Farmer's Weekly 29 October 2021

South Africa’s local government elections will take place on 1 November (see story on pages 24 and 25). One of the core functions of municipalities is to provide services such as refuse removal, the upkeep of certain roads, and the provision of water and electricity. It is no secret that in many municipalities, authorities have failed to honour these responsibilities. In the run-up to election day, the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) published a research note exploring the reasons why so many municipalities fail to deliver on their mandates. The report quotes a Statistics South Africa General Household Survey released in 2019, which says that only 58,8% of households had their refuse removed at least once a week, down from 65,4% in 2016. Eighty-five per cent of households were connected to…

“The important role of mining in South Africa’s development cannot be overemphasised. Cities and towns such as Kimberley, Johannesburg, Welkom and, more recently, Kathu were built on the back of mining. Needless to say, the economic sustainability of many of these places becomes problematic with the inevitable decline of mining activity. It is thus crucial that all stakeholders think proactively about creating alternative economies to ensure that these towns and cities remain economically active beyond the lives of the mines. Using agriculture to build sustainable and circular economies will allow for the preservation of jobs that were created through mining activity. Moreover, agriculture is a key foreign income earner and its linkages to other economic sectors make it a realistic alternative to mining. EMPLOYMENT IN AGRICULTURE Agriculture, like mining, is labour-intensive, and from a…

24 to 30 October, Makuleke Concession The Birding in the Bush course enables enthusiasts to identify a great variety of bird species by sight and sound. It also teaches delegates about the biology and ecology of these birds. The course caters to those who wish to learn about the basics of bird identification or improve their existing skills. Email Terry Gouws at enquiries@ecotraining.co.za. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOS 11 TO 12 NOVEMBER 4IR Agritech Conference, Protea Hotel, Stellenbosch (can be attended online). Email Connie Mamabolo at connie@mathematraining.co.za, or phone her on 011 862 4001. 25 TO 26 NOVEMBER Drone and Unmanned Aviation Conference 2021, Emperors Palace Johannesburg. Email Harriet Gumbo at info@byssynet.co.za, or phone her on 067 611 0365. 29 NOVEMBER TO 1 DECEMBER 2nd Drone Users Conference: Conservation and Agriculture, Elsenburg, Stellenbosch. Email the event organiser africaMASSIVE at drones@africamassive.co.za. COURSES AND…

This article reported on a maize research project undertaken at the Cedara College of Agriculture. Larger maize plant populations can significantly improve returns in good cropping areas, according to research at the Cedara College of Agriculture in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Except in very dry areas, maize should be grown in rows about 1m apart, or even closer where practical, says Heinz Kaiser, research agronomist at Cedara. For grain production, a population of 30 000 plants/ha (plants spaced 90cm x 30cm) is recommended with the available hybrids in areas that have 710mm of rain or more per annum. HIGHEST YIELDS At low levels of soil fertility, the highest yields will be obtained with a comparatively low population, and higher populations are needed where soil fertility is high. In work at Bergville, KZN, where the crop was…

Youth unemployment remains one of the most urgent challenges that South Africa needs to address. Coupled with poverty and inequality, the increasing rate of youth unemployment, if unresolved, poses a serious threat to the stability of the country’s democracy, as there is a relationship between unemployment and critical social ills that include crime, drug abuse and violence. The already high rate of youth unemployment in South Africa has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has wreaked economic havoc across the globe. In South Africa, the devastating economic impact of the pandemic has translated into an unemployment rate among young people between the ages of 15 and 34 years that is at an all-time high of 46,3%. SOCIAL INVESTMENT In its continued drive to contribute towards sustainable economic empowerment and employment creation,…

MOST POPULAR ON FARMERSWEEKLY.CO.ZA ‘IMPORT RESTRICTIONS COULD SAVE NAMIBIA’S DAIRY SECTOR’ In order to save Namibia’s ailing dairy industry, it would have to restrict the volume of imported dairy products. This was according to Namibia’s Minister of Agriculture Calle Schlettwein who, during a parliamentary sitting, said that the envisaged restrictions could be implemented by means of import legislation. Read the full article at bit.ly/3oWvc6p, or scan here: Posted: 11 October 2021. Follow us at @FarmersWeeklySA READER FEEDBACK ON TWITTER Jaftando Bongz @jaftando “[The] traditional way of reading still exists, thanks to @FarmersWeeklySA.” Posted: 8 October 2021. PHOTO OF THE WEEK Le Poirier Franschhoek @lepoirierfranschhoek “Gracie supporting the Boks vs All Blacks! She was very happy with the result, although hasn’t laid an egg since! Maybe today.” Via Instagram. Posted: 5 October 2021. AGRI NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD EU TO TARGET FAKE CHINESE HONEY…