Thirty-five farmers, who form part of the FarmSol development programme in Taung, North-West, last year received R8 million of tractors and farming equipment, thanks to a partnership between FarmSol and South African Breweries (SAB).
To further improve their productivity and efficiency, in February they received a John Deere S670 harvester worth R4,5 million, via a partnership between FarmSol and the South African Cultivar Technology Agency (SACTA). During the handover at Ipelegeng Co-operative in the Greater Taung Municipality, Sipho Sebinda, chairperson of the Tshwarangano Co-operative, which houses and manages the equipment on behalf of the farmers, said the arrival of the harvester was perfectly timed, as farmers last season lost a large portion of soya bean because of the late arrival of harvesting contractors.
PLEDGE
He thanked SACTA for placing their trust in the farmers and pledged that the farmers would buy another harvester in the future. Andrew Bennet, CEO of SACTA, said the agency became aware of the struggles of the farmers to harvest on time because of their dependence on contractors last year when the agency inspected the performance of seed supplied to the farmers.
He pointed out that the new harvester was not a grant, but in the form of an interest-free loan that had to be repaid over three years.
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.
