Tabla de contenidos para Vol 21 - No 3 2024 en AgriProbe

WOMEN TAKING THE LEAD This edition of AgriProbe holds a special place for me as the newly appointed CFO as it also marks my very first contribution to this fantastic publication. As CFO, I focus on the numbers, running an efficient and effective finance operation, maintaining the highest level of good governance and minimising risk while striving to strike a balance between compliance, service delivery and value addition within the legislative frameworks of government. The fact that we, as a government department, can contribute so greatly to making the sector thrive is a tangible success story. Our exceptional expertise enables progress of the sector as a leading contributor to economic growth in the Western Cape, despite the constrained economic climate we operate in. Considering the vast number of challenges the…

The 2024 Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) Prestige Agri-Awards kicked off at the Stellenbosch Agricultural Society’s Doornbosch Hall during April 2024. The intimate event, held to highlight the purpose and achievements of the competition, recognises various agricultural workers in the sector and the pivotal role they play. To launch the year’s competition a day before Freedom Day, as well as a few days before Worker’s Day, which celebrates agri-workers, was significant. The 2023 winner, Vivian Jakobs from Crispy Farming (Du Toit Group), Witzenberg, reflected on his achievement and his subsequent overseas trip. Vivian said: “You always think the grass is greener on the other side, but here it is much greener.” Pieter van Zyl, General Manager for Procurement at the Shoprite Group, the headline sponsor of the competition, said…

In February this year, the first client training session for the Export Certificate Office System (ECOS) took place at Elsenburg. This initiative, led by Dr Lerato Nedzanani and Dr Vincent Henwood, aimed to equip clients with the skills needed to use ECOS effectively. The programme covered a range of topics relevant to using ECOS for exports. Dr Henwood provided an overview of the system’s features and explained its functionalities. Training also covered fee processing, inspection application procedures and certification processes. This gave participants a well-rounded understanding of how to use ECOS throughout the export journey. Discussions also touched on interprovincial online movement permits; a move seen as beneficial for the dairy industry. This focus on paperless systems aligns with environmental sustainability goals. Additionally, the training explored implementation plans and potential…

The South African olive industry has experienced substantial growth over the past few decades, positioning itself as a noteworthy player in the global olive oil market despite relatively low production volumes compared to other major Mediterranean regions in Spain and Morocco. Significant growth in exports and imports The South African olive oil industry has seen remarkable growth. From 2013 to 2023, olive oil exports surged by 131%, from R37 million to R86 million (see Figure 1). Namibia, Botswana and Zambia are the primary markets for South African olive oil, with impressive growth rates of 137%, 216% and 404%, respectively. The United States has emerged as a significant market, with a 549% growth rate, from R903 000 in 2013 to R5 million in 2023. These statistics underscore the expanding footprint of…

The result of the national and provincial elections of 29 May 2024 is that one political party won an outright majority in the Western Cape Province and thus received the voter-mandate to form the government of the Province. Although it is the same political party as previous, it is a new government. “A strategic plan is a journey, not an event.” In accordance with the framework of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) in the Presidency, each national and provincial department has one year to develop a Strategic Plan (SP) for the period 2025/26 – 2030/31 and an Annual Performance Plan (APP) for 2025/26. The latter must cover the targets for the first of the five-year SP period. The Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) expects that both…

The State Veterinary (SV) office in Oudtshoorn hosted and jointly organised a OneHealth, One Welfare Animal workshop focusing on donkeys. The workshop was presented by the Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary in McGregor. A workshop that wasn’t just about harnesses and hooves, but rather delved deep into the holistic well-being of donkeys. “There are over 44 million donkeys worldwide and sadly so many are subjected to neglect and abuse, overworked and left in agony to die. This happens due to a lack of education, a lack of understanding of what good care looks like and the hardships of day-to-day life facing families and communities across the world,” said the Donkey Sanctuary UK. The workshop shone a spotlight on these often-underappreciated creatures, emphasising their care, welfare and importance in various aspects of human…

In light of consistent loadshedding and rising electricity costs, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) sought to support agricultural producers in the Western Cape in understanding the options available to them to become more energy resilient. In partnership with GreenCape, the WCDoA conducted a series of in-person workshops across the districts of the Western Cape. The workshops were aimed at all producers, including processors and packers, and included information on: • The impact of loadshedding on the Western Cape agricultural sector.• Energy use on farms.• First steps: Where to start when considering alternative energy supply.• Solar PV.• Backup storage.• Energy finance options.• Case studies. The workshops were well attended, with over 100 participants attending and engaging interactively with the presenters and the other participants. The workshops highlighted the resilience…

In terms of numbers, sheep are the dominant ruminant species (21.9 million) in South Africa. Sheep farming systems can be found all over South Africa, and they are considered more easily adaptable to the varied environments and climatic conditions (Cloete & Olivier, 2010; Cottle, 2010) compared to other ruminants. However, at high temperatures and high radiation, even the most tolerant breeds have difficulty in managing heat loss and, hence, regulating their internal temperatures. The expected upward trend in temperature thus poses a threat to sheep production and the livestock industry. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report indicated that the planet’s temperature is projected to be between 1.2 to 3°C higher than the pre-industrial temperature level by the year 2060 (IPCC, 2021). Southern Africa, of which most…

