CATEGORIES

Wider spacing, more pumpkins!

Avoid overcrowding your pumpkins on the land, says Bill Kerr. The further apart the plants are, the more space the runners will have, and the more fruit the plants are likely to produce.

Cassava: a largely ignored crop with huge potential in South Africa

Light Ngobeni and Zinhle Nkosi, agricultural economists and master's students at the University of Pretoria and the University of Limpopo respectively, write about the importance of cassava production for farmers and consumers in South Africa, and how to develop the value chain.

Identifying ticks in livestock: Part 1

Prof Maxime Madder, Prof Ivan Horak and Dr Hein Stoltsz look at three important tick species in South Africa and their effects on livestock, and offer tips for farmers on how they can identify these pests.

From civil engineers to chilli entrepreneurs

Mmule Matlala and her husband, Blessing, two 37-year-old civil engineers, left steady and well-paid Transnet jobs to start a food-production and agro-processing company. Susan Marais reports on their growth.

Smallholders to regenerate can help farming

Small-scale farmers can play an important role in developing sustainable food systems that ensure both food security and the health of the planet. Marinda Louw Coetzee reports on how these producers can and should implement regenerative agricultural practices on their farms.

The ins and outs of water-use regulations and legislation: Part 2

In this article, the second in a four-part series, Integrated Water Use License Application Management explores the type of water use in South Africa that requires a licence or government authorisation.

Green spaces in African cities can reduce heat, produce healthy food

Olumuyiwa Adegun, a senior lecturer in the Department of Architecture at the Federal University of Technology Akure in Nigeria, writes about how vertical farming can help vulnerable urban settlements.

Yes, SA has challenges, but we can fix them!

Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, does not believe that South Africa is collapsing, despite its current political, economic and infrastructural problems. One reason for hope, he argues, lies in the compassion and patience of South Africans. He has seen it first-hand for 30 years.

Animal Health - Diarrhoea in sheep and goats

Many diseases cause diarrhoea, leading to dehydration and death. These include colibacillosis, paratyphoid, Johne’s disease, Rift Valley fever, and coccidiosis, all of which can lead to mortalities.

‘Policymakers must act to save SA’s rivers’

South African rivers will become “fairly useless” over the next decade due to pollution if the scientific community cannot convince policymakers and water users to handle waste water responsibly.

Smuggler caught with rhino horn worth R14 million

A passenger en route from South Africa to Laos in Southeast Asia, who has yet to be identified, has been arrested after 34kg of rhino horn worth more than R14 million was seized by the Singapore National Parks Board at that country’s Changi Airport.

Stellenbosch wineries shine on international stage

Stellenbosch wineries Kanonkop Wine Estate and Jordan Wines have been crowned the Red and White Wine Producers of the Year respectively at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) awards ceremony held recently in London in the UK.

EU maize harvest expected to reach record low level this season

Widespread drought damage is being reported in the maize currently being harvested in the EU, with analysts fearing this will result in the feed grain crop reaching a 15-year low.

‘Namibia’s agri sector can help fight poverty’

The full potential of Namibia’s agriculture sector needs to be unlocked in order to address poverty and unemployment.

Putting the new Ford Everest to the test

Kyle Kock gets to grips with Ford’s turbocharged 154kW Everest Sport in the hills of Mpumalanga, and likes what he finds.

Using horses to manage large herds of cattle

With fuel costs being so high, using horses to manage extensive beef cattle herds makes increasing financial sense, says Dr Mac.

The pros and cons of tunnel tomatoes

Growing tomatoes in tunnels is not as easy or affordable as some people think. Do your research before committing yourself, cautions Bill Kerr.

Avocado farmers prove the value of ridging

Limpopo farmers Kosie and Manie Eloff, faced with the need to re-establish their avocado orchards, decided to conduct a multiyear experiment comparing the yields of trees planted on ridged and level soil surfaces. They discussed their methods and results with Lindi Botha.

Beef Shorthorn: a breed made for crossbreeding!

The Beef Shorthorn has a long and successful history in South Africa. Stud owners Hendrik, Henco and Johann Strydom spoke to Annelie Coleman about this adaptable animal that shines at crossbreeding.

Cocoa eclipses coffee in Côte d'Ivoire

Despite being a major producer of coffee in the early 2000s, Côte d’Ivoire’s coffee production has declined significantly. However, cocoa production is still massively on the rise, cementing the country’s place as the world’s top producer.

The true cost of agricultural crime in SA

The South African agriculture sector is heavily burdened with crime. Using the Free State as a case study, Annelie Coleman spoke to industry stakeholders about the true cost of crime to the local farming community, and the threat it poses to the longterm sustainability of food production in the country.

How agri insurance can help protect your business

With more diversification comes more risk, says Andries Wiese, national business development manager and head of agri insurance at Hollard. Producers need to work on a risk management strategy tailored to their business’s specific needs to protect them against loss and financial liability. He spoke to Susan Marais about how to approach this task, and where to get the right sort of advice.

The challenges facing the adoption of green hydrogen

Dr Rod Crompton, visiting adjunct professor in the African Energy Leadership Centre at Wits Business School, and Dr Bruce Douglas Young, senior lecturer at the centre, explain green hydrogen’s potential benefits, and the challenges that need to be overcome before it can be used on a wide scale.

Fine-tuning blueberry nutrition for optimal yield and quality

Blueberries are a challenging crop to cultivate, as the plants don't readily absorb key nutrients, and the berries can therefore vary in flavour, quality and size. With an increasingly picky market, farmers need to optimise plant nutrition to obtain a consistent crop that commands high prices. Lindi Botha spoke to Dr David Marks.

India's 'White Revolution': the power of the collective at work

In a move that is being called production by the masses rather than mass production, India has successfully mobilised 100 million subsistence and small-scale dairy farmers to make that country the world's largest milk producer. Lindi Botha visited India to see how this remarkable feat has been achieved.

Social rejuvenation on a Western Cape fruit farm

Pome fruit farmer lan Cunningham, named Agri Western Cape Santam Agriculture Young Farmer of the Year for 2022, has improved much more than just the orchards on his apple farm near Villiersdorp. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the various initiatives and incentives aimed at bettering the lives of his farmworkers.

The dos and don'ts of owing a firearm

South Africa has strict legislation governing the licensing, purchase and use of a firearm. Magda du Toit explores the rules and official processes that regulate gun ownership, and speaks to experts in the field.

Somalia: will aid efforts fail marginalised again?

Nisar Majid, a research associate at the London School of Economics and Political Science, writes about the burgeoning famine crisis in Somalia, and the lack of sufficient aid for that country's minority groups.

SA's ostrich industry gets serious about animal welfare

South Africa's ostrich industry unveiled its Ostrich Production Standard in 2021, and 85% of farms are currently participating in the programme. Dr Adriaan Olivier, industry veterinarian at the South African Ostrich Business Chamber, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the origins of the standard and what is required of producers.

The Table Bay Hotel: unashamed luxury, superb cuisine, and a view like no other

She may be a quarter of a century old, but the Table Bay Hotel at the V&A Waterfront is as fresh and elegant as the day she was built, says Brian Berkman. It's no wonder this iconic hotel continues to draw so many visitors.