CATEGORIES

Traceability is key to a sustainable agriculture

Justin Platt, founder and managing director of agricultural technical services companies Zylem and RegenZ, explains how South African agriculture stands to benefit by implementing traceability systems

What Nampo Harvest Day means to the farmers

Magda du Toit, Glenneis Kriel and Lindi Botha find out from several farmers what Nampo Harvest Day means to them

Legend sticks of a beast that sucks goats' blood

There is no real evidence of El Chupacabra, and most sightings have been debunked and attributed to other animals. However, the myth continues to intrigue people across the world

Diesel vs petrol. Which one is right for you?

Which car you should invest in is a difficult choice, as there are so many options on the market. First to consider, however, says Janine Ryan, is whether you should invest in petrol or diesel

Nongqawuse's disastrous false prophecy

A grave in the Alexandria district of the Eastern Cape is believed to belong to an infamous prophetess who in the mid-1850s convinced many Xhosa to sacrifice their cattle and crops

The ideal accommodation for visiting Cape Town's hip Kloof Street

The Mother City’s Kloof Street has become famous for its casual eating and ultra-cool atmosphere. Brian Berkman recommends the nearby Hippo Boutique Hotel if you want to explore this neighbourhood

A successful cabbage crop starts with good seedlings

Growing your own seedlings requires experience. Mistakes are inevitable and you’ll need to adjust your system accordingly

Solving the kiwi puzzle for optimal production

A sunrise industry in South Africa with potential to expand markets locally and abroad, kiwifruit offers good returns on a small piece of land. Malcolm Deacon, owner of Gold Tree Farms, cautions, however, that knowledge gaps abound, and until the industry matures, farmers will have to troubleshoot their way through production

Empowering communities to cope with climate change

Local communities need to be part of the process of better understanding climate change adaptation. Moreover, supporting small green economies could assist in job creation for the community. An enviromental project in Eldorado Park is seeking to do just this

How citizens can combat invasive seaweed

Sien van der Plank, of the University of Southampton, Kwasi Addo Appeaning and Winnie NA Sowah, lecturers at the University of Ghana, and Philip-Neri Jayson-Quashigah, also of the University of Ghana, write about the battle against golden seaweed

New era for Orange River raisin producers

The Vine Academy and Model Farm were officially launched in May 2022 to improve the sustainability of raisin farmers. Ferdie Botha, CEO of Raisins SA, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about this development

Old-fashioned shepherding: a solution to livestock predation?

Heidi Hawkins, research fellow, honorary research associate at the University of Cape Town, writes about how shepherding could help farmers stave off predator attacks on their livestock

Opportunities await SA producers abroad

While rabbit production is relatively small in South Africa, there is great untapped export potential, should the industry meet its challenges head-on

De fabulous De Zalze

Brian Berkman visits the superbly upgraded De Zalze Lodge in Stellenbosch and wishes he could move in.

SA agri exporters should keep a close eye on the rest of Africa

Although I continue to argue that South Africa should expand its agricultural export markets to new frontiers such as India, China, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and South Korea, this growth drive should not be at the expense of existing markets.

Strategic use of growth regulator overcomes litchi budding problems

Producers need to consider that ethephon applications may be exacerbating problems with erratic flowering, according to Dr Regina Cronjé of Stellenbosch University

Stable political environment needed to end poverty in Africa

On a recent visit to South Africa, agricultural economist Dr Uma Lele of the Institute of Economic Growth at the University of Delhi outlined the reasons for Africa's poor agricultural productivity.

The importance of quality control in cannabis cultivation

The legalisation of cannabis has resulted in a thriving industry, with many people rushing to grow and market cannabis. This makes quality control all the more crucial,

Bad ratios mean difficult times for farmers

Farmers' profitability is in decline, mainly because of external factors, but there are a few strategies that producers can use to limit the effect of the weakening terms of trade,

The father and son who established and agriculture in SA winemaking

Simon van der Stel, and his son, Willem Adriaan, both left their mark on agriculture and administration in the fledgling Dutch colony at the Cape of Good Hope,

Securing the world's food production for the future

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault's purpose is to ensure that humankind can continue producing a diversity of food crops, even in the case of a 'Doomsday Event'.

The hazards faced by farmers in the Eastern Cape

In his research dissertation for a postgraduate degree, Ross Goodwin of Stellenbosch University explores the risks pertaining to stock farmers in the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape.

Using nematodes for biological control of crop pests

Mankaba Matshidiso Whitney Matli, an agricultural economist part of the Agricultural Research Council Professional Development Programme, discusses the importance of biological control to decrease the damage caused by various crop pests without harming the environment.

Land reform: what still needs to be done?

The lack of accurate data about who owns what land is seriously hampering the land reform process in South Africa, says Peter Setou of the non-profit Vumelana Advisory Fund.

Nigeria's bird flu burden

The Conversation Africa asked Clement Meseko, an animal influenza expert and a virologist at the National Veterinary Research Institute in Jos, Nigeria, to explain the re-occurrences of avian influenza in that country.

Is financial literacy your weakest link? Rectify that right now!

You might be able to stumble through your private life without financial literacy. But if you're a business manager, it's a must-have competency. So, if this is a gap in your skill set, fill it soon

Macadamias: optimise inputs to beat low prices

South Africa's relatively young macadamia industry has a long way to go to establish optimal farming practices and efficiencies. However, with nut prices falling, producers need to focus on cost savings that will balance inputs with output. Lindi Botha reports on key areas that macadamia farmers should be paying attention to.

Diets, political turmoil, and page-turners

This week, Patricia McCracken looks at the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Chris Hani's murder; making good health a habit; a tense whodunit in Botswana; and a tale of two women amidst the turmoil of war.

Avoid confusion with this quick guide to pig diseases

In order to ensure proper treatment for and management of pig diseases, farmers must know the differences between African swine fever, classical swine fever and swine flu

Many opportunities await SA's pork industry

Johann Kotzé, CEO of the South African Pork Producers' Organisation, speaks to Janine Ryan about the importance of the informal pig sector in South Africa, as well as the high calibre of the country's formal producers.