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,...
Calling for more risk-takers
Recently, while driving between Jamestown and Molteno in the Eastern Cape on our way to visit my in-laws, my family and I came upon an astonishing sight – scores of...
Social media can work for your business
If you have an agricultural service or product to sell, you need social media.
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,...
Are we nurturing our future farmers?
The matric results confirmed that my son’s career choice of becoming an engineer (he wants to build robots) is a good one.
Shopping at online app stores
Some apps are available only in certain countries, so a change in ID is needed.
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.
Keep your eyes on the future
This time last year, large parts of South Africa were experiencing a drought said to be the worst in living memory.
Let’s join the renewable energy bandwagon
With the latest spate of load shedding on everyone’s lips, I once again realised it’s a crying shame that we don’t harness sunny and windy South Africa’s potential to be...
Carols by candlelight – in more ways than one!
I love to sing and I love the glow of candles, so, unsurprisingly, I enjoy carols by candlelight.
Empowering the small farmer
SA smallholder farmers have access to the best research, the most comprehensive supply of inputs, and the most sophisticated financial sector in Africa. Now is the time for them to...
Farmers – time to wake up to the future
Dr Piet Croucamp, political analyst and Namibian sheep farmer, spoke to farmers at Agri Limpopo’s annual congress on agriculture in South Africa over the next 20 years.
What’s in a brand?
Knowing what brand of wine we are drinking influences most of us in how we taste and enjoy it.
Let’s grow SA’s agri sector!
At the Afasa congress in Pretoria earlier this year, agriculture minister Senzeni Zokwana made a strong case for sensible, ongoing discussions between stakeholders, and the return to a good work...
Transformation: is everyone on board?
Depending on whom you ask, Theo de Jager’s being voted out of the deputy presidency at AgriSA can be interpreted as anything from serious internal differences within the organisation to...
The merits of mentorship scheme
The mentorship of new farmers is more than mere teaching – it is about building a relationship based on commitment. Agricultural economist at the University of Pretoria, Dr Fanie Terblanche,...
Can we afford a national minimum wage?
As thousands of matriculants and university students sit down to write their final exams, I bet they’re thinking about the day they can begin making their own way in the...
The future of game ranching
Does the future of game ranching depend on pure conservation principles, pure economics, or a blend of the two? Roelof Bezuidenhout explores the issue.
