Unlocking Africa’s agribusiness potential with platform thinking
Ecosystem and platform thinking are the latest trends coming out of international research This kind of thinking could help unlock Africa’s smallholder and agribusiness potential.
Self-taught worm farmer recycles waste into compost
Using earthworms to recycle food waste into compost is not only profitable, but helps to address the increasing problem of food waste. Worm farmer Thato Lekonyane spoke to Siyanda Sishuba...
The costs and pitfalls of buying nets
Nets can significantly reduce climate-related risks, but may result in financial losses if farmers do not do their homework. This was the warning of experts who spoke to Glenneis Kriel.
Standard Bank leverages specialised knowledge to assist local agribusinesses
COVID-19 has caused many disruptions to the agriculture sector, despite the sector being declared an essential service. It is because of events like these that Standard Bank employs a team...
Fluence and The Lamphouse team up to deliver LED lighting solutions to SA’s horticulture market
The collaboration combines The Lamphouse’s local roots with Fluence’s horticulture expertise to serve the estimated R28 billion South African cannabis industry.
How agricultural economics keeps up with the times
The evolution of agricultural production and value chains requires that agricultural economics adapts quickly to remain relevent and helpful. Prof Theo Kleynhans, head of Stellenbosch University’s Department of Agricultural Economics,...
Standard Bank: specialist, customised agri assistance
The outbreak of COVID-19 and the strenuous efforts to curb its spread have disrupted industries and global value chains on an unprecedented scale. This is especially true of agriculture, with...
Community farm’s drive and discipline rewarded at last
Having suffered several setbacks in their efforts to make their agribusiness profitable, a group of hard-working land reform beneficiaries in KwaZulu-Natal at last got the help they needed from an...
Senwes expands commitment to finance emerging black farmers
As announced on 18 August 2020, the Competition Tribunal has approved the merger between the Senwes Group of Klerksdorp and the Suidwes Group of Leeudoringstad.
Coping strategies to deal with uncertainty
South African agriculture is a uniquely risky environment, yet its farmers are well-known for meeting challenges with courage and resilience. Glenneis Kriel spoke to four prominent farmers to discover how...
How agritech solutions can help farmers offset coronavirus risks
As we look to life beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is presented with a unique set of challenges to industries causing severe disruption to global value chains.
From seasonal worker to award-winning farmer
The Agricultural Writers SA New Entrant to Commercial Agriculture winner in 2019, Dirk Louw, is showing that it still is possible to start farming from scratch. He spoke to Glenneis...
Want to work in the agri sector? Take note of these in-demand skills
A lack of experience prevents many qualified young people from finding their first jobs in agriculture. Recruitment specialist Marianne van der Laarse explained the situation to Glenneis Kriel and called...
Empowering smallholders to access the supply chain
Black smallholder farmers are often excluded from the supply chain due to high barriers of entry. A fund established by Tiger Brands is now trying to address this problem. Mary-Jane...
Township vegetable garden empowers women
The Siyazama Community Garden in Khayelitsha has changed the lives of a group of women in the township. During a media tour to the garden hosted by Coronation Fund Managers,...
Undercover farming: big investment, greater returns
With its reduced land and water requirements, tunnel farming is a viable option for farmers with little access to natural resources, says Suzanne Oosthuizen, managing director of the Undercover Farming...
A passion for herbs blooms into business success
The Kasselhoft estate near Leeudoringstad in North West evokes the French countryside with its fragrant lavender and rosemary fields. This is where Trudi and Rina Kasselman run their herbal business...
Starke Ayres: Sure-fire tomatoes and peppers
All Starke Ayres tomatoes and sweet peppers are carefully selected for local conditions. Its latest hybrids are the best combination yet of reliable growth, exceptional taste, and long shelf life.
On-farm hydroelectric power boosts dairy’s bottom line
Hydroelectric power production need not mean massive installations for large-scale commercial supply. KwaZulu-Natal farmer Peter Ward’s small-scale hydroelectric system on his farm generates sufficient power for his dairy enterprise while...
Onderstepoort vaccines target emerging and global markets
The CEO of Onderstepoort Biological Products, Dr Baptiste Dungu, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the repositioning of the state-owned veterinary company as an international player.
