Government seems to be waking up to the power of private land ownership, but it may not be enough to keep all farmers on the land.
WHAT ARE YOUR BIASES?
Humans are riddled with biases. One of the most prevalent is the hunger for bad news. It’s a fact: most people are drawn to depressing stories and that’s why newspapers and TV are filled with disaster, corruption and incompetence. These are the stories that sell. It’s known as the ‘negativity bias’.
I’m aware of it and I’m afraid of it, and always on the lookout for good news to counter the deluge of bad news. That’s why a recent headline in Farmer’s Weekly, ‘Farmers go into the new year with good news about title deeds’, caught my eye (2 February 2024).
The article, by economist Dr Sifiso Ntombela, provides a brief history of land reform in South Africa and reports on government’s recent roadshow informing farmers leasing land from them that they will soon receive title deeds. Great news, as it creates an opportunity for them to build value in their businesses and provide collateral for working capital loans.
However, given the numerous broken promises and plans gathering dust in government offices, my negative bias kicked in. Attempting to assess the reliability of previous promises to deliver title deeds, I did a quick Google search. It dispelled my pessimism. The keywords ‘title deeds handed over 2024’ elicited a flood of stories from 2021 to 2024.
HERE’S A SAMPLE OF A JUST A FEW
Denne historien er fra March 15, 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra March 15, 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.