Fighting a bush war in Namibia
Namibia has a serious bush encroachment problem, says Dagmar Honsbein, general manager of Agra Limited’s ProVision. Annelie Coleman spoke to her about causes and solutions.
Making co-operatives bankable
Co-operatives in developing countries often aspire to growth, but struggle to access the necessary capital, says Cees van Rij, team manager at Dutch agribusiness consultancy, Agriterra. He explained to Anneli...
Grass-Fed Association of SA launched
Farmers keen to produce free-range meat now have the backing of a new association. Heather Dugmore speaks to GFSA chairperson Adrian Cloete.
Land Bank pledges support for small farmers
The Land Bank’s acting CEO, Lindiwe Mdlalose, says the bank can assist emerging farmers wanting to enter the commercial arena, while continuing to support commercial farmers to ensure that they...
Livestock imports from Namibia no threat to SA
The Namibian livestock health status is superior to the SA health status and poses no risk to the local livestock industry. This is according to Namibian Agricultural Union CEO Sakkie...
Just how safe is our water?
While South Africa is a semi-arid country, there is poor efficiency in water use, says Dr Jennifer Molwantwa of the Water Research Commission.
Bridging the gaps – Winde’s plans for the Western Cape
Alan Winde, the Western Cape’s new MEC for agriculture, economic development and tourism, intends unblocking bureaucracy and creating an agri-friendly environment.
Helen Zille’s take on SA agriculture
DA leader Helen Zille believes that agriculture has a critical role to play in addressing unemployment and poverty.
New agri minister to farmers: ‘Let’s sit down and talk’
Newly appointed minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, Senzeni Zokwana, says he wants to govern the sector on the basis of open dialogue between government and agriculture stakeholders.
Farmers can benefit from packaging innovations
Azapak supplies packaging to the agriculture sector. Managing director Yagen Padayachee told Denene Erasmus about his company’s latest products.
Weak rand, superb clip boost SA wool industry
A wool farmers are benefiting from high international wool prices and a weak rand. But it’s not just the exchange rate that’s in their favour, it’s the top quality of...
The importance of performance recording
The International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) aims to promote the development and improvement of performance recording and evaluation of livestock. Annelie Coleman spoke to ICAR president Uffe Lauritsen.
The Free Market Foundation’s land reform initiative
Stanley Karombo talks to Gail Day of the FMF about its project to convert 33 000 council-owned urban plots to full freehold title. If the government adopted a similar approach,...
Tunnel farming: SA goes Dutch
Greenport Holland International (GHI), comprising 50 Dutch horticultural businesses, has formed as partnership with SA companies and stakeholders in the industry. Called the RSA-NED platform, it seeks to develop a...
Dealing with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome
Hanlie Snyman from the Institute for Disability Innovation (IDI) in the Northern Cape explains the need for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) awareness, support, prevention, as well as skills training programmes...
Optimising grazing on communal land
A new pilot project seeks to help farmers manage communal land grazing more efficiently. Nerpo CEO Dr Langelihle Simela speaks to Stanley Karombo.
Youth wage subsidy
The new youth wage subsidy, correctly called the Employment Tax Incentive Act, came into law on 1 January. Theo Boshoff, legal advisor to AgriSA, spoke to Nan Smith about it.
The truth about jackal tales
‘Jackal narratives and predator control in the Karoo’ is the title of a working paper by Prof Beatrice Conradie of the Sustainable Societies Unit at UCT, and researcher Prof Nicoli...
Harry Prinsloo discusses predator management
Many small-stock farmers fear that escalating losses to predators will eventually ruin them. Roelof Bezuidenhout spoke to Harry Prinsloo, chairperson of the Predation Management Forum, about steps being taken to...
Positioning Illovo Sugar for growth in Africa
After only six months at the helm of Africa’s biggest sugar company, Illovo’s managing director, Gavin Dalgleish (48), already has a big vision for growing his company further. He talks...
