Agribusiness

Hollard Group, the largest privately owned insurance company in South Africa, is taking the doom and gloom out of insurance with its new campaign payoff line: ‘Insure your unsure’.

The Agricultural Writers SA National Farmer of the Year 2023, Dewald te Water, runs a diversified agriculture and construction business in Mpumalanga. Growing the business from scratch, he has proved the value of hard work, perseverance, and not being afraid to take risks.

Palm oil has been heavily criticised due to the unsustainable practices used in its cultivation. But this is beginning to change, says Jannie Myburgh, senior manager of trading oils procurement at SD Guthrie International SA. He spoke to Marinda Louw Coetzee.

South Africa's agriculture sector, vital to the economy, faces significant energy challenges. Rising electricity costs, supply issues, and the need for sustainable practices have driven demand for reliable and efficient energy solutions.

Keerom Farming, led by Vilhelm Erichsen, has transformed its practices through no-till farming with Bontera products. This innovative approach enhances soil health, crop yields, and sustainability.

South Africa faces increasing water scarcity, severely impacting agriculture. Efficient irrigation systems, like Agrico's centre-pivot technology, are crucial for optimising water use.

As the name suggests, Blitz is a fertiliser that speedily boosts the germination, emergence and early growth phase of plants.

Neither 29-year-old Juan Rabe nor 30-year-old Rowan Delport grew up on a farm, yet they’ve achieved great success with their fresh produce business through hydroponic production. They spoke to Glenneis Kriel about how they did it.

Meet Mpho Mohaswa, an inspiring entrepreneur who transitioned from a successful corporate career in the oil and gas industry to the world of agro-processing. She has turned a cherished South African tradition into a thriving business with her innovative ginger beer brand, Ghemere.

Humans are dependent on the soil to produce food and fibre for themselves, feed for livestock, and, of late, contributing to the energy supply with crops grown primarily for biofuels.

Mac Mabidilala is proof that you don’t need to own land to start in agriculture. He shares how he turned his dreams into reality by producing premium wines and olive oil.

The production of medical cannabis calls for extreme attention to detail and precision, as well as compliance with intricate legislative requirements and official demands. It also calls for perseverance, as Annelie Coleman found out on a visit to medical cannabis producers Coenie and Ilse Venter near Viljoenskroon in the Free State.

The Almería region in Spain is proof of what can be achieved when the whole agriculture sector stands united to work towards a mutually beneficial goal. Returning from a recent visit to the region, Lindi Botha reports on how farmers, researchers and banks have joined forces to become a major player in fresh produce production.

Agricultural technology is advancing at a rapid pace. With a host of applications on the market, farmers are spoilt for choice in reducing their workload and optimising systems. Lindi Botha looks at the latest technologies worthy of consideration.

You may be enjoying the serene life on your farm, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Or you could be on holiday, enjoying your well-earned rest. Regardless of where you are, one thing remains constant – your need to stay connected. With Store.Smartcall, this is no longer just a dream but a reality.

A rose by any other name may smell as sweet but Brian Berkman learns there is a lot more to cut-flower farming than initially thought and the variety planted makes all the difference.

South Africa’s wine industry is dwindling. Yet, Van Loveren Vineyards go from strength to strength each year, excelling both in their business offering and their ability to keep generations of family involved, conflict-free. Lindi Botha speaks to the Retief family about their achievements over the years.

The race to Net Zero has increased the burden of compliance for farmers, as in addition to administrative tasks, carbon footprints need to be tracked and reported. There is however a silver lining for those who can prove due diligence. Lindi Botha spoke to Marlene Louw, senior economist at Absa AgriBusiness.

Winemaker Chris Groenewald led the South African blind-tasting team in the international championships for the second time last year. He shared some blind-tasting tips with Glenneis Kriel.

In this first part of a series on successful women farmers in agriculture, Cobus du Plessis speaks to Elizabeth Lamond, a beekeeper in the Marquard region, about her rise in the apiculture industry.