Earthworms boost organic exports
The Rethabiseng Food Garden Project’s new flow-through vermicasting operation not only complements the organic production of vegetables and herbs, but is helping to combat climate change.
Faith in the future of farming – Sakkie van Zyl
Sakkie van Zyl, Agri North West’s 2014 Young Farmer of the Year, is so positive about the economic prospects of SA agriculture that he left the corporate world to join...
SA apples: all set for healthy growth
By embracing new technology to ensure a greater yield and utilising resources efficiently, South African apple producers can look forward to a bright future.
Fine fruit: the heart of top olive oil
Olyfberg Olive Estate, one of SA’s original commercial olive producers, is renowned for its award-winning blended extra virgin olive oil. Estate manager Pieter Kruger stresses that this success begins in...
Grassroots no-till in Argentina
Argentina is engaged in comprehensive research on no-till – and its crop farmers benefit directly from its results. Lloyd Phillips spoke to a number of no-till farmers operating under various...
Doing the tango with no-till in Argentina
Argentina’s commercial crop-farming sector is a world leader in no-till practices, ensuring that the country can be confident of a sustainable and productive agricultural future.
Moringa: superfood for the hungry
A KZN husband and wife team are growing and distributing the highly nutritious Moringa tree amongst the poorest of the poor.
Making smallholder farming work
Introducing best-farming practices to developing agricultural communities heavily reliant on manual labour or outdated methods, can dramatically increase productivity, sustainability and job opportunities.
Diversification and value-adding rewarded
Wesselsbron maize farmer Boeboe Louw is the Free State Young Farmer of the Year for 2014. He shares his farming philosophy with Annelie Coleman.
Improving water usage efficiencies in sugarcane
The global sugar industry is often slammed for wasting freshwater resources. In SA, sugar farmers and processors have found practical ways to improve water use efficiency.
Irrigation for protected crops
Paddy de Vries, national technical advisor for Hygrotech, talks to Nan Smith about basic fertigation techniques for tunnel farming.
‘We earn much more from sugarcane’
Supported by the Swazi government, the EU, Illovo and traditional chiefs, a smallholder sugarcane farming project is alleviating poverty in its area of operation.
The farming philosophy of a top maize farmer
American farmer David Hula holds the current world record for maize grain yield. On a recent lecture tour of South Africa’s principal grain farming areas, he shared some of the...
Supreme yield in soya
American farmer Kip Cullers holds the world record for soya bean yield. On a recent lecture tour of South Africa’s grain farming areas, he spoke about maximising yield.
A partnership built on pineapples & a promise
Hluhluwe’s first black, queen pineapple grower has enormous support from his mentor and staff – but a lack of financial continuity from government could upend their best efforts.
Hands-on apple success in the Greyton district
Greyton is not known as an apple-growing area. Yet here, the farm Ouplaas boasts profitable apple orchards, thanks to organic compost and hands-on management. Nonetheless, heavy summer rains required smart...
Cultivating pseudo-grains in South Africa
The NuGrainSA Consortium introduced pseudo-grains to South Africa in 2013. Plant breeder at ARC-Roodeplaat, Willem Jansen van Rensburg, says that quinoa and grain amaranth are the most promising for local...
With mushroom & moringa on the side
After the success of the Winterveld Citrus Project, Winterveld United Farmers’ Association’s first project, its members decided to diversify and supplement their income. Philip Kgosana explains to Peter Mashala why...
Indigenous ‘Kanna’ keeps you calm & focused
Inspired by indigenous knowledge, a South African company has developed a natural, highly effective, mood-lifting and anxiety-reducing plant extract from the succulent plant, Sceletium tortuosum. Denene Erasmus spoke to Dr...
Cheap imports dampen aspirations
Sugarcane farmer Lee Hlubi is working hard to contribute to the agricultural economy. But the influx of cheap sugar imports is threatening to derail her efforts.
