Ailing infrastructure: a threat to SA agriculture
Agriculture has been one of very few lights glowing in South Africa’s economic gloom: the sector has managed to grow where most others have declined. However, the grim reality of...
Tourism and value-adding keeps family farm afloat
Heinrich Lategan is the fifth generation to farm on Tevrede, between Worcester and Wolseley in the Western Cape. Tevrede has traditionally been a grape farm, but the family has had...
Farming profitably on leased land
Richard Mashinini runs a flourishing commercial farm in the Free State. He spoke to Annelie Coleman about his education and the people who helped him succeed, and the uncertainty of...
Green bonds: it pays to invest in nature
Agriculture has an important role to play in funding a greener future for the planet. Green bonds, which are fixed-income financial instruments that offer environmental and/or climate benefits, will give...
Standard Bank platform provides 4 million meals for the needy
OneFarm Share allows farmers to contribute their surplus fresh produce to needy families across the country.
Apple cider from the Cape takes the world by storm
Larry Whitfield, owner of Loxtonia, an apple, pear and plum farm, has successfully branched into cider production. Unusually, he uses fresh apples to produce his award-winning ciders. He spoke to...
The future of SA’s egg producers
The egg industry is one of the largest employers in South Africa’s agriculture sector and a key provider of affordable protein to millions of consumers. Pieter Dempsey spoke to Dr...
Preparing for the worst and hoping for the best
Life is dynamic, and sometimes change happens for the worse. This is why you need to be properly prepared for these changes. Hollard explains that insuring your property and business...
Breeding natural enemies to control pests
Limpopo insectary Insectec was founded to develop a secure and steady supply of biological pest control solutions for producers of a variety of fruit and vegetable crops.
Family meetings: learning to plan productively together
Give each person an opportunity to voice their disagreement in your family business, suggests Trevor Dickinson. Doing so will not only reduce resentment, but will help define the role of...
HelloChoice: A proudly South African success story
HelloChoice links buyers and sellers through its website and mobile app, and is specifically designed for South Africa’s market environment.
Fresh-produce packaging: Smart solutions to increase shelf life
Digitalisation, in combination with growing concern over pollution, wastage and food safety, is resulting in smarter, more functional packaging with a smaller environmental footprint. Alwyn van Jaarsveld, head of sales at...
How a Mexican beer and limes helped uplift a community in SA
Corona beer, which originated in Mexico, is traditionally served with lime. But when beer-brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev added the brand to its line-up, it encountered a problem: a shortage of...
Complying with SA’s labour laws: Advice from a farmer who is getting it right
Western Cape pome fruit producer Steven Versfeld earlier this year became the first farmer to achieve platinum status with no non-compliances from the Sustainability Initiative of South Africa for his...
Bean aggregator helps small-scale farmers grow
Lusanda Moletsane runs an aggregator of small white beans from two farming clusters located in Nigel and Bronkhorstspruit respectively. She spoke to Pieter Dempsey about her passion for helping small-scale...
Get credit! Tips on writing a business plan for your farm
If you intend to start farming, or have plans to expand your existing operation, you are almost certain to require funding. But before you can apply for this, you will...
Why you should consider a prenuptial agreement
Together with a restrictive shareholder agreement, a prenuptial agreement ensures that an ex-spouse will not automatically be a family business shareholder. If the subject is raised far in advance of...
Risks facing South Africa
Andries Wiese takes a look at some of the main risks that could have an impact on businesses and individuals in South Africa. He also discusses how they might be...
Finding a solution to agriculture’s skills gaps
Skills development is vital to the growth and productivity of any business. Jeandré van der Walt reports on how various commodity organisations are providing the agricultural workforce with more skilled...
Developing farmers fit for the future for South Africa
FarmSol is celebrating five years of supporting new farmers this October. The company aims to connect farmers and markets to improve food security and income in South Africa.
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