Tabla de contenidos para 26 July 2019 en Farmer's Weekly

I was left with two overwhelming impressions after reading through Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza’s Budget Vote speech for the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development that was delivered in Parliament recently. Firstly, I thought that the minister’s exasperation at the state in which she found the former land and agriculture departments was almost tangible. Secondly, I was impressed and reassured by the pragmatic approach that Didiza, who is taking a second turn in the agriculture minister’s seat, seems to be adopting in merging the two departments and assessing the status of the various programmes that were run by them. It reminded me of this quote by the US Trappist monk, scholar and writer, Thomas Merton: “When you expect the world to end at any moment, you know there…

Lettuce won’t grow! Dear Bill, I am a farmer in Zululand. I am currently growing various lettuce for salad packs. Our winter months are ideally our best growing months, but I am really battling this year; my lettuce is just not growing at all. The last plugs I planted are eight weeks old and are literally the same size as when planted. I am battling with mildew. I plant with 2.3.4 and Bounceback once they have been in the ground for two weeks. We do a Seagro spray and pick at four weeks. We use drip irrigation. I have been spraying with Karate and Amistar Top to try and eradicate the diseases. The nursery has said too much nitrogen will make the plants weak, so I must stop planting with…

I recently presented a talk on the positive expectations for the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) at the Africa Agribusiness Conference, hosted by Farmer’s Weekly. Efforts to establish a single African market come with the anticipation that barriers to cross-border trade will be unlocked, and trade within and among African countries will increase significantly. Secondly, and contingent on the first point, many of Africa’s industrialisation ambitions will be realised if unemployment is reduced, especially among the youth. Of course, whether this becomes a reality remains to be seen. What is clear at face value is that consolidating 55 territories into a single market of 1,2 billion people, whose economic activity totals US$2,26 trillion (about R31,4 trillion), is an incredible feat that provides the basis for substantial economies of scale…

About 70% of the Northern Cape has been affected by its worst drought in 50 years, and it is therefore crucial that the entire province be officially declared a disaster area. This is according to Agri Northern Cape president Nicol Jansen. Three district municipalities in the province, namely Namakwa, Pixley Ka Seme, and ZF Mgcawu, have already been declared disaster areas. “We’ve requested drought aid to the value of R111 million from the provincial agricultural department. If the province doesn’t receive sufficient spring rain, the damage will escalate to as much as R650 million later in the year,” he said. According to Jansen, the drought had transcended borders and had also affected vast areas outside the municipalities formally declared disaster areas. The R111 million needed to alleviate the plight of…

Drought, disease and war in Africa and other regions are preventing farmers from producing enough food for millions of people, necessitating large-scale food aid. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization said in a report that people in 41 countries, 31 of them in Africa, needed food aid due to shortages of grain and other foodstuffs. “Ongoing conflicts and dry weather conditions remain the primary causes of high levels of severe food insecurity, hampering food availability and access for millions of people,” said UN spokesperson Farhan Haq. Extreme drought conditions and widespread flooding due to Cyclone Idai had been experienced across Southern Africa. The cyclone caused “agricultural production shortfalls” and large “increases in grain import needs”. Zimbabwe and Zambia saw harvests decline this year, with about three million people facing food…

The highly invasive polyphagous shot-hole borer beetle, which has already led to the removal of 100 infected trees in the Western Cape, could have a disastrous impact on the agriculture and tourism sectors if not controlled. This was according to Anton Bredell, the MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape. “The beetle infects healthy trees with a disease that rapidly kills them off. It has been known to infect over 110 different tree species, including fruit trees such as grapevines and avocado trees, among others. This is naturally a concern to us, given the importance of the fruit industry to the Western Cape economy,” he said. According to Bredell, the beetle reproduced swiftly and had no natural enemies in Africa. “It appears to spread…

Port of entry logistics remain a threat to intra-Africa commerce Simplifying the administrative burden of intra-Africa commerce is one of the major challenges that need to be resolved if the recent African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement is to be successful. This was according to Dr Tinashe Kapuya, value chains lead at the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy, who presented a talk on the agreement at the 2019 Agribusiness Africa Conference hosted by Farmer’s Weekly. The agreement has been signed by 54 of the 55 African Union member states and to date has been ratified by 27 member states. Kapuya said that trade between African countries amounted to more than R340 billion, with intra-regional exports at R184 billion and intra-regional imports at R155 billion. “The main intra-Africa agricultural…

