Agribusiness

Petrus Bosman (31), the Santam-Agri Western Cape Young Farmer of the Year 2012, is the managing director of his family’s wine and vine farming business in Wellington. He spoke to Denene Erasmus about having a positive attitude in the wine industry and the satisfaction of looking after employees.

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 case study of the model’s success.

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. Lloyd Phillips investigated the matter.

The SA pomegranate industry is in its infancy, with growers facing many more difficulties than anticipated. But these are being overcome, writes Robyn Joubert.

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 Animal Feeds.

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.