Business

The Syngenta Leadership Academy is aimed at empowering a new generation of leaders in agriculture. Siyanda Sishuba spoke to three alumni of the programme about their experience and the lessons they have learnt.

In general, South African investors have seen meagre returns on their savings and retirement portfolios over the past few years. Indeed, some wonder whether it would not be better to stash their money under the mattress. Jaco Visser spoke to a number of investment managers about the products that are available and which investment strategies are likely to deliver the best returns.

The 2017 Census of Commercial Agriculture by Statistics South Africa showed that the total number of farming units involved in commercial agriculture in that year 2017 was 40 122, and that these farms used 46,4 million hectares of land.

Anton and Sharon Kock’s Ember Down goose down and feather business has been built on ethical farming practices, attention to detail and meticulous management.

Sunburn and related disorders, such as sunscald, can cause substantial losses of marketable produce and revenue. Drape Net, imported and distributed by Nulandis, offers farmers a durable, easy-to-install, cost-effective solution to protect their expensive crop investment.

Agriculture offers many opportunities for wealth creation, and young South Africans who are passionate about the sector should use their skills to establish new businesses, say Soyama Mthongana and Athenkosi Denga, the owners of Lizwe Meat.

The Karsten and Dutoit groups are amongst the largest farming companies in South Africa and have holdings across the country. Both were involved in land reform long before the current urgency to do so. Piet Karsten and Pieter du Toit spoke to Glenneis Kriel about their projects and the lessons they have learnt in setting them up and running them.

As prolonged droughts occur more frequently in South Africa, some entrepreneurs are investing in and developing new technology and farming methods, such as indoor growing systems, that ensure consistent, high-quality food production. Juan-Griffith Pollard, CEO of Urban Cultivation International, spoke to Pieter Dempsey about his scaleable hydroponic farming system.

Why produce pecan nuts when you wait many years to break even, and even longer to make a decent profit?

The Polish National Agricultural Support Centre recently hosted Farmer’s Weekly news editor Julinda Schroeder on a four-day study tour to Poland, where she had the opportunity to have a closer look at the country’s poultry industry.

The free 911 Response24 app will now enable you to get the help and information you need with regards to COVID-19.

Despite ongoing delays and red tape, Merino stud breeder Eddie Prinsloo and eight of his employees have begun farming in partnership in a business known as the Donkerhoek Farming Project. Sabrina Dean visited them on Prinsloo’s Free State farm to learn about the venture.

The Beefmaster Group’s abattoir in Kimberley can process up to 800 cattle a day. Roelie van Reenen, the group’s supply-chain executive, spoke to Sabrina Dean about how the group operates and maintains its high standards.

What started out as a hobby has turned into an exciting farming venture for Melanie and Jan-Hendrik du Plessis of Sabie, Mpumalanga. Lindi Botha visited the couple’s microgreen farm, Bumblebee Organics, to learn more about their production and marketing techniques.

St John’s Village, set on 160ha of lush countryside in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), is renowned for its active outdoor lifestyle with secure homes and retirement opportunities.

What started out with a couple of plants bought at an orchid show in the 1960s, has turned into one of South Africa’s biggest orchid companies, Duckitt Nurseries. Wilferd Duckitt, the co-owner of the company, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the business.

Basil Williams, the managing director of Herbal View Hydroponics, cultivates 3t of various herbs per month on just 1ha of land. Recently, he also tapped into the enormous potential of value-adding. Jeandré van der Walt visited him on his farm in Simondium, near Paarl.

To turn your agribusiness into a sustainable business, you need a partner like Nedbank to be with you every step of the way.

A popcorn factory in a small Northern Cape town has doubled production since expanding into the export market. Sabrina Dean asked director Koos de Wet and chief financial officer Jacques Louw how Biggi Brands continues to grow its niche agro-processing business.

On 8 March, the world will celebrate International Women’s Day, and the role of women in agriculture is particularly evident at Temaretha Piggery. Excellence can be seen in each aspect here, and especially in the extremely dedicated Mampe Mmeregi and Ntshieuwa Mevane.