South Africa has entered an exciting new phase of its development. We now have a Government of National Unity, which lays the platform for improved cooperation between all three spheres of government. This is good news for agriculture, which has a footprint in every town in South Africa. The spirit of hope and enthusiasm to set our country on a new trajectory must be embraced and propel us towards upping our contribution to building a united, responsive and prosperous agricultural sector in balance with nature. It is against this background that I have set my priorities for the next five years. My new priorities will focus on supporting the agricultural and business sectors, food security, and market access. I refer to my priorities as ABFM. My priorities capture what will…

Hosted by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) and Rooibos Limited, the inaugural Rooibos Awards took centre stage, celebrating the pinnacle of achievement and innovation within the Rooibos industry. The ceremony, held in April this year at the Clanwilliam Show Grounds Hall, cast the spotlight on the remarkable strides made by leaders and pioneers in the Rooibos community. During the event, Riana said the designation of the Rooibos Producer of the Year is an opportunity that was created to give up-and-coming farmers from the Cederberg a platform where they can compete against each other and stand out amongst others in the industry. It was an honour to have Dr Ruben Richards, the Executive Mayor of the Cederberg Municipality, do the official welcome at the gala event. Also in attendance…

The agricultural sector is a vital pillar of the Western Cape’s economy, and women within this sector are playing an increasingly significant role. The 2024 Western Cape Women Entrepreneur Awards (WEA), hosted by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) in August at the historic Stellenbosch Town Hall, provided a fitting platform to celebrate the remarkable contributions of women in this field. 2024 Women Entrepreneur Awards Western Cape The WEA is more than just an awards ceremony; it is a cornerstone initiative that aligns with the national Women Empowerment Strategy. This programme is dedicated to recognising and promoting the involvement of women, young women and women with disabilities in agriculture, land reform and rural development. By shining a spotlight on these trailblazers, the awards seek to inspire future generations of…

Africa Day is celebrated on 25 May each year to commemorate the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was established on that day in 1963 and later became the African Union (AU). Approximately 120 delegates comprising business captains, government representatives and consular generals from different countries gathered to discuss the thematic area “Bridging Borders: Trade, Finance, and Free Movement as Catalyst for the AfCFTA” 2. In as much as government representatives are making a concerted effort to showcase their countries’ unique selling points with respect to business offerings and the enabling socioeconomic conditions, the majority of the business delegates shared mixed feelings regarding AfCFTA and the readiness of African countries to ratify and implement the agreement. The diagram below presents a truncated state of Africa from the…

That the Western Cape has and play host to: • 306 4x4 routes on farms with a projected distance of 9 261km• 2 117 agri-tourism farm stays• 57 agri-routes• 977 wine cellars• 269 ecotourism ventures• 146 farm markets• 238 farm stalls• 550 festivals• 129 hiking trails on farms• 201 farms with mountain bike trails• 538 on-farm restaurants• 43 agricultural shows• At least 119 sporting events in rural areas, with road running, trail running and mountain biking events the most popular• 134 tourism bureaus• 314 on-farm wedding venues• Average agricultural land prices of R21 354 per hectare with land in the Cape Metropole averaging R221 775 and Central Karoo R2 542 per hectare• Biltong hunting prices increase by 37.1% with trophy hunting prices at 38.1% higher than last year. Scan the…

Dr Ivan Meyer, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, opened the newly renovated and upgraded Provincial Veterinary Laboratory (PVL) in Stellenbosch in May 2024. “This is a moment for celebration by the Western Cape veterinary community as it ushers in an enhanced level of services to the agricultural sector by this government”, said Minister Meyer, adding that the PVL, which celebrates its 51st anniversary this year, “is poised to continue its vital role in safeguarding animal health and public welfare. This milestone is a celebration of longevity and commitment to excellence in animal health, diagnostics, biosecurity and market access.” Through strategic investments and upgrades, the PVL is positioned to meet the evolving needs of the agricultural sector and ensure the highest standards of veterinary services. Minister Meyer, emphasising the PVL’s significant…

1 Macro and Resource Economics, Western Cape Department of Agriculture 1. Introduction The cut flower industry is a multimillion-dollar industry, with a wide variety of flowers and thousands of species cultivated and found in nature (Netnou-Nkoana & Eloff, 2012). Production of cut flowers is divided into non-indigenous 1 (e.g. roses, chrysanthemums), indigenous, 2 (e.g. proteas, Leucospermum) and flowers grown from seeds and other flowers (e.g. sunflowers, asters, delphinium) (Louw, 2021 & Cape Flora SA, 2016). Given that South Africa (SA) is in the southern hemisphere, SA has a seasonal advantage in exporting cut flowers, therefore, meeting the demand of the northern hemisphere markets when their season changes (Duffree, 2018). The fynbos biome is predominantly found in the Western Cape and to a lesser extent in the Northern Cape and the…

