Agribusiness

Tina Joemat-Pettersson’s current term as minister of agriculture is drawing to a close. Speaking to Alita van der Walt and Anneli Groenewald, she highlights her successes, and explains how she plans to ensure food security in South Africa.

Rural communities and farm workers can supplement their incomes by cashing in on South Africa’s honey shortage. With African Honey Bee’s business model, budding beekeepers can gain the skills to operate independently. Lindi van Rooyen reports.

Agricultural production in Africa is generally considered to be underutilised. Many therefore think that the continent is ideal for new commercial forestry plantations to meet global demand. But these ventures are not for the faint-hearted, as Lloyd Phillips reports.

The sugar industries of SA and Réunion Island may have different production challenges, but the ways in which each industry is tackling its problems can help the other. Lloyd Phillips reports.

Kiki Agri’s Philip Kilian explains to Peter Mashala how backyard broiler farming could help boost food security in poor households, thanks to a new easy-to-install system.

Sarah Allan decided to install renewable energy systems for her farm three years ago, but this turned out to be far more complex than first anticipated. She shares her hard-earned lessons with Robyn Joubert.

Amongst the mostly abandoned factories and warehouses of Dimbaza, a small mohair weaving facility still produces internationally acclaimed 100% mohair carpets. Mike Burgess visited the Dimbaza Mohair Weavers factory.

Robyn Joubert reports on how the government and commodity organisations are working to provide South Africa with more farmers, semi-skilled workers, specialists and artisans.

It seems that red meat consumers never benefit from lower farmgate prices. Could it be that the middleman is milking consumers for all they’re worth, while suppressing farmers’ income? This issue was debated at the Northern Cape Red Meat Producers’ Organisation congress.

With local demand for tree nuts increasing, De Wet van Rooyen and Hannes Jansen of Montagu Dried Fruit and Nuts – one of the largest suppliers of nuts in South Africa – are encouraging farmers to supply this growing market. Denene Erasmus reports.

Oceanwise in the Eastern Cape is one of the largest land-based marine finfish recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) in the world. Mike Burgess visited this pioneering initiative.

Wildlife managers need experience and ability to succeed in this exciting, growing business.

Argentina is often seen as a farmers’ paradise – a land of milk and honey, beef and soya. But farmers in that country say that margins are tight and politicians can be a vexation to the agricultural sector. Anneli Groenewald reports on farming conditions in Argentina.

Competition in a fresh produce market is tough, and most BEE market agents fail to survive their first year. Gugu Hadebe and Danny Geral are the exception. Quitting their jobs to start Egoly Market Agents, their partnership has sailed through a year of operation. Peter Mashala spoke to them.

Now in their retirement, Norman and Rina Belcher are producing award-winning cheeses at their Belnori Boutique Cheesery. The Belchers attribute their success to teamwork and paying attention to detail.

Seo Mtetwa, MD of Nu Dawn Eggs, talks about the company's beginning, success and future.

A composting company has embraced social media to differentiate its brand in a competitive market. Robyn Joubert reports.

The government’s mechanisation programme is doomed to failure unless it is project-managed properly and regard is given to the many difficulties of operating machinery in a small-scale environment, says Peter Hittersay, a consultant in agricultural mechanisation.

Anne Turner and Wessel Etzebeth’s small goat milk enterprise, De Böcke Goat Dairy, is less than a year old, but they are already finding a welcome place for their products in this niche market. Denene Erasmus reports.

Nkunzi Milkyway is an Ayrshire milk processor in Pretoria. Its policy of fair payment to producers has contributed to its steady growth of 38% during the past five years, according to Robyn Joubert.