The commercial viability of aquaponics
Aquaponics involves the organic production of crops and fish in a holistic system – the plants are cultivated using fish waste as the main source of nutrients. Leslie Ter Morshuizen in Grahamstown has established an aquaponics tunnel system to test its commercial viability.
Tina on feeding a nation
Tina Joemat-Pettersson’s current term as minister of agriculture is drawing to a close. Speaking to Alita van der Walt and Anneli Groenewald, she highlights her successes, and explains how she plans to ensure food security in South Africa.
Beekeeping boosts rural upliftment
Rural communities and farm workers can supplement their incomes by cashing in on South Africa’s honey shortage. With African Honey Bee’s business model, budding beekeepers can gain the skills to operate independently. Lindi van Rooyen reports.
Restaurant manager turns commercial farmer
Through dedication and hard work, William Matasane of Senekal in the Free State has changed from being a restaurant manager to an award-winning commercial farmer in less than 10 years. Peter Mashala visited him on his farm Keurfontein.
Small-scale ostrich farming success
Martin Fick and Adriaan Olivier led a group of ostrich farmers in the Eastern Cape to success.
Forestry in Africa: profits & pitfalls aplenty
Agricultural production in Africa is generally considered to be underutilised. Many therefore think that the continent is ideal for new commercial forestry plantations to meet global demand. But these ventures are not for the faint-hearted, as Lloyd Phillips reports.
Zakhe Agricultural College: cultivating farmers
Zakhe Agricultural College, situated on Baynesfield Estate in KwaZulu-Natal, celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. Principal and executive officer, Richard Dladla, gives an overview of this private college.
Sharing sugarcane knowledge
The sugar industries of SA and Réunion Island may have different production challenges, but the ways in which each industry is tackling its problems can help the other. Lloyd Phillips reports.
The backyard broiler house – changing lives across Africa
Kiki Agri’s Philip Kilian explains to Peter Mashala how backyard broiler farming could help boost food security in poor households, thanks to a new easy-to-install system.
How to avoid the pitfalls of green power
Sarah Allan decided to install renewable energy systems for her farm three years ago, but this turned out to be far more complex than
first anticipated. She shares her hard-earned lessons with Robyn Joubert.
Bee farming in Friemersheim
A honey bee farming initiative started by Reginald and Irma Jacobus in Friemersheim has brought hope to this rural town by helping to stem the tide of unemployment and poverty. Denene Erasmus reports.
Global fame for SA mohair factory
Amongst the mostly abandoned factories and warehouses of Dimbaza,
a small mohair weaving facility still produces internationally acclaimed 100% mohair carpets. Mike Burgess visited the Dimbaza Mohair Weavers factory.
The skills needed to make SA farming more profitable
Robyn Joubert reports on how the government and commodity organisations are working to provide South Africa with more farmers, semi-skilled workers, specialists and artisans.
Meat pricing, the middleman & profit margins
It seems that red meat consumers never benefit from lower farmgate prices. Could it be that the middleman is milking consumers for all they’re worth, while suppressing farmers’ income? This issue was debated at the Northern Cape Red Meat Producers’ Organisation congress.
Time for farmers to go nuts
With local demand for tree nuts increasing, De Wet van Rooyen and Hannes Jansen of Montagu Dried Fruit and Nuts – one of the largest suppliers of nuts in South Africa – are encouraging farmers
to supply this growing market. Denene Erasmus reports.
Pioneering Dusky Kob production in SA
Oceanwise in the Eastern Cape is one of the largest land-based
marine finfish recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) in the world.
Mike Burgess visited this pioneering initiative.
Community opts for a sustainable livelihood
The Onverwacht community, with support from Food and Trees for Africa, an international NGO, has opted for a more sustainable solution than RDP housing to improve their lives. Peter Mashala reports.
How to start farming high-value game species
Wildlife managers need experience and ability to succeed in this exciting, growing business.
Wupperthal rooibos farmers co-operate for a better future
Rooibos has been grown in Wupperthal in the Western Cape for almost 200 years. Recently, the small industry has become more profitable, thanks to a co-operative formed to gain Fairtrade certification.
Farming in Argentina
Argentina is often seen as a farmers’ paradise – a land of milk and honey, beef and soya. But farmers in that country say that margins are tight and politicians can be a vexation to the agricultural sector. Anneli Groenewald reports on
farming conditions in Argentina.