South Africa requires assistance from government to ensure the growth and expansion of the South African citrus industry into different markets, which could create employment and increase revenue. This was according to Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa, who spoke at the recent Agribusiness Africa Conference hosted by Farmer’s Weekly in Kempton Park. He said the citrus industry had started exporting in 1906 and had taken 64 years to get to 500 000t in exports a year. Since then, exports had grown to approximately two million tons a year, and were expected to reach 2,5 million tons a year within the next five years. With regard to market access, Chadwick compared South Africa with competitors such as Australia, Peru, Argentina and Uruguay, which had trade…

According to Prof Klaus Schwab of the University of Geneva, Switzerland, author of The Fourth Industrial Revolution, the revolution that is currently under way will transform the world more significantly than the previous three industrial revolutions did, as it is moving more rapidly and taking place on a larger scale. The first industrial revolution unfolded as the use of steam power replaced reliance on manual labour to cultivate soil in the 1800s. The second was marked by the start of mass production of agricultural crops by the 1900s. The third is the digital revolution: the advent of computers during the latter half of the 20th century. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, which began early in the 21st century, involves the Internet and artificial intelligence. It encompasses smart machines, material science, nano…

This winter-warmer stoup, an unofficial Hungarian term for a thick soup or thin stew, came at the most perfect time. I had to make it on one of the coldest nights of the year, in my home at least. It’s deliciously warming, filling and perfectly comforting. The pancetta brings a lovely meaty flavour, with the beans, chickpeas and pasta bulking it up and adding a creamy texture. Maybe the evening’s frosty temperature had a little something to do with the wine choice, but it was helped by the canned tomatoes’ acidity, which made the Chenin Blanc I used in the dish feel slightly sharp. But it was way too cold. So, a good red would be better; a soft red, one with gentle round tannins and medium body so the…

Melatonin is a sleep hormone, not a sedative. Scientific research shows that melatonin supplementation may safely and effectively strengthen and improve sleep-wake cycles, making healthier sleep patterns possible by increasing REM sleep without grogginess. If you sleep better and your bio clock is running in sync, it can help improve your mood, daytime performance, energy levels and overall health, including immune function, regulation of metabolism, digestion, and appetite. Specific sleep problems that may benefit from supplemental melatonin include insomnia, sleep problems associated with shift work, ADHD, menopause, restless leg syndrome, jet lag, reduced REM sleep, and circadian rhythm disorders in the blind. It is recommended that users begin with a small dose, and gradually increase until it has an effect. For regulation of sleep-wake cycles, take 0,3mg to 5mg; for…

Neighbour Jan limped on to my stoep, supported by a cane to take the weight off his bandaged foot. “Gout got you again?” I asked, trying to show sympathy. “I’ve warned you before, Jan, you should go easy on your staple diet of booze, and avoid red meat.” He took a swipe at me with his cane, but fortunately missed. “Many geriatrics suffer from it, so you’re not alone, Jan.” “Call me a geriatric again and next time I won’t miss!” He coughed spasmodically. “You should go easy on the smoking, Jan,” I said as I watched him clutch his chest. “Pain in the ribs, Jan? Could be an early sign of a heart attack or lung cancer,” I warned. ”They can fix that, Jan, with surgery or an organ…

Several years of strong supply have reduced the international prices of most agricultural commodities, with grain, beef and sheep meat prices showing short-term rebounds. Most of the commodities covered in the Agricultural Outlook 2019-2028 are expected to see real price declines over the coming decade of 1% to 2%/year, as productivity growth is expected to contribute to a gradual decline in real prices in the coming decade. Pronounced price declines are expected for beef and mutton. For a few commodities (vegetable oil, ethanol, and skim and whole milk powder), real prices are expected to be flat or increase slightly, given their relatively low starting point. Lower prices are a boon to millions of consumers worldwide, but also put pressure on the incomes of those producers who are not lowering their…

