Tabla de contenidos para Vol 19 - No 1 2022 en AgriProbe

Setting the SCENE by Mary James New perspectives In my early years in agriculture, I remember attending a field trip with some enthusiastic maize breeders, moving slowly from one row to another, all the while examining each cob as though it’s the most beautiful creation they have ever set their eyes on. I thought that this was quite bizarre, and a character trait exclusively possessed by maize breeders. Little did I know that the entire sector is filled with these very passionate and sometimes very eccentric characters. When one picks up an AgriProbe, you delve into a world that only the ever-passionate agriculturalist can transport you to. Each piece consists of intricately woven words and experiences that the contributors of this edition hold close to their hearts. Dr Dirk Troskie…

DIARY & EVENTS Western Cape hosts 2nd Drone Users Conference AGRICULTURE & CONSERVATION by Daniel Johnson On 29 November 2021 the Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, welcomed delegates to the 2nd Drone Users Conference: Agriculture and Conservation at Elsenburg. Hosted by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA), the United Nations Development Programme-GEF5 Sustainable Land Management Project, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and the Department of Environment, Fisheries and Forestry, the three-day hybrid conference attracted 200 attendees. Speakers on the first day of the conference included Western Cape Head of Agriculture, Dr Mogale Sebopetsa; Dr Janice Golding, UNDP; Prof. Serge Wich, Liverpool John Moores University; Tamiko Sher, African Institute for Entrepreneurship; Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer; Dr Ilse Trautmann, Deputy Director-General, WCDoA; Terriann Thavar,…

NEWS SNIPPETS RABIES AWARENESS AT GRASSROOTS LEVEL by Carel Lotz For the second year running, the State Veterinary office in Oudtshoorn together with one of the local schools, Sacred Heart Primary School, took hands as part of establishing awareness for the prevention of rabies. The initiative for a colouring competition for grade 1 to 3 pupils was taken by an animal health technician from Oudtshoorn, and was supported by the State Vet office, the local Animal Care Team as well as the principle and personnel of Sacred Heart. A picture of a dog getting vaccinated by a veterinarian with the slogan “Hou my gesond – ent my in teen hondsdolheid” (Keep me healthy – vaccinate me against rabies) was chosen as the canvas and every child had the opportunity to…

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE WESTERN CAPE PRESTIGE AGRI-WORKER OF 2021 by Gertrude Jacobs Audrey September from Uitkyk farm, which is part of the JD Kirsten Group in Paarl, received this accolade at the prestigious gala ceremony in November 2021 in Stellenbosch. She won sterling prizes to the value of approximately R100 000, including an overseas trip. In addition, Audrey also joins the competition’s previous winners as a member of the Minister for Agriculture’s Prestige Agri-Worker Forum, which meets quarterly to discuss agri-worker, as well as sector-related issues. Annually the Agri Awards are run by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, which provides the opportunity for all agricultural workers in the province from different regions to participate and compete in 11 categories. The aim of the competition is to provide recognition for…

ECONOMIC NEWS Products with unique identities AFRICA on the RISE by Dr Dirk Troskie Agricultural products from the Western Cape are special. Full stop; no room for argument. This is not me saying that – ask the European Union, which recently included “Rooibos”/“Red Bush” as the first African product in its register of Geographic Indications (GI) (Troskie, 2021). Other unique products include heuningbos, Karoo lamb, Karoo pomegranate, buchu, Cape flora, Boland waterblommetjies, Weskus snoek and more. Of course, there is also the whole range of unique wines linked to specific geographic areas. But, are these GIs limited to the Western Cape or does it extend into Africa? Over more than a decade the Western Cape Department of Agriculture has been participating in the process to create a framework for African…

