Agribusiness

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 agriculture start reading from the same page. Dr Ferdi Meyer spoke to Lloyd Phillips.

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 be managed effectively. Dr Nokuthula Ntseki, from Rainbow Farms gives Lindi van Rooyen practical advice for farmers.

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 guavas in supermarkets. Denene Erasmus investigates.

Lifting poverty and creating jobs through small agribusiness growth is on Dr Lekau Mphasha’s agenda. He talks to Peter Mashala.

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 this year. Trevor McKenzie, chairperson of the South African Berry Producers Association, spoke to Denene Erasmus about advancing the local berry industry.

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 spoke to her.

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 the entire broiler value chain – from the placement of day-old chicks on their farm, Tyndall, to the marketing of poultry products via their retail outlet, Tyndall Meats.

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. Jan du Toit, Senior Labour Law Consultant at SA Labour Guide, highlights key amendments.

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 later, his business has grown to four farms, one of which is in the Republic of Congo. Lindi van Rooyen reports.

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 small herd of Jersey cows and cheesery. Denene Erasmus visited them.

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.

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 inside angle, as Agri SA’s deputy president and head of the portfolio committee on land reform, make him more or less inclined to sell? Lindi van Rooyen reports.

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 was released into it. This has allowed the Colletts of Grassridge Farm to produce 52kW of three-phase electricity from cross-flow turbines. Mike Burgess reports.

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 in goats and poultry. Heather Dugmore visited the family.

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. Robyn Joubert reports.

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 Phillips what such a service entails.

Elize van Greunen supplies quails and pickled quail eggs to a niche market.

Award-winning farmer Steve Botha has managed to remain successful in the niche market he created through innovation, extending his product range, maintaining a close relationship with his clients and growing baby vegetables and herbs that are hard to find in SA.

Jasmyn in Hartbeespoort has grown from a double garage-size farm stall to a farmers’ market of choice for fresh food lovers in the Gauteng area. The farm and shop are run side-by-side, ensuring that customers gets the freshest produce, and the absence of a middleman ensures greater profits.

An effective labour management system is one of the most important investments 2011 Agri SA Young Farmer of the Year Gog van der Colff made in his grape and raisin enterprise. It afforded every worker the opportunity to take responsibility in this major enterprise and resulted in better production. Annelie Coleman reports.