Wildlife ranching: WRSA’s Dr Peter Oberem explains
Wildlife ranching continues to be a fast-growing industry with a bright future, notwithstanding recent negative press that its practices harm conservation, says Dr Peter Oberem, president of Wildlife Ranching SA.
Clover upbeat about dairy’s prospects
Clover recently posted improved interim results showing a 7,9% revenue increase, a margin partly attributed to higher retail prices. Other positive news from the company was the completion of a...
Keep it the way nature intended!
It’s time to get back on the natural track and keep South Africa’s game herds wild and healthy, says Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, president of the SA Hunters and Game Conservation...
Finding realistic ways to boost Southern Africa’s agri output
More than 30 million people in Southern Africa do not have access to enough food. The Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (Stias) is examining ways in which agricultural production can...
Secrets to success in the US citrus market
A more open attitude towards citrus black spot is emerging in the US, and this market should soon open up to SA producers countrywide. Piet Smit, a director of the...
Government fails to appreciate SA farmers’ contribution
Independent economist Dr Kobus Laubscher talks to Annelie Coleman about the economic benefits of last year’s record maize harvest and the consequences of this year’s vastly reduced harvest.
Don’t be afraid – engage with government
Agriculture minister Senzeni Zokwana tells Denene Erasmus that farmers need not fear radical land reform policy changes because the government will never force them to abandon their farms.
Dairy safety standards – the dangers of non-compliance
Breaching food safety regulations in the dairy industry would not only risk consumer health, but seriously harm the image of the entire dairy value chain. Jompie Burger, managing director of...
Seed potato production – not for the faint-hearted
Seed potato production is complex and calls for dedication and perseverance, says Sanette Thiart, managing director of the South African Potato Certification Service.
Initiatives to alleviate poverty in rural areas
Extreme poverty is still rampant in South Africa’s rural communities, with traditional agricultural practices often unable to solve this problem. Biodiversity manager Greg Martindale explains to Lloyd Phillips how environmental...
Agritourism adds value to agriculture
South African farmers operate in a difficult agricultural and economic environment, and for many it has become imperative to find new ways of generating additional income. In a bid to...
Land Reform: let the market decide!
Land reform in South Africa should follow free market principles that keep the integrity of the land market intact, says Dr John Purchase, CEO of Agbiz, the agricultural business chamber....
Solution for agriculture in Africa by Africans
The goal of the Africa Farm Management Association (AFMA) is to bring experts in agriculture from across Africa together to share knowledge that can help solve African problems, says AFMA...
De Jager rolls with the punches
Dr Theo de Jager, well known for his work in land reform and rural transformation, was voted out as deputy president of AgriSA and replaced by Dan Kriek (president of...
Monsanto targets smallholder farmers
Seed company Monsanto recently appointed Gyanendra Shukla as head of its African division. It has also set up headquarters in Kenya close to its intended future customers: East African smallholders.
Science vs philosophy
Accusations are rife that mainstream veld research has failed SA’s extensive livestock farmers. A group of well-known pasture scientists, including Dr Amie Aucamp, have publicly responded. Roelof Bezuidenhout asked him...
Tru-Cape: now for a bigger slice of the fruit market pie
Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing’s supply of apples and pears is growing – and so are its marketing ambitions. The company plans to increase market share in Africa, the Middle East and...
WRSA’s sustainable land reform model
Wildlife Ranching SA recently introduced its land reform transformation model during an indaba on the Bona Bona Game Farm near Klerksdorp. WRSA consultant Jacobus du Toit explained it to Annelie...
SA land reform must focus on smallholders
Land reform models that rely on group or communal farming rarely work, according to Prof Hans Binswanger, extraordinary professor of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Pretoria....
No-till in SA – The message spreads
Dr Johann Strauss, secretary for Conservation Agriculture Western Cape and scientist at the provincial department of agriculture, and Richard Findlay, committee member and co-ordinator of the No-Till Club in KwaZulu-Natal,...