TAKING OUR SERVICES OUT THERE SmartAgri: Agri-workers, agricultural value chains and markets by Prof Stephanie Midgley Photo © Hassner Pepler The Western Cape climate change response framework and implementation plan for the agricultural sector (SmartAgri plan) provides a roadmap for agriculture that is low-carbon and resilient to climate change. In this series in AgriProbe, the SmartAgri plan is unpacked into its core elements, structured around four strategic focus areas (SFAs). Some of the active projects led by the various programmes of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA), and additional priorities will be highlighted. This is the third article in the series (refer to previous AgriProbe issues for the first two articles). SFA1 covers the production system – viewed holistically and including the means of production (land/soil, water, energy, labour) –…

OUR NATURAL RESOURCES RIVER PROTECTION WORKS Restoring ecological infrastructure in Elandskloof and Meul Rivers by Giselle Terblanche and Daniel Johnson Photo © Jacques Niemand Elandskloof Dam is a gravity type dam located on the Elandskloof River near Villiersdorp, Western Cape. It was established in 1976. The primary purpose of the dam is for irrigation and domestic water supply. This dam flows into the Theewaterskloof Dam, which is a major supplier of household water to the city of Cape Town. “The structures are designed to control floods, combat erosion and rehabilitate riverbanks.” The Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, officially handed over the Meerlustkloof and Meul Project, near Genadendal in the Overberg Region, to the Zonderend Water User Association in September last year. The two-river protection works projects are…

ELSENBURG JOURNAL Climate and land sales in the Karoo, 2004 – 2021 Riaan Nowers1 and Beatrice Conradie2 1 Agricultural Economic Services, Western Cape Department of Agriculture, Private Bag x1, Elsenburg 7606 3 University of Cape Town Introduction Despite the important information conveyed by land prices and the copious amounts of data we have on the topic, land markets are not receiving the attention they deserve. This analysis is for the Central Karoo and covers the period 2004 to 2021. The primary data source is Landbouweekblad whose regular land sales reports are compiled by farm type and district by Riaan Nowers of the Western Cape Department of Agri-culture (WCDoA). In competitive markets price is determined by demand and supply. Supply is fixed and in the Karoo demand is a function of growing…

MINISTERIAL EXPORT-LED GROWTH 2022 OUTLOOK From the desk of the Western Cape Minister 0f Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer (left) Compiled by Daniel Johnson In 2020, the Western Cape Province exported R78.68 billion worth of combined agricultural and agri-processing products. The 24% increase (2019: R63.23 billion vs 2020: R78.68 billion) confirms the critical role agriculture is playing in the economic recovery of the Western Cape. The Western Cape agricultural sector is export-orientated and contributes 44% to national agricultural exports. 8/10 Eight of the ten biggest export products from the Western Cape have an agricultural foundation. 66% 66% of the value of Western Cape agricultural production gets exported. 50% More than 50% of South Africa’s agricultural exports originate in the Western Cape. 22 951 jobs For every 5% increase/decrease in agricultural exports, 22…

DIARY & EVENTS Southern Cape Beef Carcass Competition by Manie Grobler and Samantha Adey Chart of cuts The 4th Annual Southern Cape Beef Carcass Competition was held on 18 November 2021 at Roelcor Abattoir in George. Currently it is the only beef carcass competition hosted in the Western Cape Province. The event was organised by Manie Grobler, Livestock Specialist of the Garden Route District leading an Agricultural Producer Support and Development Programme planning team. A total of 23 animals were entered in the competition, 12 from commercial feedlots and farmers, and 11 from new-era farmers as pasture-fed beef. South African Meat Industry Company (SAMIC) evaluated the carcasses. The MEC for Agriculture in the Western Cape, Dr Ivan Meyer, attended the prize-giving and handed over the prizes to the winners. In the…

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE ORDER OF THE BAOBAB bestowed upon Dr Hlamalani Ngwenya by Robyn Carstens Q&A Dr Hlamalani Ngwenya, Chief Director, Agricultural Producer Support and Development of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, was one of the 30 recipients of the National Orders of 2021. She received the coveted Order of the Baobab in Bronze for her incredible contribution to capacity-building, sustainable agriculture and the empowerment of communities. The National Orders were bestowed by the first citizen himself, President Cyril Ramaphosa, at the Sefako Makgatho presidential guesthouse on 18 November 2021. In his keynote address, the President assured that “Through these national orders we recognise many outstanding individuals who defied great odds and made immense sacrifices not only for us to attain freedom, but so that such freedom is…

HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 31ST CONFERENCE OF THE ICAE by O’Brien Perel and Tshepo Morokong “Africa has to position itself in line with development policies that promote economic reform” The 31st International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE) was held virtually from 17 to 31 August 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions. This marked the first virtual conference for the association and was very much in line with the year’s theme “Agriculture under the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR)”. Under this theme, the researchers shared their insights at the conference, including 524 contributed papers, 26 invited sessions, 8 plenaries and 26 organised symposia. Among the speakers were acclaimed economists, ministers and researchers representing various institutions. Women accounted for 38% of all speakers at the conference, showing a good representation. Several…

ECONOMIC NEWS Agri-processing: A natural transformation for smallholder farming by Mary James and Robyn Carstens Photo © Randall Langenhoven Farming has evolved over the past decades – it is nowadays no longer just about planting crops and harvesting them nor about raising animals until they are ready to be slaughtered. Farming now also involves ensuring the final product, be it a crop or meat product, maintains its quality along the value chain until it reaches the final consumer. As a result, farmers having a product in transit do not rest until it reaches its final destination. There are many factors involved when handling agricultural products, all of which have implications for quality and might even lead to food wastage and consequently financial loss. These range from bad roads and poor…

TAKING OUR SERVICES OUT THERE BRUCELLOSIS VALIDATION Expanding services at the Western Cape Veterinary Laboratory by Thea Conradie To improve, maintain and expand the client services of the Department, the Western Cape Provincial Veterinary Laboratory (WCPVL) in Stellenbosch became the first laboratory in the country to obtain accreditation in testing for Brucella abortus in African buffalo. Brucellosis is a contagious disease of livestock and wildlife with significant economic impact. The disease is caused by various bacteria of the family Brucella, which tend to infect specific animal species. “It is important for the farmer to have his/her herd maintain a negative status.” It all started with a helpful phone call from Dr David Pretorius, a local wildlife veterinarian and owner of Motsumi Darts in Pretoria, who was keen to help the…

ELSENBURG JOURNAL Peer-reviewed scientific publications on animal science by scientists at Elsenburg: 2019 T.S. Brand1,2 and S.W.P. Cloete2 1 Animal Sciences, Research and Technology Development Services, Western Cape Department of Agriculture: Western Cape, Private Bag x1, Elsenburg 7606 2 Department of Animal Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600 Overview Sixteen peer-reviewed papers were published during 2019 in internationally accredited journals by scientists at the Animal Science Division, Research and Development Services of the Department of Agriculture in the Western Cape. This list of publications was supplemented by five theses completed by post-graduate students at different universities in South Africa, doing all or a part of their research under the supervision or co-supervision of animal scientists residing at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. Eight papers focused on ostriches, four on sheep, three…

UPFRONT WCDoA excited about 2022’s prospects by Mary James Photo © Adriaan Taking pride in public service excellence, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) is excited to continue our support for the agricultural sector as we enter 2022. The WCDoA is constantly in touch with our partners and key stakeholders, positioning our services based on the needs presented by the sector to ensure the realisation of the Western Cape’s key priorities, namely: JOBS, SAFETY AND WELLBEING. “Agriculture can be viewed as the sunrise sector with many possibilities on the horizon.” Here are a few actions the sector can look forward to: 1 Market access is a key factor in ensuring the profitability of any farming establishment and more work around this Ministerial Priority can be expected this year. We will…

