Opinion

Maintaining and managing SA’s scarce water resources have become highly contentious issues, especially in rural areas, says Gert Nel, partner and principal geohydrologist in SRK Consulting, East London.

Impending land reform legislation threatens food security and the rural economy. Dr Frans Cronje, CEO of the SA Institute of Race Relations, believes it is crucial to fight now for property rights.

Taking pictures might sound more civilised to some people, but hunting remains the driving force behind wildlife and habitat protection under most conditions, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.

Can you imagine burning your grain lands and killing your livestock and then buying your food at vastly inflated prices from your neighbour?

South Africa should engage urgently in a national debate on food production, and farmers should take heed of global food requirements in order to embrace production opportunities, says Prof Louise Fresco of the University of Amsterdam.

Boeta, how I wish you could have attended this year’s Free State Young Farmer conference with me.

In a country of naysayers and prophets of doom, Grain SA members are positive about the future and dedicated to transformation, says Grain SA CEO Jannie de Villiers.

Government’s new regulations for the importation of cattle, sheep and goats are misguided and unrealistic, says Mecki Schneider, chairperson of the Namibian Livestock Producers’ Organisation.

Jong, Ouboet, I’m telling you South Africa’s commercial cattle farmers really are world-class.

Although South Africa’s electricity prices are low by international standards, they are set to increase annually by 8% over five years. Gregor Kuepper, managing director of SolarWorld Africa, believes that solar energy will be crucial to meeting our energy needs.

Snollygoster. What a delightful new word I’ve learnt! A ‘snollygoster’ is someone, especially a politician, who is guided by a desire for personal advantage rather than by consistent, respectable principles, according to the dictionary. And that is what the DA’s Peter van Dalen called Minister Tina Joemat Pettersson in parliament.

The Department of Science and Technology’s recently released Bio-Economy Strategy outlines research and development initiatives for South African agriculture. A summary follows.

Josh Becker, CEO of Impele Consulting Group, offers advice on how small-scale farmers in Africa can be assisted to modernise their farming practices.

A South African study into the benefits of research proves that research and development is vital to a robust agricultural sector. ARC economist Aart-Jan Verschoor reports.

Jong Boet, some or other clever guy in history once said the people in a democracy deserve the government they get because they voted for it. What balderdash!! Let me tell you – nobody deserves a government that treats them with disdain and contempt.

And so the rains have come… blessings in abundance! Genadewater, as we in the Free State like to call it.

Land restitution in SA is currently concentrated on the issue of the ‘formerly dispossessed’. This is a recipe for disaster. The focus should be on food security and using land to its maximum economic potential, says TAU SA’s Danie du Plessis.

Dear Mr Zuma: This is Annelie from the Free State. I’m writing on behalf of myself and all the farmers I deal with. In this, your last election year, I want to ask you a few favours.

Agri-business consultant, Peter Hughes, urges South Africans to set aside their entrenched biases and embrace Africa’s great economic turnaround.

As a grower and chairperson of the Southern African Macadamia Growers Association (Samac), I share his frustrations at the apathy of some macadamia growers/handlers who continue to benefit from the important work done by Samac without contributing to its running.