End October 2023, a study tour was undertaken to Cancún, Mexico, to take part in various meetings and events that were organised around the International Symposium on Advance Technologies and Management for Innovative Greenhouses (Greensys 2023), the IV International Society for Horticultural Science and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). The International Symposium on Advanced Technologies and Management for Innovative Greenhouses and the IV International Symposium on Organic Greenhouse Horticulture were organised according to 34 technical themes of which the following were of special interest: • Climate control and modelling• Computational Fluid Dynamics in controlled environment horticulture• Fertigation, water management• Greenhouse systems and design• Growing media, hydroponics, aquaponics• Lighting technology• Sustainable greenhouse systems and environmentally friendly technologies• Censors, automation and robotics in greenhouses• Vertical farming• Environmental…

Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute once again lifted the South African Agricultural Colleges Rugby Week Trophy. After a week of spirited rugby with visiting agricultural colleges from the rest of the country, the coveted trophy was fiercely contested between Grootfontein Agricultural Developmental College from Middelburg in the Eastern Cape and the host, Elsenburg. During the Gala Dinner, Darryl Jacobs, the Deputy Director General of the Department and Acting Principal of the College, welcomed and thanked the colleges for their attendance and sportsmanship. He acknowledged the sponsors of the tournament, Atlantic Fertilisers and Dura Equipment Sales, for their support and relationship with the Agricultural Colleges. He also thanked the College kitchen staff and the sport committee for organising the event for a second year in a row. The guest speaker on the…

Mzwanele Lingani, a Senior Agricultural Economist of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA), completed his second Master’s qualification; the first being Master of Agriculture. His second is a Master of Sustainable Agriculture (MSA) qualification Cum Laude with the University of the Free State. The degree was awarded in April 2024. This was made possible through a bursary awarded by the Department under its human capital development programme. The MSA programme that Mzwanele studied under, is designed to prepare graduates to be leaders and specialists in the field of sustainable agriculture. The structured Master’s programme in Sustainable Agriculture is expected to allow students from various fields to analyse and apply the theory and the methods to support sustainable agriculture. As a Senior Agricultural Economist responsible for farming management and production…

The 2023 Western Cape (WC) Agricultural Sector Profile presents the sector’s performance and highlights key trends, shaping it within the context of the prevailing policy environment using the 2022 statistics. The one-year data lag in the reporting of the sector’s performance is due to the use of multiple databases that are updated at different times. Hence, whilst some of the data is updated annually, other data sources are updated less frequently and will remain the same. The WC Agricultural Sector Profile discusses key topics starting with an overview of the province, followed by agricultural production trends, agricultural land-use change, subsistence farming, investment, infrastructure, domestic markets, agro-tourism and water use. Agriculture is one of the key strategic sectors in the WC. In the past 10 years, the WC’s agricultural Gross Value…

RSG Landbou is waarlik enig is sy soort. Nêrens anders in die wêreld maak ’n landbou-departement sy eie program moontlik wat op ’n nasionale stasie uitgesaai word nie. Dis een van die vele innovasies by die Wes-Kaapse Departement van Landbou. Die geliefde dr. Chris Viljoen het destyds die land deurkruis om boere-vertellings te versamel. Die taak het hy behartig tot op ouderdom 74 voor hy die tuig neergelê het. Eertydse tegnologie is ingespan, byvoorbeeld die gebruik van die Nagra-bandopnemer. Dit was ’n bonkige kalant met roterende bande, inprop-mikrofone en derduisende drade wat rondkarwy is om sodoende van die mees onvergeetlike landbou-insetsels en-staaltjies te verewig. “RSG Landbou is my lewensverklaring. Wat jy (uit)saai, sal jy maai. ” “ Jou vrae is kort, gefokus en karteer die menslikheid van die deelnemers.” Veranderende…

Orf, otherwise known as “scabby mouth”, “sore mouth” or contagious ecthyma, is a highly contagious virus seen in our sheep and goats worldwide. Not only does this virus spread easily, but it can also survive for many years in the environment in dried up scabs shed by infected animals. This virus has severe economic consequences due to production losses. Animals do not want to eat due to painful mouths and lose weight as a result. Lactating females with sores on their teats abandon their young due to painful suckling. Affected animals can become severely lame if sores develop around the hooves, resulting in reluctance to walk for food or water and therefore they lose condition. Sores that have formed from the virus can become infected with bacteria, worsening the disease…

Estimates suggest that the global population will reach 8.5 billion people by 2030 (EAAP, 2019). Approximately 16% of the global population will live in Africa by 2030, and nearly 25% will reside in Africa by 2050 (EAAP, 2019). Concurrently, climate change projections for the 21st century indicate a 2.8ºC increase in global temperatures (EAAP, 2010), along with heightened climate risks, including droughts and storms. A long-term study already done by the Department of Agriculture in 1983 on the occurrence of periodical droughts in South Africa revealed that the country experiences severe droughts approximately once every five years. In regions with long-term annual rainfall of less than 400mm, they found that only two out of three years receive sufficient rain. In contrast, areas that typically receive more than 600mm of rain…