Business

According to Vincent Mhlonitshwa, making the transition from a communal to a successful commercial farmer requires mentorship. Mike Burgess visited him near Elliot in the Eastern Cape to better understand how a mentor helped establish the foundations on which he built a mixed farming operation on less than 1 500ha.

Agrico is a well-known name in the farming community across Southern Africa. It’s a family business with a passion for agriculture and farmers and the aspiration to make our beautiful region a better place for everyone.

De Rustica Olive Estate Collection Coratina was crowned the best olive oil in the world at the EVOOLEUM Awards in Spain last year. Glenneis Kriel visited the estate to learn more about their recipe for success.

Hollard Group, the largest privately owned insurance company in South Africa, is taking the doom and gloom out of insurance with its new campaign payoff line: ‘Insure your unsure’.

The Agricultural Writers SA National Farmer of the Year 2023, Dewald te Water, runs a diversified agriculture and construction business in Mpumalanga. Growing the business from scratch, he has proved the value of hard work, perseverance, and not being afraid to take risks.

Palm oil has been heavily criticised due to the unsustainable practices used in its cultivation. But this is beginning to change, says Jannie Myburgh, senior manager of trading oils procurement at SD Guthrie International SA. He spoke to Marinda Louw Coetzee.

South Africa's agriculture sector, vital to the economy, faces significant energy challenges. Rising electricity costs, supply issues, and the need for sustainable practices have driven demand for reliable and efficient energy solutions.

Keerom Farming, led by Vilhelm Erichsen, has transformed its practices through no-till farming with Bontera products. This innovative approach enhances soil health, crop yields, and sustainability.

South Africa faces increasing water scarcity, severely impacting agriculture. Efficient irrigation systems, like Agrico's centre-pivot technology, are crucial for optimising water use.

As the name suggests, Blitz is a fertiliser that speedily boosts the germination, emergence and early growth phase of plants.

Matebogo Victoria leads the VoiceOut Deaf Cooperative, creating job opportunities in agriculture for the deaf community while championing empowerment and inclusion.

Neither 29-year-old Juan Rabe nor 30-year-old Rowan Delport grew up on a farm, yet they’ve achieved great success with their fresh produce business through hydroponic production. They spoke to Glenneis Kriel about how they did it.

Meet Mpho Mohaswa, an inspiring entrepreneur who transitioned from a successful corporate career in the oil and gas industry to the world of agro-processing. She has turned a cherished South African tradition into a thriving business with her innovative ginger beer brand, Ghemere.

Humans are dependent on the soil to produce food and fibre for themselves, feed for livestock, and, of late, contributing to the energy supply with crops grown primarily for biofuels.

Mac Mabidilala is proof that you don’t need to own land to start in agriculture. He shares how he turned his dreams into reality by producing premium wines and olive oil.

The production of medical cannabis calls for extreme attention to detail and precision, as well as compliance with intricate legislative requirements and official demands. It also calls for perseverance, as Annelie Coleman found out on a visit to medical cannabis producers Coenie and Ilse Venter near Viljoenskroon in the Free State.

The Almería region in Spain is proof of what can be achieved when the whole agriculture sector stands united to work towards a mutually beneficial goal. Returning from a recent visit to the region, Lindi Botha reports on how farmers, researchers and banks have joined forces to become a major player in fresh produce production.

An experimental ‘smart farm’ is taking root at the doorstep of Gauteng’s only Big Five game reserve and could become a blueprint for other socially and environmentally conscious farms in the future, writes Tanya Faber.

Agricultural technology is advancing at a rapid pace. With a host of applications on the market, farmers are spoilt for choice in reducing their workload and optimising systems. Lindi Botha looks at the latest technologies worthy of consideration.

Houers, a leading supplier of corrugated cartons in South Africa, supports the agricultural market and local communities through innovation and training. Read on to learn more about their impactful initiatives.