Rural insight

Rural insight

Diverse farming drives progress

Darling wine farmer Peter Duckitt sees the future of farming in diversification. Wine grapes form the basis of his operation, with wheat, beef, conservation and tourism spreading risk and ensuring...

Succeeding in a man’s world

Dakalo Magwede left a teaching career to farm cattle full time. Working hard to prove herself in this male-dominated business, she has been honoured as the Limpopo Female Farmer of...

Saving Xhosaland’s stick crafting culture

Traditional Xhosa sticks cut from the umnquma tree (African wild olive) are increasingly difficult to find in the Eastern Cape where communities are rapidly urbanising at the cost of certain...

Searching for the eye of the Jukskei

One doesn’t get many truly fascinating weeks, but I’ve just enjoyed one. I thought it would be a nice idea to walk the length of the Jukskei River.

Farms – Nice view, nice price

More and more farms are being bought solely for lifestyle purposes, as an escape from city life. This could soon see a farm’s selling price based not only on its...

Small-scale to commercial farming

Eking out a living from the land can sometimes become too difficult and the struggle to survive can be a challenge for even the toughest farmer. But dairyman Cyril Mhlatshana...

More SA farm poetry

Part 2 of our selection of poems about life on the land in southern Africa.

SA farm poetry

In a few months it will be a hundred years since the coming into effect of the Native Land Act, and the universities are frothing with activity as Phd candidates...

Model tractor collecting – ‘A delightful disease’

The old saying that the only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys was apparent at the latest SA Model Tractor Association (SAMTA) gathering in Bothaville....

From trucks to tractors – starting a new life in retirement

Usually considered a time to relax and pursue one’s interests outside the working world, retirement has not been so for Nixon Tenza. He’s probably working harder now, as a farmer,...

Bana ba Kgwale vegetable project assists community

Starting as a learnership programme, the Bana ba Kgwale vegetable project has grown into a viable agricultural operation that has brought fallow land back into production and created much-needed jobs...
ADVERTISEMENT

MUST READS

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT