Co-operation works!
I was paging through the archives of the Institute of Market Agents of SA (IMASA) the other day when I came across the minutes of a joint meeting of the...
Potato tuber moth and other spud pests
Many pests target potatoes but most of these occur very occasionally and are likely to do minimal damage.
Tomatoes year-round – new cultivars
Producing tomatoes in tunnels is highly scientific, expertise-intensive and efficient in terms of area, water, nutrient and resource use. Keri Harvey visited Amanda Viljoen to find out how she does...
About bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is a “system of administration distinguished by its clear hierarchy of authority; rigid division of labour; written and inflexible rules and regulations; and impersonal relationships.
The risks of nematodes in potatoes
Nematodes are often referred to as ‘eel-’ or ‘roundworms’ because they resemble the common earthworm, but these parasites belong to a different grouping or phylum.
It’s Conference season again
On 22 and 23 August, the Produce Marketing Association of Southern Africa (PMA) will host its annual international conference, ‘Fresh Connections’, at the University of Pretoria.
Likely potato insect pests
One pest will invariably occur if provision isn’t made to deal with it. This is cutworm.
Supervision is all
In the 22 June issue of Farmer’s Weekly, Paul Lynch, chairperson of the SA Wool & Mohair Buyers Association, bemoans the lowering of wool classing standards, saying: “Farmers are not...
Controlling nitrogen application is important
Your basic fertilisation of the potato crop should have been done according to a soil analysis, leaving the main variable, nitrogen, to be managed as circumstances require.
Protecting the soil
Hopefield entrepreneur, Francois Turner, hasn’t ploughed his potato lands since 2007. He explained to Keri Harvey how the no-till method of farming potatoes works and why he believes it’s the...
Small-scale farming booms in Kenya
Seed research, a special training model and financial support are helping to transform small-scale farming in Kenya, improving both yields and returns. Bob Koigi reports.
Food safety
A market may not process food, but it can surely be classified as a ‘food distribution facility’, the food here being ‘fresh produce’.
Weed control and ridging of potatoes
Management of the potato crop after planting depends on various factors. One is weed control. The procedure you use will depend on what sort of weeds you can expect in...
Karoo small-scale wine producer excels
Garagiste winemaking is growing in popularity in South Africa. Denene Erasmus visited Herman and Susan Perold on their award-winning 1ha wine estate in the Great Karoo to find out more...
Lofty objectives
A reader emailed me recently about his fruit being rejected at the market by a department of agriculture inspector because the cartons weren’t properly marked with all the information required...
Running a tight ship
Diversifying from sugar cane into macadamias and tunnel tomatoes demanded careful monitoring of data and water quality by Stuart Borchers in order to generate a valuable weekly income. Robyn Joubert...
Why potato irrigation is so important
As potatoes can have a confined and intense root system, together with a fairly large leaf area, it stands to reason irrigation requirements will differ from other crops.
Now’s the time!
While I’m on a roll about the positive developments taking place on markets, there’s another issue which I believe needs attention in the sector.
West Coast’s natural veggies
Werner Brand is growing vegetables successfully, using organic methods, on the arid, windy West Coast – an almost unheard-of achievement. Keri Harvey visited him to find out how he does...
Potato planting procedures
Potatoes are a productive crop and as such are heavy feeders. The potato also has a rather confined root system, so make sure the fertiliser is placed where the roots...
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