FAST FACTS
The world’s most expensive pigeon to date is Armando, a long-distance racing champion purchased by a buyer from China for U$1,4 million (about R24 million) in 2019.
Pigeon racing is a dying sport in South Africa, but Lodumo Nkala aims to revive it by introducing it to people living in townships and rural communities.
While pigeon racing is an expensive sport, the beauty of a communal loft system is that the costs are distributed amongst the members.
Nineteen-year-old Lodumo Nkala, based in Pretoria, became interested in racing pigeons at the age of nine, when he saw a flock of the birds fly over his grandparents’ garden in Rustenburg.
The pigeons belonged to the father of his soon-to-be best friend, Matthew Last, and Last taught him the basics of pigeon racing when he asked him to help clean out his father’s lofts.
“From then on, my love for pigeons grew, and I made it my goal to one-day own racing pigeons,” Nkala says.
In 2017, while visiting his grandparents, who had subsequently moved to Hammanskraal in northern Gauteng, Nkala noticed a very colourful wild pigeon in the maize fields. “Its beautiful colour attracted me, he remembers. Thus, he set a primitive trap for the bird and caught it.
At the time, he didn't have a pigeon loft, so he kept the bird in his grandparents' spare bedroom. When he returned home to Johannesburg, where he lived at the time, he took the pigeon with him, and set about building a small loft out of spare planks of wood.
“I remember going through bins on trash day to see what scrap material residents threw away that I could use.
Once the loft was ready, he decided that he wanted to get more pigeons to grow his flock.
Bu hikaye Farmer's Weekly dergisinin March 18, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Farmer's Weekly dergisinin March 18, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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.
