Why conservation agriculture must be promoted in SA
In contrast to other parts of the world, like the Americas, the use of conservation agriculture methods in South Africa is still relatively limited. It is vital that this situation be remedied urgently, says Richard Findlay of the KZN No-Till Club.
Guided by economic realities
After so many false starts, we have surely learned enough lessons about land reform to start making the right decisions, says Roelof Bezuidenhout.
Imported products are cheap, but far from cheerful
Buying imported products because they are cheaper than locally produced products makes economic sense, right? Kevin Lovell, CEO of the SA Poultry Association, explains why it doesn’t.
There’s little space to swing the fiscal cat…
SA’s low growth expectations, crumbling infrastructure and increasing social burden means that minister Nhlanhla Nene must take some brave decisions, says Agbiz economist Lindie Stroebel.
We’re in the same team – Cyril Xaba
Cyril Xaba, KZN MEC for the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, facilitated an historic meeting in January between his department and KZN commercial commodity organisations. Here he presented his new strategy for agribusiness in the province.
Organic vs GM crops in Africa
GM crops are no instant solution for feeding Africa, but neither is pure organic farming. The solution lies somewhere in between. So says Dr Charlie Reinhardt, extraordinary professor in weed science at the University of Pretoria and dean of Villa Crop Protection’s Villa Academy.
Raising SA’s ‘speed limit’
Prof Ricardo Hausmann, director of the Center for International Development at Harvard University and Venezuela’s former minister of planning, looks at the economic challenges facing South Africa. He delivered this presentation at a recent symposium in Johannesburg.
Why credit ratings matter, even to farmers
When South Africa’s credit rating was left intact just before the festive season, a cautious sigh of relief reverberated throughout South Africa’s financial markets and government corridors. Why are credit ratings so crucial and what would a downward revision mean to farmers? Jaco Visser looks at the importance of these measures.
The keys to unlocking Africa’s food potential
To feed its own population of two billion by 2044, let alone become the world’s breadbasket, Africa will have to rely on commercial farmers. So says Brienne van der Walt, managing executive of Absa and Barclays Africa Agribusiness. In the same way, the success of land transformation in SA
will depend on whether it is done through commercial or small-scale farming.
Regulating antibiotic usage – Germany leads the way
The European Union is increasingly coming down hard on indiscriminate use of antibiotics in livestock production, posing many challenges for farmers. Speaking at EuroTier 2014 in Germany, Dr Hans-Joachim Götz, president of the German Federal Association of Practising Veterinary Surgeons, outlined a new systematic approach to the problem.
Man vs wildlife: a balancing act
Roelof Bezuidenhout reacts to a recent Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management (CPW) fact sheet dealing with human impact on wildlife and its ecological fallout.
New Year messages for 2015
Leaders in South African agriculture look back on the achievements and challenges of 2014 while anticipating the demands and opportunities of the year ahead.
