Walmart’s ‘direct farming’ revolution
Worldwide, small-scale farmers struggle for market access. Retail giant Walmart assists growers by sourcing produce directly from them. Peter Mashala accompanied Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson to Costa Rica to view a...
How agri-food value chains work
Farmers and retailers are often accused of ramping up prices. But Professor André Jooste of the NAMC maintains that consumers should also consider the non-food costs in agri-food value chains....
Pomegranates power ahead
The SA pomegranate industry is in its infancy, with growers facing many more difficulties than anticipated. But these are being overcome, writes Robyn Joubert.
Feed company bridges the gap
Seeland Peba says high feed prices prevent many small-scale livestock farmers making it to their second production cycle. He tells Peter Mashala why he and his partner started Super Grand...
Agriculture can generate more jobs, if we plan properly
According to government’s National Development Plan, agriculture is to play a vital role in job creation and economic development. The NDP’s deadline is 2030, so it’s vital that government and...
Secure health, secure profit
Biosecurity plays a vital role in ensuring maximum profitability for poultry farmers. Because of the high mortality rate in chickens, hygiene, stocking density and the immediate environment all need to...
Fresh future for guavas
A clever marketing campaign for guavas has helped remind consumers about the health benefits of this unpretentious fruit, and opened new opportunities for farmers by reviving the demand for fresh...
Making it work in Molemole
Lifting poverty and creating jobs through small agribusiness growth is on Dr Lekau Mphasha’s agenda. He talks to Peter Mashala.
Berries to the fore
Global demand for berries is at an all-time high, with sales in the UK, South Africa’s main export market for berries, expected to reach the £1 billion (R12,9 billion) mark...
Putting the pieces together
With visionary enterprise, sugar cane farmer Renuka Devi Somaroo is expanding her business by putting together a mosaic of abandoned farms under land claims in the Glendale Valley. Robyn Joubert...
Farm-to-fork broiler production brings success
Since the mid-1990s, Tony and Stuart Buchler of Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape have transformed a sideline broiler enterprise into their core business. Today, as Mike Burgess discovered, they control...
Understanding the labour law changes
The newly released bills amending the Labour Relations Act and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act offer more clarity to questions surrounding the future of labour brokers in South Africa....
From business exec to farmer
Andy Tladi was 53 when he swapped the life of a business executive for full-time farming – on the land he once ploughed as a small boy. Today, eight years...
Great cheese from the Great Karoo
In the Great Karoo you will encounter roughly one human for every 100 sheep, but Francy and Peter Schoeman from Langbaken farm near Williston are breaking the mould with their...
Meat rabbits good for the bottom line
Today’s high cost of living sometimes means that a single income source just doesn’t cut it. Sigrid Lemmer turned to part-time meat rabbit production. She talks to Lloyd Phillips.
Staring down the barrel of the land claims shotgun
Theo de Jager stands at a crossroads. He can choose to sell his farm to one of 16 land claimants or he can fight to stay in business. Does Theo’s...
Cross-flow turbines free farm from Eskom
In 1974, the Brak River, a tributary of the Great Fish River near Cradock was transformed from a tiny stream into a fast-flowing river when water from the Orange-Fish Tunnel...
Success with mixed farming in the Karoo
Andy and Sheryl Duthie pay careful attention to every aspect of their mixed farming operation in Northern Cape. They also involve their three children in the enterprise, running profitable mini-businesses...
Farmers venture into UHT milk
In the heart of the Southern Drakensburg’s dairy production area, Creighton Dairies, a milk transporter, has taken a bold step into processing by setting up a multi-million rand UHT plant....
Reduce costs with contract harvesters
As most farmers already have too much to deal with every day, a silage harvesting contractor can ease this burden and save the farmer money. Contractor Justin Nel tells Lloyd...
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