Crops

Although beans are generally a quick and easy crop to grow, problems can occur before the plant emerges.

Recently, I wrote about the eight marketing options available to a fresh produce farmer and the need for these to give value for money.

Canola is no longer a crop that farmers can neglect. It is a valuable cash crop that can achieve high yields, provided that producers make careful cultivar selections and manage the crop correctly. Jacques Claassen reports on what is expected of the 2015 season.

Beans are a quick, easy crop – provided all the precautions are taken.

A few years ago, there was a flurry of interest from Namibia, Mozambique and Botswana, among others, to establish fresh produce markets.

Green bean farming in South Africa has changed considerably over the past twenty years or so. Not long ago, beans were planted and weeded by hand.

Long grown in India and Pakistan, and more recently in the US, Australia and other parts of Africa, guar is now being introduced to South African crop farmers as a hardy and high-value legume crop for marginal soils.

I always remind the market agents whom I train that when it comes to marketing options, they are one of eight available to a farmer.

Adverse environmental conditions and disease are placing increasing pressure on maize crops in South Africa, says Dr Belinda Janse van Rensburg, researcher at the ARC-Grain Crops Institute.

Green and dry beans are the same species, Phaseolus vulgaris. The scarlet runner (P.coccineus) which is still popular in many countries as a home garden variety, is a different species and will not cross with P. vulgaris by conventional methods.

Agriculture has never been considered a ‘sexy’ career choice for young people. So full marks must go to the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) for its initiative, launched a few years ago, to attract young people into the broader agricultural community.

Recently, I read an interesting article entitled ‘The Bathsheba Syndrome: the ethical failure of successful leaders,’ by Dean Ludwig and Clinton Longenecker.

Many of the techniques described for cabbage and cauliflower apply to broccoli.

Grain farmer David Maleleka ascribes his success to hard work, perseverance and mentorship. He was chosen as a beneficiary of the Omnia New Business Development project because of his proven record as a grain producer and his commitment as a farmer.

In the 1940s, there were about 135 fresh produce markets scattered around South Africa. Almost every dorp had a market.

The sugarcane industry contributes 11% to agri-employment, and creates around 79 000 direct jobs. The crop is resilient, with the ability to bounce back despite tough growing conditions.

Growing cauliflower is very similar to growing cabbage. Nevertheless, there are some important points that need to be considered to ensure successful production of cauliflower.

Grain SA recently hosted a conservation agriculture promotion day for smallholder farmers growing crops on communal lands in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. A number of knowledgeable speakers shared their tips with the farmers and spoke about why they too should join the CA implementation movement – and how.

Farmers around the world use some form of co-operative marketing to sell their fresh fruit and vegetables.

Award-winning table grape farmer, Pieter Joubert from De Doorns, says that attention to production detail and a professional and dedicated workforce are equally important in successful grape farming.