Farming Basics

Amathole Berries near Stutterheim expects to yield 3 000t of blueberries per season by 2020. Mike Burgess spoke to acting CEO Ryan Davies about the company’s challenges and its place in the berry corridor.

Ntombi Msimang is the chairperson of the Agri-Sector Unity Forum (ASUF), which was established in November last year amid calls for greater unity in agriculture. Lindi van Rooyen spoke to her.

Major agricultural products supplier, Dicla Farm & Seed, recently established a training centre near Tarlton, north-west of Johannesburg, to equip new small-scale farmers and farm workers with practical skills and knowledge. Peter Mashala visited the Dicla Training Centre.

Sound management and investing in human resources has brought Gilbert Phalafala swift success.

Dried fruit company, At Source Handmade Foods, was founded in 2002 and just over a decade later it is one of the three largest local dried tree fruit businesses, capturing an estimated 15% share of the formal retail market. Denene Erasmus spoke to the founder, Handri Conradie and technical manager Anton Erwee, about how they revolutionised the dried fruit business.

Investment in companies that provide sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions to agricultural production is gaining momentum as concern grows over farming’s impact on the earth’s resources. Lindi van Rooyen spoke to Rudi van Niekerk, investment advisor at private equity investment fund Agri-Vie, about investing in bio-crop production company Hygrotech.

SA’s biggest macadamia processor, Green Farms Nut Company, has entered into a joint venture with its Australian counterparts to become the world’s largest macadamia marketing company.

With renewable energy increasingly being promoted internationally as better for the environment, Eskom is in the process of incorporating renewably-produced electricity into the national grid. Eskom’s CEO, Brian Dames, explained this process to Lloyd Phillips.

Agribusiness VKB has stabilised the Free State grain market by establishing a chicken broiler project and building a state-of-the-art chicken abattoir in Reitz. Sas Kasselman of Grain Fields Chickens says diversification contributes to food security and creates extra income. Annelie Coleman reports.

After nearly six years at the National Agriculture Marketing Council (NAMC), Prof André Jooste recently took over as CEO of Potatoes South Africa (PSA). He spoke to Robyn Joubert about his vision for the future.

Big timber companies may not consider porcini mushrooms to be worth much effort, but an Italian mushroom picker has made a meaty business out of this gourmet food. Robyn Joubert reports.

In the political dust cloud kicked up in the wake of the farm strikes in the Western Cape, it has been difficult to see exactly why the strikes took place in the first place. Now that the various parties are locked in negotiations, it is even more difficult to see what the outcomes of the negotiations are likely to be, and beyond this, what consequences the country should brace for. Professor Mohammad Karaan of Stellenbosch University has observed these historic events from a ringside seat (when he hasn’t been participating directly). Sean Christie caught up with him.

Brienne van der Walt was recently appointed managing executive of Absa AgriBusiness as part of the bank’s restructuring. He spoke to Lindi van Rooyen about Absa AgriBusiness’s renewed focus on the farmer and branching into Africa.

Agriculture remains the main source of employment and income in rural areas, where the majority of the world’s poor and hungry people live. Ertharin Cousin, executive director of the World Food Programme, explains how, through its Purchase for Progress initiative, the organisation supports smallholder farmers, whose pooled resources provide them more buying and negotiating power.

The Glenconner & District Predator Management Forum said in an article published in Farmer’s Weekly last week that jackal and caracal populations are increasing and that drastic steps must be taken for small-stock producers to survive. Dr Dan Parker of the Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group at Rhodes University responds. Nan Smith reports.

A father and daughter team from Zimbabwe bought a hydroponic farm and packhouse in Ballito in 2008. They positioned their business for growth by embracing government’s desire to advance black economic empowerment. Robyn Joubert reports.

Arthur Rudman, chairperson of the Glenconner and District Predator Management Forum, describes how predator control is being tackled as a community project in the Uitenhage bushveld. Roelof Bezuidenhout interviewed him.

Grain SA’s Farmer Development Programme chairperson, Victor Mongoato, says land is only valuable if it is used properly. He told Annelie Coleman that the programme’s main aim therefore is to train and support farmers who are not producing grain optimally on their land.

SABMiller has expanded its African beer brand, Chibuku, into 10 countries across Africa. Hloni Matsela, director of Corporate Affairs at SABMiller Africa, gives an overview of its plans. Robyn Joubert reports.

Too few SA youngsters are interested in agriculture as a career. Puso Segoe feels this is due to farmers failing to expose their children to farming from an early age. Fortunately, his father involved him fully, he told Peter Mashala.