trade flows under various weather and pricing scenarios in Zimbabwe. A comparison of results across four policy scenarios clarifies the gainers, losers, and extent of income transfers between various regions and socio-economic groups within each region. The final section identifies means by which national food policy objectives in South Africa may be more cost-effectively achieved through harmonization of policies between South Africa and its regional neighbors.food security, food policy, maize market, Crop Production/Industries, Marketing, Q13,

Sustainability And Integrated Reporting In The South African Corporate Sector

This article aims to determine if the adoption of Integrated Reporting by large private sector companies in South Africa has led to an improvement in the quality of sustainability-related information disclosed.  This was done in two stages.  The first stage comprised a literature review with the aim to develop an evaluation matrix that can be used to access the quality of the sustainability-related information being disclosed within Integrated Reports.  During the second stage, empirical evidence was obtained by assessing the sustainability reporting disclosures made by the best performers according to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Sustainability Index.  The Integrated Reporting process is still in the development phase with many companies only now developing methodologies to measure their various impacts.  The study found that, although many companies are attempting or claiming to be creating Integrated Reports, the level of integration is still very low.  Few companies have incorporated or understood the importance of environmental and social sustainability in achieving long-term success.  It is hoped that this research will provide an evaluation matrix to assess the information disclosed within Integrated Reports as well as provide insights into the implementation challenges experienced by the early adopters in South Africa

Sustainability And Integrated Reporting In The South African Corporate Sector

This article aims to determine if the adoption of Integrated Reporting by large private sector companies in South Africa has led to an improvement in the quality of sustainability-related information disclosed. This was done in two stages. The first stage comprised a literature review with the aim to develop an evaluation matrix that can be used to access the quality of the sustainability-related information being disclosed within Integrated Reports. During the second stage, empirical evidence was obtained by assessing the sustainability reporting disclosures made by the best performers according to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Sustainability Index. The Integrated Reporting process is still in the development phase with many companies only now developing methodologies to measure their various impacts. The study found that, although many companies are attempting or claiming to be creating Integrated Reports, the level of integration is still very low. Few companies have incorporated or understood the importance of environmental and social sustainability in achieving long-term success. It is hoped that this research will provide an evaluation matrix to assess the information disclosed within Integrated Reports as well as provide insights into the implementation challenges experienced by the early adopters in South Africa

Advocating for the inclusion of operatic collaborative piano curricula in higher education: Informing curricula through lived experience

The purpose of this article was to examine how the lived experiences of five professional collaborative pianists during the 35th International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition, that was held in Cape Town in 2016, could inform the inclusion of new curricula for specialised operatic collaborative piano modules in tertiary institutions. Based on the literature reviewed and themes that emerged from the data, a curriculum could include the following aspects: a knowledge of the rules of lyric diction in foreign languages; excellent sight-reading skills; knowledge of the art of orchestral reduction and repertoire; the ability to transcribe and reduce full opera scores. One personal skill that is not often developed and should also be included is the ability of a pianist to evince empathy when working with singers

The importance of including toxicity assays when screening plant extracts for antimalarial activity

Identifying plant extracts as sources of antimalarial compounds needs to be addressed as numerous studies screen extracts without the means of eliminating extracts that are merely cytotoxic. Fifty-nine organic solvent extracts from South African plants were screened for antiplasmodial activity using the [3H]-hypoxanthine incorporation assay against the chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. Variable antiplasmodial activity and toxicity was observed. Extracts form Combretum erythrophyllumand Crinum bulbispermum, had IC50 values 1 mg/ml with the ethyl acetate extracts of C. bulbispermum roots and bulbs having values comparable to chloroquine (0.04 mg/ml). Nine extracts hadtoxicity indexes 100. Lycorine, isolated from C. bulbispermum was as active as chloroquine (IC50 of 0.03 mg/ml) and had a favourable security index

The role of social support in the persistence of first-year first-generation African students in a higher education institution in South Africa

Although there are several studies on first-year, first-generation students internationally, their focus have predominantly been on reasons for dropping out, transition issues and the students’ pre-entry attributes. However, few studies have focused on the first-year, first-generation African students (FYFGAS) in the African context. This article employed a qualitative inquiry to explore the role of social support in school retention among FYFGAS within the South African context. Twenty-three students in all participated in the individual interviews (n = 5) and in the focus group (n = 18) discussion. The interviews were based on questions where the research sought to understand the determinants and contributors to the students’ persistence and success in their first year of study. Themes that emerged from the data analysis indicated the important role of the family, the community at home and at university and of peers in supporting and encouraging the FYFGAS in pursuing their studies throughout their first year. Findings of this study indicated the importance of social support towards the persistence and success for FYFGAS in their first year of study at university

An Agronomic Evaluation of Grazing Maize Combined with Companion Crops for Sheep in Northwestern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Northwestern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), in South Africa, is well known for its sheep production from natural rangeland in summer (October to May). During winter however, the nutritional value of the rangeland cannot maintain young growing sheep or pregnant and lactating ewes. With this in mind Lyle (1991) suggested the use of planted pastures for the winter. Crichton, Gertenbach & Henning (1998) and Esterhuizen & Niemand (1989) suggested maize crop residues for both cattle and sheep during winter, whereas Moore (1997) evaluated grazing maize (not harvested) for this purpose. He found that the protein content of the crop was inadequate and for this reason, protein rich companion crops were evaluated in this study

Xiphinema index and its Relationship to Grapevines: A review

The dagger nematode, Xiphinema index, is considered a major pest in grape growing countries. Xiphinemaindex is especially important because of its ability to transmit Grapevine fanleaf virus when feeding ongrapevine roots. This paper provides a comprehensive and updated review of the classification, genetics andbiology of Xiphinema index, and its relationship with grapevine fanleaf virus. Current control measures, aswell as past and present efforts to breed resistant grapevine rootstocks, are presented

Post traumatic stress disorder: undiagnosed cases in a tertiary inpatient setting

Objective: Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common, debilitating anxiety disorder characterized by emotional and physical symptoms that may occur after exposure to a severely traumatic event. Since it occurs commonly as a comorbid diagnosis with other mood- and anxiety disorders, we postulated that this disorder may be under- diagnosed in therapeutic wards where anxiety and mood disorders are treated. The study thus sought to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed PTSD in an inpatient population, and to compare the demographic details and comorbid diagnoses of subjects with and without PTSD. Method: The Clinician-administered PTSD Scale for DSM-IV (CAPS) was administered to 40 subjects who were inpatients in a therapeutic ward of a large psychiatric hospital and who had never had a diagnosis of PTSD before. Results:16 (40%) subjects met the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD. We did not find significant clinical differentiating factors between subjects with and without PTSD; however subjects with PTSD were more likely to use cannabis. Conclusions: PTSD remains undiagnosed in many patients admitted to therapeutic units. Keywords: Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Diagnosis; Inpatients;African Journal of Psychiatry Vol. 11 (2) 2008 pp. 119-12

An Evaluation of Grazing Value of Maize and Companion Crops for Wintering Lactating Ewes

Northwestern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), in South Africa, is well known for its sheep production from natural rangeland in summer (October to May). During winter, however, the nutritional value of the rangeland cannot maintain young growing sheep or pregnant and lactating ewes. With this in mind, Lyle (1991) suggested the use of planted pastures for the winter. Crichton et al. (1998) and Esterhuizen & Niemand (1989) suggested the use of maize crop residues for both cattle and sheep during winter, whereas Moore (1997) evaluated grazing (not harvested) maize for this purpose. He found that the crude protein content of the crop was inadequate and for this protein-rich companion crops were evaluated in this study