Horror in the Free State
The Free State is in mourning. We’re all grieving about the nearly 185 000ha that’s been destroyed by veld fires in the province so far this season.
Food safety compromised by lack of glyphosate tests
South Africa is unable to conduct proper tests for glyphosphate residues on food – and until this capacity exists, glyphosate should not be allowed in food production, says Mariam Mayet,...
A lifetime of waiting – in vain
In this open letter to Minister Gugile Nkwinti, farmer Gideon Morule argues that government land policy aimed at blacks is as oppressive as apartheid laws.
Freedom for all
All property ownership will be affected if property rights protection is removed from the Constitution, says Temba Nolutshungu, a director of the Free Market Foundation.
Eish, guys – watch what you say (in public)!
To invest or not to invest... The jackal was really let loose following Agri SA vice-president Theo de Jager’s recent remarks about farmers investing in agriculture. Or, rather, not investing.
Adopt sustainable practices
Ant Muirhead, a 72-year-old Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal farmer says farmers should use no-till on their lands in order to farm sustainably – immediately.
Balancing self-interest in new relationships
The chicken import dispute between Brazil and South Africa is unlikely to upset newly formed geo-political alliances – for now, says Saliem Fakir, independent writer for the South African Civil...
An epidemic of criminal neglect
I seldom, if ever, agree with a politician, but I’m willing to make an exception when it comes to police minister Nathi Mthethhwa’s recent statement during a visit to Diepsloot...
Where is the policy REVOLUTION?
Government does not understand agriculture. This is clear in its obsession with implementing short-sighted policies that focus on detail and unnecessarily complicate farming. Lindi van Rooyen looks at examples of...
Revolutionising inequality
The National Democratic Revolution (NDR) has long been put forward as a way for the ANC to fix the ills of the past and ensure a more equal society. But...
Giving the seven billionth person enough to eat
Feeding the growing world population is a major challenge – yet far from impossible. At the recent Agricultural Business Chamber’s Congress in KwaZulu-Natal, Brazilian market strategist Prof Marcos Fava Neves...
Restitution in a cul-de-sac
The land reform process is going nowhere slowly with more unresolved land claims gazetted now than ever before. Dr Theo de Jager, deputy president of Agri SA, details the destruction...
Programme exploits workers
Government’s flagship job creation programme funds a number of labour-intensive programmes which benefit agriculture, such as the removal of alien plants and the patching up of rural roads. But the...
South Africans are quite an unhappy lot – apparently
Oh my word, we South Africans are apparently a sad lot. Even sadder than Zimbabweans.
Will a Grexit affect SA’s farmers?
With Greece on the brink of ditching the euro and financial markets on the edge due to uncertainty, Jaco Visser looks at two possible scenarios that could play themselves out.
World class agriculture vs land expropriation
World class agriculture – that is what South Africa’s primary food producers are all about.
Shame on them!
DA spokesperson for rural development and land reform, Athol Trollip’s response to minister Gugile Nkwinti’s budget speech for 2012/2013.
Constitutional Court: the saviour of farm land
The days of the minister of Mineral Resources granting permission to mining companies to operate on farm land against farmers’ wishes seem to be over, thanks to the Constitutional Court’s...
Agriculture budget speech
Food security and job creation were highlighted in the department’s budget, with special attention given to capacity building. Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson details how R5,8 billion will be spent.
Kudos to Grain SA!
Well done Grain SA! Nampo 2012 was a resounding success. For the first time in years I experienced the geniality and warm-heartedness that so distinguished Nampo in the past.