The national and global agricultural mechanisation and journalism communities are mourning the loss of Joe Spencer (86), who passed away recently in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal, after months of battling ill health. Spencer, who was Farmer’s Weekly’s highly respected and knowledgeable mechanisation editor and columnist since 2002, also wrote agricultural mechanisation articles for other local and international publications. Born in the UK on 17 January 1933, Spencer’s early working years were as a merchant seaman on Union-Castle liners, followed by years of working for Richardson Farm Machinery and Leonard Dees Farm Machinery. In 1968, Spencer married Mary, who died in June 2017, and that same year emigrated to South Africa to allow him to bring the Lely farming implements brand to the country for the first time. Over subsequent years in South…

The agribusiness sector represents an important component of the South African economy, both in terms of its contribution to employment creation and to GDP growth. Over the years, we have observed increased agricultural output and productivity contributing substantially to this country’s overall economic development, especially for semi-skilled South Africans. Furthermore, South Africa remains a major exporter of agricultural produce and ranks highly in this sector. WE NEED TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE ROAD AHEAD FOR THE INDUSTRY Given its importance to the economy, it is essential that adequate reforms are put in place to ensure that the sector continues to be a fundamental instrument for sustainable development. To ensure success, all external role players, including financial institutions and government, need to be conversant with the dynamic environment in which agribusinesses…

The proposed merger between Klein Karoo International (KKI) and Mosstrich had been prompted by what the two companies described as the ongoing decline in South Africa’s ostrich industry, according to KKI’s acting managing director, Johan Schoeman, and Mosstrich’s managing director, Francois de Wet. Although they declined to comment on the merits of the case being considered by the Competition Commission’s (CompCom) Competition Tribunal, they said in a statement that they anticipated the tribunal would hand down its ruling by the end of July at the earliest. Schoeman and De Wet reiterated their companies’ arguments, presented to the tribunal, that instead of negatively affecting the local ostrich products industry, the proposed merger was intended to achieve the opposite. “In the July 2000 to June 2001 year, more than 300 000 ostriches…

South African wine exports have dropped to their lowest levels since 2010, with figures from the South African Wine Industry Statistics (SAWIS) showing that exports were down 18% to almost 363 million litres between July 2018 and June 2019. This is primarily due to a sharp decline in bulk wine exports, which declined 25% to 204,2 million litres. Packaged wine exports fell 8% to 158,5 million litres, the lowest level since 2005. According to Maryna Calow, communications manager of Wines of South Africa (Wosa), the decrease could be attributed mainly to the decline in the wine grape harvest over the past two years. “The 2018 harvest saw a decline in volume of 14% and a further 5% decline [this year]. Simply put, there’s less wine around to sell,” she said.…

GERMANY Monocultures are increasing worldwide and many of these crops rely on pollination by insects and other animals, which puts food security at increased risk, according to researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) in Germany. “The World Biodiversity Council [recently] revealed that up to one million animal and plant species are being threatened with extinction. Fewer pollinators could mean that yields are much lower, or even that harvests fail completely,” Prof Robert Paxton, a biologist at MLU, said. CHINA A total of 248 900ha of farmland cannot be harvested because of widespread flooding in China last month, according to the Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management. The floods, which affected large parts of the country from the Xinjiang region in the north-west to Guangdong province in the south-east, had damaged…

The citrus industry has called on the Minister of Trade and Economic Development, Ebrahim Patel, to intercede in a go-slow at Transnet’s Port of Ngqura near Port Elizabeth, which is negatively affecting exports. The manager of logistics development at the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA), Mitchell Brookes, told Farmer’s Weekly that the industrial action at the harbour in the Kouga Local Municipality was having a negative impact on citrus exports from the Eastern Cape in particular. “Fruit now has to be [transported] to Durban or Cape Town harbours for exporting,” he said. Justin Chadwick, CEO of CGA, said in a statement that in addition to the extra costs and delays to transport the produce to other harbours, those ports still operating were now coming under mounting pressure. “Citrus…

