Standard Bank says steady interest rates have eased pressure on the agricultural sector [SOUND]

# Standard Bank says the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged has provided welcome relief for the agricultural sector. This is despite inflation ticking higher to five-percent last month. Standard Bank’s Brendan Jacobs has cautioned the agricultural sector continues to face significant external risks, particularly from ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. He says despite these challenges, there are encouraging developments on the food inflation front: