Mediation – a cheaper, more peaceful solution
Mediation is a low-cost, high-value method of solving disputes and has been underutilised in SA, with complainants favouring expensive litigation instead. Advocate Alan Nelson SC spoke to Denene Erasmus about...
How Europe’s top farming countries are faring
South Africa’s agriculture sector may often feel isolated in terms of the challenges it faces. However, a recent survey by the German Agricultural Society reveals that farmers in Germany, Poland,...
A school in the care of the community
Small-town agricultural schools often struggle in today’s educational climate, characterised by departmental underfunding. But Winterberg Agricultural High School has maintained its high standards, and developed its farm into a self-sufficient...
Feed a Child feeding scheme is making a difference
A visitor to the Feed a Child feeding scheme is greeted by a heartwarming and humbling sight: laughing children anticipating a nutritious hot meal. The project, started in 1988 with...
Farm choirs learn sobering power of song
De Kock Boerdery’s award-winning farm worker choirs have been the saving grace for many of the singers. Choir leaders Elsie Oliphant and Willem Krotz told Denene Erasmus how singing in...
SA wine industry’s revamp
Apart from a new generation of winemakers and marketers that is making a name for itself, upcoming industry leaders are embarking on a fresh strategy to ensure the industry’s success....
State cuts support for prize-winning farmer
Mojala Mosoeu has been farming with cattle for 16 years. In 2011, after a nine-year wait, he received a farm as part of the government’s land reform programme. Now he...
A long struggle bears fruit
Headman Manyota, a developing farmer, farms citrus in the Kat River Valley near Fort Beaufort. Last year, he achieved a massive 874% increase in production over 2013. Grant Hollins visited...
Konsortium Merino prepares for the future
Breeding association Konsortium Merino recently announced a breakthrough strategy to ensure its members’ success over the next decade. This entails new forms of ownership to overcome the growing difficulties associated...
Success lies in doing what you know best
You don’t have to own a farm to make money from agriculture. Getting involved higher up the value chain is easier and less risky. Derich Priga, owner of D&M Fresh...
Land reform lessons from the Western Cape
Recent research into land reform projects in the Western Cape sought to establish the differences between successful and unsuccessful projects. Jacques Claassen visited an example of each and explains how...
An agribusiness giant rises
Zeder Investments recently concluded the largest transaction in its existence, boosting its investments in agriculture to more than R10 billion and proving the company’s positive outlook on the industry. Jaco...
GM & the new labelling laws
South Africa’s food label laws have been modified several times in recent years. Now, further far-reaching changes to food labelling legislation could be implemented by the end of the year...
Selling all things Scottish
With a land size of just over 78 000km², Scotland is only slightly bigger than Mpumalanga. Yet its total annual food and drink exports amount to £5,3 billion (R97 billion)....
Boosting the informal sector
An informal trader is described in Western Cape government legislation as “any person who carries on a business as a street vendor or hawker, including an employee of such a...
Success with organic farming
Wensleydale Farms in Centurion, Gauteng, is well established as an organic grower. New owner Magapa Phaweni plans to use her business skills to build on the farm’s success and expand...
Beefmaster: straddling the whole value chain
Five years ago, Beefmaster Feedlot near Christiana embarked on a strategy to encompass the entire value chain. Today, its operations extend from producing feed to selling its meat at retail...
VKB-GFADA maize project helps developing farmers
Ten developing Free State maize farmers are achieving success, thanks to the help of a dedicated mentor and the support of agricultural companies. Susan Botes-Marais reports on the VKB-GFADA Maize...
Dedicated mentorship helps achieve maize success
David Matobako, an ambitious young farmer, is proving that agricultural reform is not an idle dream. Susan Botes-Marais visited him on his Free State farm and saw how a sound...
From manual labourer to managing partner
Erik Phinallephe (55) was born and raised in Stellenbosch and started working as a general farm labourer when he was only 12.
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