As lockdown regulations are further relaxed and South Africa prepares to fully reopen its economy, it is important to pause and reflect on the lessons learned from the Covid-19 crisis. This is especially applicable within the agricultural value chain.
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South African wine producers, like their global counterparts, are left reeling from the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the industry. An initial ban, imposed when lockdown began at the end of March, lasted for nine weeks – and for five of those weeks, wine exports were also banned. On 12 July, amid soaring rates of Covid-19 infections, President Cyril Ramaphosa re-imposed the ban on the sale, dispensing and distribution of alcohol.
It is estimated that the recommencement of the ban on alcohol sales would affect up to one million people working within this industry value chain. This includes the likes of producers, manufactures, wholesalers and retailers of beer, wine, spirits and flavoured alcoholic beverages.
The twelfth session of the Agricultural Value Chain | Discussion series continues to explore the value chain and its different components. This time, the series takes a closer look at the Tobacco industry, with considered commentary on the recent ban on the sale of tobacco products in light of the covid-19 pandemic.