Transformation: a work in progress
According to some, there is a viable alternative to Minister Gugile Nkwinti’s controversial 50:50 land reform proposal. With this option, the land holds its value and farmers can improve economies...
Mentoring without interfering breeds success
SA Stud Book-Farmer’s Weekly 2014 Mentor of the Year, Pat Hobbs, is highly respected among the Nguni breeders’ community – not only for producing top quality stud cattle, but for...
Improved outlook for beef production
After several years of weak profits, beef producers are more optimistic. Tracy Davids of the Bureau for Food and Agriculture Policy explains why she is bullish on beef.
Shaking things up at Mooketsi
Received wisdom says that for a fresh produce market to be successful, it must be located where the buyers are and not where the producers are. But a new market...
Where have all the young people gone?
Agri science student Lisa Coetzee was one of only two South Africans chosen to attend the Youth Ag Summit in Canada in 2013. Building on her experiences there, she has...
Breathing life back into the villages of Ncora
Hailed as a success story by the Eastern Cape premier, Noxolo Kiviet, during her 2014 State of the Province address, Ncora Dairy shows how private-community partnerships can lead to genuine...
Bucking the export trend
The Buys brothers of Vrede en Lust near Paarl entered the wine industry 18 years ago. After establishing their own wine brand, they developed one of the most successful direct...
Intense lobbying to ensure citrus exports
During the dispute between South Africa and the EU about the perceived threat that citrus black spot might be spread through exported fruit, the first 2014 consignments left our shores...
From Aristotle to avocados – ZZ2’s business model
From humble beginnings ZZ2 has grown into a multi-million rand business. Nan Smith visited the company’s HQ to find out what lies at the heart of ZZ2’s success.
Power from bagasse in Swaziland
Illovo’s Ubombo mill in Swaziland is a showcase of successful electricity co-generation from bagasse. It has increased sugar production in that country and demonstrated that the process is affordable and...
Finding healing and success on a Karoo farm
Despite lacking farming experience, Carole Kirkwood Pretorius converted a rundown Karoo farm into a small but commercially viable enterprise in only six years.
Packaging for fresh produce – get it right
Mike Cordes reviews the role of packaging in the fresh produce sector, and more specifically, its importance at consumer level.
