Compost company embraces social media
A composting company has embraced social media to differentiate its brand in a competitive market. Robyn Joubert reports.
Smallholder mechanisation: shuddering to a halt, again
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...
Goat milk products
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...
Nkunzi Milkyway steady growth
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...
Oxford Freshmarket graduates from the Bluff
With one supermarket successfully established on the Bluff, Oxford Freshmarket is looking to ramp up turnover with four new store openings in the next two years. Even though Oxford buys...
The art of world-class popcorn
Producing popcorn is a highly specialised industry that differs from conventional maize production, says Johann Kriek, CEO of the Bigfoot Trading Company. Annelie Coleman reports.
Jam-packed with quality
A small fruit factory on the Piket-Bo-Berg in the Swartland has secured major contracts in both the local and export markets. The secret to its success is surprisingly simple, as...
Weighing up the wage increase
Many farm workers enjoy perks which improve their living conditions. The new minimum wage may mean a loss of benefits and jobs in the agricultural sector. Robyn Joubert reports.
Agricultural mechanisation for economic survival
The era of mechanisation and outsourcing in the commercial agriculture sector has arrived to counter the sharp increase in labour costs, says Attie Scholtz, the 2012 Northern Cape Young Farmer...
Greenhouse farming at Dube Tradeport AgriZone
Well-established vegetable grower Qutom Farms has taken out a lease on advanced greenhouses at Dube TradePort’s AgriZone, allowing the company to expand its regional supply. Robyn Joubert spoke to director...
Economic reasons for retrenchment
Economic - The immediate inference one might make regarding economic reasons for a retrenchment is that the business is suffering losses and needs to cut costs by reducing the number...
Basic guide to retrenchments
The new minimum wage for farm workers came into effect on 1 March. While most farmers will do their utmost to hold onto their current workforce, some will have no...
Rethinking energy dependence
With huge increases in Eskom tariffs, more and more farmers are investing in alternative energy solutions. Mike Burgess visited Eastern Cape farmer Luke Bell to learn more about his KRE...
Growing profit in the ‘fifth quarter’
Multi-national financial services provider, Rabobank, says the value of the so-called fifth quarter has increased significantly in recent years, making meat processors more competitive. Albert Vernooij, of Rabobank’s Food &...
Health programme benefits employees
A number of illness-related deaths and low productivity in the workforce spurred poultry producer Astral to implement a wellness programme that reduced fatal illnesses and significantly improved overall health and...
Eastern Cape berry project shows great promise
Amathole Berries near Stutterheim expects to yield 3 000t of blueberries per season by 2020. Mike Burgess spoke to acting CEO Ryan Davies about the company’s challenges and its place...
Getting the basics right: courses in hands-on skills
Major agricultural products supplier, Dicla Farm & Seed, recently established a training centre near Tarlton, north-west of Johannesburg, to equip new small-scale farmers and farm workers with practical skills and...
The key to running a top broiler business
Sound management and investing in human resources has brought Gilbert Phalafala swift success.
A ‘soft’ revolution in dried tree fruit
Dried fruit company, At Source Handmade Foods, was founded in 2002 and just over a decade later it is one of the three largest local dried tree fruit businesses, capturing...
GFNC’s Macadamia Market expansion
SA’s biggest macadamia processor, Green Farms Nut Company, has entered into a joint venture with its Australian counterparts to become the world’s largest macadamia marketing company.
