Less than an hour's drive west of Botswana's capital, Gaborone, is the small farming community Ramaphatle, and it is here that Willy Kathurima and his wife Doreen have set up a thriving farming operation to produce strawberries, garlic and ginger. The motto of their business, Ramaphatle Greens, is 'smart horticulture farming', which underlines their ambition to produce high-quality crops both profitably and sustainably.
They started production in 2018 with tomatoes, green peppers and cucumbers destined for retailers in Gaborone. The Kathurimas very soon discovered, however, that the tomato and pepper markets were saturated, so they ventured into ginger, garlic and strawberries instead.
The shift to these commodities proved to be a remarkable stroke of luck: two years after the business opened, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, pushing demand for ginger and garlic to new heights as word spread that these crops had immune-boosting properties, and they became key ingredients in home concoctions and diets.
TRAINING AND SUPPORT
To understand how to produce these two crops, the couple enlisted the help of the Ginger, Garlic & Turmeric Farmers' Group, which they joined to receive technical training and support.
They started their garlic production with caution, planting only 1ha; the crop thrived, however, and appeared easy to grow. The returns were also encouraging, and in 2021 they expanded production to 2,5ha. They discovered while doing so that garlic seed was one of the most expensive inputs.
"In 2022, we decided to invest in garlic seed, and were able to cultivate a substantial amount of garlic for seed and to supply the local market," says Doreen.
Production of ginger began almost simultaneously on 0,25ha, and the entire crop was sold.
"We're currently multiplying ginger seed for our own planting, and we're also seeing high demand in the market," she adds.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Farmer's Weekly 17 March 2023 من Farmer's Weekly.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Farmer's Weekly 17 March 2023 من Farmer's Weekly.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
South African avocado production: a success story
Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry's humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the industry has blossomed to seven million trees planted on 20 000ha. Dr Guy Witney, project manager at Great Brak Avos, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the country's avocado production.
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that's better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully for almost 30 years, sometimes in partnership with other breeders. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the huge potential this market holds, and offers some advice for farmers who are contemplating going this route.
An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling
Bühler, a Swiss-based company that provides solutions and equipment for various industries, including food and animal feed processing, has pledged that by 2025, it will deliver scalable solutions that will reduce energy, waste and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers.
Tips for better olive production
At an SA Olive Association field day in November, industry experts shared ways to improve olive production efficiencies, from soil preparation to harvesting.
More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
On International Cheetah Day, commemorated every year on 4 December, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of the species.
