Ineptitude or blatant discrimination?
Recent court cases dealing with water use licences to farmers were a slap in the face for the Department of Water Affairs. The courts held, in effect, that the department’s...
Nkwinti’s men neither willing nor able
Having had quite enough of the constant stream of criticism from fed-up farmers about the various failures of land reform, minister of rural development...
Constitution under threat?
Our Constitution has been hailed everywhere as an example to all divided societies of what can be achieved by rational debate, compromise and goodwill, but now it seems as if...
Decades on – still paying the Cubans
South Africa’s grant of R40 million to Cuban farmers for seed purchases is baffling when local farmers’ requests for subsidies have been denied. Lindi van Rooyen asks when the Cuban...
Tina’s antics are unbecoming
Let’s make no mistake – we’ve probably got the most beautiful minister of agriculture in the world. But Tina Joemat-Pettersson’s increasingly unpredictable behaviour is worrying.
Grudging respect for the black- backed jackal.
Skêlm, cunning, clever... that is Canis mesomelas, better known as the black-backed jackal. I know I might be putting my foot in it, but I have a grudging respect for...
Rural reform through co-ops
The UN has proclaimed 2012 the International Year of Co-operatives and, according to Langa Zita, director-general of the department of agriculture, co-ops are central to agricultural development.
Get involved in farm security
Why on God’s green earth would anybody want to hurl a petrol bomb into the cabin of 36-year-old Christo van Rensburg’s bakkie? What could have been the motive behind such...
GM crops riding high
South African plantings of genetically modified crops are surging ahead without any evidence of ill-effects on humans, animals, or the environment, said Dr Pieter Mulder, deputy minister of Agriculture, Forestry...
The danger of flash trading
Heard of ‘flash trading’? No? Neither have I and the majority of grain producers in the country. Well, Boeta, this is mind-boggling technology that might very well affect you on...
What needs to be done to ensure food security in SA
Too many people in SA still do not get enough to eat. To attain ‘zero-hunger’, organisations such as Grain SA need to work with government to ensure enough affordable food...
Man among men
“He who sees the invisible will achieve the impossible,” said Helen Keller, and coming from that great man Brand Pretorius it’s not just another nice quotation one remembers for a...
Give credit where credit is due
Our commercial farmers must get credit for the good that they do in their local communities.
Is intra-African trade the only answer?
Bonani Nyhodo, researcher at the National Agricultural Marketing Council, says EU-Africa trade liberalisation will be of little benefit to the continent. Africa must build its infrastructure and trade internally.
An apology to Ian Player
My heart bleeds for Ian Player, that grand old man of nature conservation in South Africa. Oom Ian, I’m so sorry for what they’re doing to the rhinos you and...
New energy at the 2012 Grain SA congress
Hats off to Jannie de Villiers and the Grain SA team for an exciting new approach to the organisation’s 2012 congress!
What the proposed land laws mean for you
It’s crucial for farmers to know what’s expected of them once the proposed land legislation becomes law. Land occupiers will be given greater rights, but it’s not all bad news,...
Vaaljapie
Forget about the international economic meltdown, the inequalities of the past and or the beautiful pie in the sky dreams of the politicians --- the one thing that is holding...
SA port tariffs squeeze exporters
Transnet’s proposed 18,06% increase in port dues will probably be implemented by the middle of the year. Mihalis Chasomeris, economics lecturer at the Graduate School of Business & Leadership, University...
Does SA need regional copyrights?
Dinga Fatman, researcher at Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies, warns that Geographic Indication is not a quick fix to your bottom line.