Countries in the EU are feeling the pinch due to growing international trade tensions and have thus turned their concentration towards Oceania and Africa, resulting in the recent signing of the Africa-Europe Alliance agreement on agricultural development. This agreement is expected to dominate debate on agricultural development aid from Europe for the next five years. This was according to Dr Theo de Jager, president of the World Farmers’ Organisation, speaking at the recent 2019 Agribusiness Africa Conference. He outlined global challenges and opportunities facing farmers in various countries and on different continents that would affect competitiveness and trade in the next few years. He said the main concerns of farmers in Europe were trade-related, including trade agreements with countries in the South American trade bloc. Farmers there said they believed…

The newly formed Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development under the leadership of Minister Thoko Didiza is still in the process of assessing the various programmes and competencies that have to be incorporated into the new department. However, according to Didiza, who delivered the department’s budget vote address in Parliament recently, it had already been established that as part of the reorganisation process certain “requisite skills” would have to be brought into the department to strengthen capacity within those institutions that were critical for service delivery purposes. One of the focus areas for the new department would be to “work together to open up the sector, create opportunities for the historically disadvantaged groups, and make a concerted effort in growing the sector on an inclusive basis”, she said.…

For hundreds of years, sugar cane farmers on the rolling hills of KwaZulu-Natal have supplied South Africans with their most desired taste preference: ‘sweetness’. But sugar has become a pariah product and is today ‘sin-taxed’ alongside tobacco and alcohol. At the same time, our dryland cane farmers are no longer able to compete on the global market. Yields are low, production costs high and competitors, subsidised by support from their governments, deliver sugar to our shores at a lower cost than local production. The time has thus come for sugar cane farmers to take a long, hard look at their business model, and to make the changes needed to keep them on the land. But for any farmer thinking of ‘changing lanes’, an exit or downscale with entry to other…

‘AFRICA AND ASIA POSE ENORMOUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH’ WHAT IS THE PRODUCE MARKETING ASSOCIATION (PMA), AND HOW HAS IT GROWN IN SOUTH AFRICA SINCE ITS INCEPTION? LINDIE STROEBEL (LS): PMA is a network of stakeholders in the fresh produce industry across the world. With a focus on fruit and vegetables, it has two strategic focus areas, which guide implementing the vision of bringing together the global industry to grow a healthier world. In 2009, a handful of South African companies were signed up as PMA global members. They approached the PMA leadership to initiate this network and value proposition in South Africa. Accordingly, the first Fresh Connections was hosted in 2011. For the following five years, PMA was largely defined by the growing Fresh Connections conference and very impactful career…

FIELD GUIDE TO MUSHROOMS & OTHER FUNGI OF SOUTH AFRICA by Gary B Goldman and Marieka Gryzenhout (Struik Nature, R370) Goldman is the amateur enthusiast, and Gryzenhout is a professional, lecturing in genetics at the University of the Free State and evangelising about the wonders of fungi at every opportunity in one of the most inspiring natural-history talks I’ve ever experienced. Their book covers 200 of South Africa’s “most distinctive and conspicuous” fungi, and lovingly illustrates them with more than 850 often surprisingly breathtaking photographs. The useful introduction outlines the how and why of mushrooms and gives tips for foraging, and even a few recipe recommendations. DEAD AT FIRST SIGHT by Peter James (Macmillan, R300) James’s series character, Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, is forced into the…

Nampo Kirkwood Wildsfees Merino advisers’ course University of Pretoria’s Merino course…

30 TO 31 JULY Agro-processing Conference THIS EVENT AIMS TO HIGHLIGHT THE ABSENCE OF COMPETITIVE AGRO-PROCESSING BUSINESSES IN MANY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, AND HOW THIS UNDERDEVELOPED INDUSTRY IS A SIGNIFICANT MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE JOBS AND INCOME. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 30 TO 31 JULY Emerging Farmers and Agro-processing Conference, CSIR Convention Centre, Pretoria.Email ryan@empiretraining.co.za. 30 TO 31 JULY PMA Fresh Connections Conference and Trade Show, Cape Town. Visit pma.com/events/ fresh-connections-southern-africa. 12 TO 16 AUGUST ALFA Expo, Afridome, Parys.Visit alfaexpo.com. 21 TO 22 AUGUST Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition, CSIR Convention Centre, Pretoria. Visit fertasa.co.za/fertasa-events/ symposium. 3 TO 5 SEPTEMBER No-Till Conference, Bergville. Email Sandra Findlay at ntcsandra@gmail.com. 1 TO 3 OCTOBER Africa Fertilizer Agribusiness Conference, Cape Town International Convention Centre.Visit events.crugroup.com/ astafrica/home. COURSES & TRAINING 29 TO 31 JULY…

