Bottomline

Nosey Pieterse is the secretary general of the Building and Allied Workers’ Union of SA. He is also an emerging pig farmer. He entered the limelight during the violent farm worker strikes in late 2012 and early 2013 in the Western Cape.

Vusi Mlambo, enterprise development manager at fresh produce agent, RSA Group, has for the past six years helped thousands of local emerging farmers gain access to markets. Luyolo Mkentane spoke to him.

Gerhard Diedericks, head of Santam Agriculture, says that with the growing market for game in South Africa, especially for rare and exotic animals, and the high risk associated with this type of investment, insurance is becoming increasingly important.

Developing farmers’ lack of access to markets and facilities was highlighted by Eastern Cape Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, in an interview with Luyolo Mkentane. The minister is also keen to ignite a passion for agriculture amongst young people.

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 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 repositioning project, Cielo Blu, followed by the acquisition of Dairybelle’s UHT plant in the Western Cape and Dairybelle’s yoghurt plant in Bloemfontein. An upbeat Johann Vorster, Clover’s CEO, spoke to Nan Smith.

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 Association.

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 be increased in a sustainable way. Stias fellow Dr Janos Bogardi talks to Glenneis Kriel.

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 Western Cape Citrus Producers’ Forum, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the need for a coordinated marketing strategy.

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.

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.

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 Dairy Standards Agency, spoke to Lloyd Phillips about the importance of monitoring products.