The big problem with SA’s small farms
To bridge the wealth gap in South Africa, it makes more sense to consolidate small plots into economically viable units than trying to raise the production levels of subsistence farming....
Good riddance to 2016
Finally, we have come to the end of a year that has tested farmers in this country like no other year before, and I am reminded of the poet, Robert...
Agriculture must act now to curb climate change
Agriculture must contribute more to combating climate change while bracing to overcome its impacts, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) report ‘The State of Food and...
Is farming in SA worth the risk?
I recently asked Agbiz CEO, Dr John Purchase, whether or not, all things considered, he would, in good conscience, advise someone with no current investment in agriculture to go ahead...
Scientific management – key to successful game farming
Game breeding has become a highly specialised industry that requires the same level of scientific management as livestock production to ensure long-term genetic gain and avoid inbreeding. SA Stud Book...
Increased minimum wage not the answer
South Africans are nervously awaiting the announcement by ratings agencies on whether the country has retained its sovereign credit rating, or if it has been downgraded to junk status.
Where is farming headed?
Natural gas exploration, changing voting patterns and new technologies are some of the issues that need to be closely monitored by the agricultural sector.
Namibia’s livestock sector: the obstacles & way forward
Outgoing president of Namibia’s Livestock Producers’ Organisation (LPO), Mecki Schneider, looks back on the highs and lows of 2016, and calls for ‘smarter’ farming and rangeland rehabilitation.
Eskom has become too big to save
John Kane-Berman, former CEO of the Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) and currently a policy fellow at the institute, shares his views on unbundling and privatising Eskom.
Making do with less water: the new reality of farming
As the impact of an extended period of drought across Southern Africa continues, the concern is setting in among commercial and small-scale farmers that a water-constrained environment may no longer...
“Houston, we have a harvest!”
The film The Martian, based on the novel by Andy Weir, has captivated audiences across the world since its premiere in 2015.
Africa’s urgent need for greater crop diversification
Maria Andrade, one of the winners of the World Food Prize 2016, explains why crop diversification is essential for agriculture in Africa, and highlights the benefits of introducing new staple...
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