Farming Basics

As consumers grow more affluent, they become more fastidious about the food they eat. This trend has sparked a rising demand for food that is produced in an environmentally friendly fashion. Dr Hannes Swart, the chairperson of the local organising committee of the World Veterinary Poultry Association Congress, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about this trend and its effect on the local poultry industry.

Soweto businessman Xolani Ndzaba has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. He spoke to Luyolo Mkentane about how he founded Lethabo Milling, SA’s first black-owned milling company.

South African stock farmers face an ongoing battle against predators. Merino farmer Guillau du Toit, newly-elected chairperson of the Predation Management Forum (PMF) and the National Wool Growers’ Association, spoke to Lourens Schoeman about the PMF’s proposals to improve the situation.

Four years ago, Simply Bee was selling bottled honey from 240 hives. Today, the company manufactures more than 50 products from over 600 hives, selling them at 163 outlets across South Africa and exporting them to several countries. Yet every item is still handmade in Hopefield.

The Boer goat can help to make emerging farmers successful, and they also have a large local and foreign stud market.

The big grocery retailers in the UK underwent considerable growth between 1990 and 2010. In more recent years, this trend has reversed, with most of these supermarkets experiencing a slump in sales. Justin King, former CEO of Sainsbury’s UK, explains the shift in consumer behaviour driving this phenomenon, and the implications for the rest of the retail world.

Macadamia nuts are in huge demand internationally, yet global production is nowhere near meeting this. A teamwork strategy in KwaZulu-Natal is aiming to take full advantage of the growth potential of South African macadamia production.

Violence affecting farming communities is a dreaded reality in SA and in the long term could be devastating for rural communities, Free State Agriculture’s safety analysts Dr Jane Buys and Gernie Botha told Annelie Coleman.

Over the past three years, Durbanville Hills wine cellar has saved thousands of rands simply by changing the way it uses electricity. Cellar master Martin Moore talked to Glenneis Kriel about these changes.

Ernest Pringle, head of Agri SA’s Development Council and outgoing president of Agri Eastern Cape, says that farmers accept land reform to be a prime concern, but judging by the national budget, government does not. He spoke to Nan Smith.

An Eastern Cape distributor is marketing a unique maize seed pack to communal homestead maize producers with notable success. Mike Burgess visited Border Seed Distributors to investigate why this product is revolutionising household maize yield in the former Transkei.

The University of the Free State (UFS) supports the development of a long-term sustainable and profitable agricultural sector on the African continent, according to Prof Neil Heideman, dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the institution. Annelie Coleman asked him how the university has positioned itself to add value to the sector.

Retired broker, Hennie Lamprecht, runs a profitable, free-range chicken farming operation.

Agriculture is key to SA’s economy and government must provide legislation to help the sector thrive. Designate CEO Omri van Zyl explains his views on the future of agriculture to Gerhard Uys.

Careful financial planning is required before moving off the grid. Prof Alan Brent from the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies shared some crucial cost calculations with Glenneis Kriel.

Dr Christo Marais, chief director of natural resource management programmes at the Department of Environmental Affairs, spoke to Roelof Bezuidenhout about challenges and opportunities in the sector.

German-born Ludwig Taschner is SA’s best-known rose grower and breeder. Mike Burgess visited his nursery, Ludwig’s Roses, north of Pretoria, to learn about the building of a business that defines the country’s rose industry.

The traceability of food products is growing in importance across the world, and the sooner South Africa’s red meat value chain grasps its value, the better, according to Prof Frikkie Neser, animal scientist at the University of the Free State. He told Annelie Coleman that a traceability system is essential to counteract the dwindling profitability of red meat production in South Africa.

Indwe Trust NPC, an NGO based in Cape Town, has initiated several social upliftment projects in the Eastern Cape. Co-founder and managing director Mpumelelo Ncwadi explained the motivation behind these ventures to Glenneis Kriel.

Capespan SA appointed Stuart Symington as new managing director earlier this year. He previously served as CEO of the Perishable Products Export Control Board and CEO of the Fresh Fruit Exporters’ Forum. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the future of Capespan SA.