Resolute Namibian farmers cope with drought, disease
Namibia’s commercial farmers have endured hardship over the past year, with their resilience tested by a harsh extended drought and ongoing foot-and-mouth disease. Derek Wright, exiting president of the Namibian...
This too shall pass
The Big Bang left the universe in a constant state of change, and the climate here on planet Earth is no exception.
Renewable energy in Africa
The International Renewable Energy Agency recently released its Africa 2030: Roadmap for a Renewable Energy Future report. The report details the fact that Africa has significant potential to implement renewable...
Getting priorities straight
I like to think of myself as being reasonably even-tempered. But, like everyone, there are certain things that get my blood boiling. One of these is cruelty to the helpless...
Look after your staff and your staff will look after you
Richard Branson recently employed an ‘unlimited leave policy’. Risky, maybe, but it was a bold move and it worked.
Threats to commercial farms
The Transvaal Agricultural Union of South Africa (TAU SA) requested Frans Cronje from the South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR) to draw up a policy brief on how to...
A drought to test any farmer’s mettle
Who would have thought that the simple act of handling could be so detrimental to an animal’s health?
30 years of easy record-keeping
Numerous free Excel templates are available for farmers to download, says Greg Miles.
What’s in a handful of soil?
Soil plays a critical role in the survival of people, plants and animals, yet is vastly underappreciated by the world at large. Victor Roberts, specialist soil scientist at the KwaZulu-Natal...
First get the basics right
The agendas of Afasa and Agri SA’s recent conferences, held a week apart at the same venue in Pretoria, had striking similarities.
The must-have mobile scanner
This great app allows you to scan documents on the go with your phone, says Greg Miles.
Risk insurance vital for agricultural sector
Ryno du Toit, business development executive at Risk Benefit Solutions (RBS), an independent insurance and risk specialist, stresses the importance of mitigating risk in the agricultural sector.
Are farmers losing heart?
There was a palpable buzz during the course of last year’s Agri SA congress, something that I felt was missing at this year’s event.
The next food revolution: underground urban farming?
As apocalyptic as it sounds, a very successful underground farming initiative has seen the light of day (mind the pun) 33m under the busy streets of Clapham in London.
Do what is right and good
Agriculture should remain progressive and proactive if it is to ride out the storm, Kwanalu’s outgoing president, Mike Black, said at the union’s recent congress in Pietermaritzburg.
What about our water quality?
In the midst of the recent heat wave and prolonged drought, city folks were reminded of man’s dependence on water.
SAPS Rural Safety Strategy review underway
The South African Police Service (SAPS) is reviewing its 2011 Rural Safety Strategy in a series of stakeholder workshops held around the country. Brigadier Judith le Roux, section head of...
Maths counts, but South Africans can’t
If the World Economic Forum (WEF) is to be believed, South Africans are unhealthy, poorly educated and uncooperative.
Fast-tracking agri growth
Unlocking SA’s full agricultural production and processing potential is one of the ‘Big Five’ options to accelerate growth and job creation, according to a new McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) report.
