Welcome to the drone era
If you look into a city-sky, you’ll probably see a plane or a helicopter once in a while. Fast forward to a few years from now, city slickers will be very likely to see some spider-like vehicles hovering up there, serving as security cameras or delivery vehicles.
Agriculture must address supply chain challenges
Craig Roberts, CEO of DHL Supply Chain MEA, says effective supply chain integration is vital to boost Southern Africa’s agriculture exports to the EU.
Play your part to curb stock theft
Role players in the SA livestock production sector have a decisive role to play in the prevention of stock theft. This was according to the National Stock Theft Prevention Forum chairperson Jaco Maré, who spoke at the 2014 RPO congress in Bloemfontein.
Wind farm poses a threat to the birds and beauty of the Karoo
A proposed wind farm on the Sneeuberg will imperil the iconic endangered blue crane, many bird species and the entire local ecosystem, warns the Nama Karoo Foundation’s Marina Beal.
Fire has no mercy
Ouboet – I find it exceedingly difficult to wrap my head around the fact that veld fires have destroyed more than 400 000ha in the Free State so far this year.
Veld fires – why we need to know more
Much more research is required to understand the effect of fire on Africa’s savannas, according to Prof Winston Trollope, a fire ecologist and Working on Fire International associate. Trollope’s recommendations, contained in the Grassland Society of Southern Africa’s 2014 congress publication, centre on the use of fire as a management tool for livestock production and wildlife management.
Conference shenanigans
Thank goodness we’ve eventually come to the end of the 2014 congress season.
Citrus ban still a risk unless all stakeholders take action
The EU’s threat to ban South African citrus should serve as a wake-up call for all parties involved, says Zhann Meyer, Africa Head, Global Commodity Finance at Nedbank Capital.
How to promote effective land reform in South Africa
Michael Lyne, associate professor at New Zealand’s Lincoln University and honorary professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, recently presented the 2014 FR Tomlinson Memorial Lecture to the Agricultural Economics Association of SA. Here are excerpts pertaining to land reform.
Land reform proposal: a disaster in the making
Minister Nkwinti’s radical 50:50 land reform proposal will put food security at risk and lead to increases in prices, interest rates and inflation, according to Grain SA chairperson Louw Steytler.
Agriculture is responsible for its own destiny
Boet, you know how much I dread the annual congress season! But so far this year I’ve been very impressed by the standard of the agricultural congresses.
Small farmer, big problem
Theoretical ideas about growing the smallholding agricultural sector sound uncomfortably like trying to re-invent the wheel, writes Roelof Bezuidenhout.
