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 to Annelie Coleman about the effects these pests have on African leafy vegetables, and how they can be effectively managed.
Agri training falling further behind
A widely held sentiment among farmers and agribusiness leaders is that South African agricultural colleges can no longer be trusted to produce appropriately trained, technically skilled professionals.
Caring for your tractor tyres
How long will your new tyres last? That depends on whether you use them correctly and drive carefully. And this applies regardless of tyre quality.
Beef farming as part of a broader business
Napoleon Holborn of Komga is the 2018 Agricultural Research Council’s Emerging Beef Farmer for the Eastern Cape. Mike Burgess visited him to learn about his beef operation and how he has built it, and his other business interests, on the solid foundation laid by his father.
Do you know what today’s consumers are eating?
Don’t be caught napping by changes in dietary trends. They could hit your profits hard. The data is there; analyse it and adapt your product range accordingly.
Swartland jam factory turns rejected fruit into profit
A fruit-manufacturing business at Piket-Bo-Berg in the Western Cape has created a market for rejected produce by turning it into jam, chutney and similar products. Jeandré van der Walt spoke to general manager Liebré Jacobs about her company’s achievements.
New fruit-sorting technology helps curb food waste
In 2018, Compac Sorting Equipment, part of TOMRA Food, launched its Field Research Unit, which can be deployed on lands to research the fresh produce industry’s most challenging issues. James Flocchini, Compac’s regional director for South Africa and Asia, spoke to Denene Erasmus about how the Field Research Unit will be used to develop solutions for the citrus industry specifically and how the technology can ultimately help limit food waste.
Study shows which policies succeed in developing agriculture
Research by the International Food Policy Research Institute and the International Institute for Sustainable Development analysed progress in agricultural development in 117 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to understand which policies have succeeded or failed. It then provided policy guidelines to help countries still at the subsidence farming stage to transform their agriculture sectors.
Serving SA farming for 108 years!
As a proud member of the South African media and agricultural landscape for the past 108 years, Farmer’s Weekly is celebrating a significant milestone today.
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.
Equine hydrotherapy for leg injuries
Spa therapy is now easily available in South Africa to treat injuries in sport horses, says Dr Mac.
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 the province is well suited to cotton cultivation if production is managed effectively.
