Growing garlic: a golden opportunity for SA farmers
South Africa imports most of the garlic sold in the country, but the local industry can thrive if farmers work together and produce good-quality crops. Jacques Terblanche of Graceland Garlic...
Researchers advance in fight to control fall armyworm
Fall armyworm has caused significant damage to croplands in South Africa since first detected in early 2017. However, Dr Annemie Erasmus, a senior researcher of entomology at the Agricultural Research...
Tissue-cultured bananas: uniform and high-yielding
Establishing a healthy orchard starts with choosing the correct plant material. In South Africa’s only laboratory of its type, banana plants are cultivated from tissue culture to produce clones that...
Financial planning: crucial to sustainable production
To weather the impact of market fluctuations and extreme climatic conditions, producers have to think strategically about farming. Pieter de Jager spoke to Glenneis Kriel about his strategy.
How to grow Swiss chard at home
Swiss chard can either be sown directly or transplanted. Both methods have their pros and cons.
Switching to no-till? Restore degraded soil first!
It is often assumed that implementing no-till production is the immediate next step towards restoring degraded soils. Not so, says Guy Thibaud, a veteran soil scientist with the KwaZulu-Natal Department...
Nematodes’ negative impact on African leafy vegetables
Plant parasitic nematodes pose a serious threat to food security in Africa as they damage crops and hamper production. Dr Nancy Ntidi, a nematologist at the Agricultural Research Council, spoke...
Pioneering barley in the Swartland
The availability of improved varieties, mandate contracts and storage infrastructure promise to turn barley into a lucrative option in the Swartland. Gert Claassen, who five years ago started producing barley...
Getting ready to plant cucurbits
Before planting a land to any of the cucurbits, you should kill off all broad-leaved weeds nearby, preferably well beforehand.
Cotton can be more profitable than maize!
Cotton production in North West can be extremely lucrative, according to Arno Janse van Vuuren, manager of agricultural management at agribusiness NWK. A comprehensive survey by the company shows that...
How a small farmer became SA’s biggest pineapple producer
A unique microclimate in the southern Eastern Cape has given rise to a niche cropping industry that requires intensive precision production over a five- to seven-year cycle. Sabrina Dean paid...
Almonds: High value, huge potential
The establishment of an almond-processing facility in Robertson has the potential to turn South Africa into a leading exporter of these nuts. Stephan and Hans le Roux of Amanteco Almonds...
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