Opinion

Once again left in the dark, courtesy of cable thieves, I used my laptop’s remaining battery power to read up on the impact of crime on South Africa’s economy.

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.

The five-point plan to address South Africa’s energy crisis was announced in December, yet the MPs responsible for implementing it are still waiting for a proper briefing.

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.

For those in affected farming areas, the devastation caused by the current drought in South Africa’s summer production region has been a reality for months.

Don’t be deterred by the caution accompanying ‘Custom Install’, says Greg Miles.

When Senzeni Zokwana was appointed minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries in May last year, the media focused on just two things: he was a former president of the National Union of Mineworkers and national chairperson of the SA Communist Party.

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.

Google offers maps and route planners.

Scientists have been warning us that climate change will alter rainfall patterns. They say that dryland summer crops in central South Africa will be affected most by an increase in temperature and lower rainfall.

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.

Those of you following our news coverage of the allegations surrounding People’s Bio Oil (PBO) would know that we have been trying for weeks to obtain comment from owners Vusi and Nomzamo Khoza.

The GT300 can easily be carried in a pocket or placed in a vehicle.

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.

News coming out of the ANC’s National Executive Committee’s recent lekgotla is worrying. Minister Gugile Nkwinti’s 50/50 proposal was mentioned again, and the NEC is proposing that government implement land ceilings of 12 000ha or two farms per person.

Farmers are already using social media – and making it pay.

The summer crop season, which had a promising start, is turning out to be a tough one for farmers in my home province of North West.

A recent newspaper report indicated that 1% of the world’s population would soon be wealthier than the rest of us combined.

Take a break, learn more about Bos taurus and astound your friends.

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.