NEWS SNIPPETS Agriculture in the CLASSROOM by Daniel Johnson “The agriculture sector is a star performer in our economy.” The Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, has welcomed the decision to expand Pelican Park High School’s curriculum to include agricultural subjects such as agricultural management science and agricultural technology. “Structured education, training and research is one of my ministerial priorities. I have therefore been advocating for the establishment of more agricultural schools and the introduction of agricultural subjects at existing schools in the Western Cape,” Meyer said. “The decision by the Western Cape Education Department to further expand the number of agricultural subjects at Pelican Park High School is welcomed. The school is ideally located close to the Philippi horticultural area, often described as the “breadbasket” of the Metro.…

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE CHICKEN BUSINESS First containattoir in the Western Cape Province by Dr Marthinus Wolhuter The abattoir is the first of its kind in the Province, is registered to slaughter 50 chickens per day, is legally compliant, employs five local people and gives Alex access to his niche market in the nearby towns. During May 2020, amidst the stringent COVID-19 controls, a small poultry abattoir called Valley Organic Abattoir was registered in terms of the Meat Safety Act (Act 40 of 2000) and opened its doors for business. The abattoir belongs to Alex Vincent, who developed a small, but growing market for chicken meat from organically produced broilers. Organic poultry are raised in the open on natural grazing, as opposed to those reared in enclosed, highly artificially controlled…

HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT TIME FOR CHANGE by Maritjie Cornelissen and Nizha Zana The Learnership Programme is a one-year programme consisting of work-based learning and theoretical components. This programme was created to assist learners in preparing for the workplace, thereby expanding their employment opportunities and allowing them to seek higher education prospects. The National Certificate in Plant Production and the National Certificate in Animal Production, both recognised under the National Qualifications Framework at level 4 (NQF4), are being phased out by the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute (EATI). The qualifications indicated above are referred to as “learnership programmes”, and they are currently accredited by AgriSeta. Occupational qualifications, accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), which was founded in 2010 under the Skills Development Act (Act no. 97 of 1998), will…

TAKING OUR SERVICES OUT THERE RURAL SAFETY TOWARDS ECONOMIC RECOVERY Western Cape Department of Agriculture hosts a Rural Safety Summit by Brighton Shumba The importance of agriculture in stimulating economic development, job creation and poverty alleviation is globally acknowledged. Our agricultural producers and agri-workers, as the agents of food security and key drivers of the economy, deserve to be acknowledged, appreciated and protected. The safety of all stakeholders within the agricultural value chain is therefore key to addressing rural poverty, promoting sustainable food security and driving local economic development. To support an improved, protected and safe agricultural environment, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) hosted a successful Rural Safety Summit on 23 November 2021 at Goudini, Rawsonville. The theme for the summit was, “Rural safety towards economic recovery”. The…

RESEARCH NEWS The Tissue Culture Facility of the deciduous fruit industry A partnership towards jobs and market access by Dr Ilse Trautmann Forming partnerships is the ultimate way to take an initiative to its highest level. And as the definition clearly states: A partnership is an arrangement where parties, known as business partners, agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests. In this case the mutual interests were aligned to the objectives of the deciduous fruit industry and the Western Cape Government to increase market access and job opportunities. The Western Cape Department of Agriculture allocated a once-off contribution of R10 million in the 2020/2021 financial year towards the infrastructure and key equipment required for a quarantine-accredited Tissue Culture Facility (TCF) that will improve the competitiveness of the deciduous fruit…

ELSENBURG JOURNAL Peer-reviewed scientific publications on animal science by scientists at Elsenburg: 2020 T.S. Brand1,2 and S.W.P. Cloete2 1 Animal Sciences, Research and Technology Development Services, Western Cape Department of Agriculture, Private Bag x1, Elsenburg 7606 2 Department of Animal Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600 Overview Twenty peer-reviewed papers were published during 2020 in internationally accredited journals by scientists at the Animal Science Division, Research and Development Services of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. This list of publications was supplemented by six theses completed by post-graduate students at different universities in South Africa, doing all or a part of their research under the supervision or co-supervision of animal scientists residing at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. Ten focused on sheep, nine on ostriches and one on Boer goats. These…