Crops

On Nooitgedacht farm near Kenhardt in the Northern Cape, drought isn’t a crisis – it’s a way of life. But by improving soil health, Charl Saunderson has managed to make his land more resilient and productive in one of South Africa’s toughest farming regions.

Delicate, high-value crops such as lettuce and herbs can provide high returns, but are susceptible to disease and sensitive to extreme weather. In the Western Cape, one retail supplier is getting around these challenges by marrying outdoor shade netting tunnels and hydroponics.

Tomato farming has become a high-stakes, high-input business where success depends on getting many moving parts right at once. From seed choice and soil preparation to climate control, irrigation, nutrition and pest management, every stage of the crop’s life cycle demands precise, season-specific decisions.

Vineyard success is built from the ground up, starting with the correct planting and care of new vines. Glenneis Kriel reports on the advice of viticulturist Marko Roux on how growers can give vines the best possible start.

Malawi had a bumper tobacco year in 2025, selling more than 221 000t, up 66% year-on-year. Farmer’s Weekly spoke to the country’s Tobacco Commission and a local farmer about the industry.

Zimbabwean tobacco farmer Denford Mutwiwa has built a large-scale commercial operation by treating farming as a business, using contract funding and renewable energy to overcome limited bank support and unreliable power supply.

This species is grossly underrated, most probably due to climatic restrictions as to where it can be grown, writes Bill Kerr.

Local litchi producers compete with Madagascar and Mauritius during the counter-seasonal summer harvest. To meet global demand, production chains must stay efficient, says Jaco Henery, production manager at Komati Fruits, who explains how they manage their harvest for exports.

TopFruit provides South African producers with stone fruit varieties that meet specific market demands. Our selection spans the entire growing season and includes cultivars with varying chilling requirements, ensuring adaptability across different climates and production conditions.

Sugar cane farmer Pratish Sharma shares his practical insights with Octavia Avesca Spandiel on aspects like soil health, pests, irrigation, harvesting, and industry rules, offering useful guidance for anyone entering South Africa’s highly regulated sugar industry.

Indigenous crops like Bambara groundnut, amaranth, sorghum, and cowpeas offer climate-resilient, nutrient-rich, niche market opportunities in South Africa, despite structural and commercial challenges.

Successful grain production requires adherence to a range of non-negotiables, including optimal timing of planting, crop protection and harvest. Mpumalanga grain producers Michael and Gareth Allen spoke to Lindi Botha about the technology that drives high yields, amid so many variables.

Since he started farming in 2017, Gauteng vegetable farmer Jaco Botes has gone through a process of trial and error to find the right mix of crops, the best cultivars, and market agents he can count on. Lindi Botha reports on his strategies, insights, and breakthroughs.

There is a distinct fruity aroma associated with the Capsicum frutescens species of chilli pepper, and it’s also quite pungent.

Seed onion production is proving a valuable drought risk mitigation strategy for several farmers in the Karoo Highlands of the Northern Cape, around Williston, Fraserburg, and Calvinia. Hannes Esterhuyse spoke to Farmer’s Weekly about his mixed operation.

Seniren Naidoo, who farms in Upper Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal, has merged ancestral wisdom with modern business acumen to build a thriving agricultural enterprise. He spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about his operation, which is rooted in indigenous crops, sustainability, and innovation.

When Jacques de Villiers took over the Giba banana farm in Kiepersol, Mpumalanga, after a hurricane destroyed the plantation, he had little more than experience and determination to work with. By reviving old plantations, tightening labour management, and applying data-driven precision, he is proving that banana farming can be profitable and sustainable – even on a shoestring budget.

Father-and-son team Kallie Snr and Kallie Jnr of CPJ Erasmus & Seun Boerdery in Limpopo’s Letsitele Valley have built a thriving pepper enterprise in a region dominated by citrus production and are regarded as leading pepper producers in South Africa.

Thulani Magida is the poster child for communal farming in South Africa, demonstrating that commercial success is possible. But his journey also highlights the challenges this segment faces, providing valuable lessons to those questioning the slow pace of transformation.

Among the Brassica genus types, broccoli has been one of the popular choices for farmers in cooler climates. In the past, broccoli was rotated out in summer, but farmers like Danie Barnard have used lower summer temperatures and advancements in cultivars to plant high volumes all year around. Henning Naudé spoke to Barnard about his production approach to satisfy market demand while maintaining high-quality yields.