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 Groenewald how this non-profit organisation assists co-operatives in Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America to become ‘bankable’.
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 remain competitive.
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 Coetzee. Annelie Coleman met with him at the NAU offices in Windhoek to find out more about the impact of the new import regulations implemented by the SA government in May this year.
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 their clip and the fact that local wool is produced in an environmentally friendly manner. Annelie Coleman asked National Wool Growers’ Association chairperson, Harry Prinsloo, why SA wool was so sought-after.
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, Day says, it could inject about R3 billion into SA’s economy.