The Namibian Professional Hunters’ Association (NAPHA) has denied any knowledge of the decision to hunt the iconic Namibian elephant bull, known as Voortrekker, in the Omatjete region. Media reports in Namibia indicated that the elephant had been classified as a problem animal following recent incidences of human-elephant conflict, which led to its being killed by trophy hunters. This resulted in strong reaction and condemnation from the public on social media, calling for clarification from, among others, the association. Speaking to Farmers’ Weekly, NAPHA president Danene van der Westhuyzen said the association did not know who the professional hunter was who facilitated the hunt, or which government body allowed it to take place. NAPHA nevertheless welcomed the public engagement on social media, and regarded it as an indication of a commitment…

The billions of rand collected by the South African government through a range of environmental taxes should be significantly or wholly ring-fenced to fund climate change mitigation and environmental protection efforts. This was according to a statement issued by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), which also called on government to clearly indicate what the income derived from environmental taxes was being used for. The statement added that these environmental taxes included the levy on plastic bags introduced in the 2004/2005 financial year; the incandescent light bulb and electricity levies introduced in 2009/2010; the carbon dioxide tax on vehicle emissions introduced in 2010/2011; the tyre levy collected by the South African Revenue Service since 2016/2017; and carbon tax (from which agriculture was exempt for the next five years) that came…

Role players in the fruit and vegetable industries provided a fresh take on these commodities at the recent Agribusiness Africa Conference, hosted by Farmer’s Weekly in Kempton Park. In a panel discussion led by Wandile Sihlobo, head of economic and agribusiness intelligence at Agbiz, questions ranged from doing business in Africa to how markets were managing waste or utilising ‘ugly food’. Technology and how to remain relevant also featured prominently during the session, in which Joburg Market CEO Ayanda Kanana, CEO of the RSA Group, Jaco Oosthuizen, and development manager of Freshmark Systems, Dr Justy Range, participated. The conversation also turned to transformation, as well as the concept of “mandate tension” when it came to balancing the interests of the private sector and investors with addressing socio-economic issues. Kanana said…

The only camel milk dairy in South Africa is run by Hans Knoessen, who farms in the remote district of Askham in the Kalahari. In an effort to add value to the family’s livestock production business on the farm Koppieskraal, about 250km north-west of Upington, Knoessen decided to start utilising free-roaming camels in 2015. “It was very dry in our area at the time [… and] that is when we came up with the idea to milk the camels and sell the milk,” he said. The endeavour called for much research, and Knoessen also had to find a market for the milk. He started by selling the milk to the Somali community in the Western Cape, and members of the Muslim community there are still his main customers. The fresh…

Recently I heard of a proposed project that planned to produce 90t of tilapia annually from a greenhouse-based system in the southern coastal region of South Africa. Whilst it is always encouraging to hear of new projects, promoters and investors should go into such a venture with their eyes wide open, as well as a certain degree of humility and the knowledge that many producers have tried and failed before. Let’s examine some of the reasons this happens. THE FUNDAMENTALS Before initiating a project, it is crucial to conduct in-depth research. Simply to claim that the “correct grow-out and filtration design will be employed” ignores the fact that the techniques of heating, oxygenation, filtration and nitrate disposal in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) are far from foolproof. Certainly, most operators…

Farmers growing fruit or vegetables have seven options for marketing their produce. Each one has benefits and disadvantages, which have to be managed by the farmer. Each option also offers marketing solutions according to the level of sophistication of the farming operation. Most new farmers are understandably ambitious and keen, and want to market their produce to their best advantage. This is great, but you also need to be pragmatic. EXPENSIVE By all means, take note of what the larger, older farmers are doing, and learn from them. But understand they did not arrive where they are by good luck. It’s taken years of learning, adapting, making mistakes, and more learning. And at times, it’s been an expensive learning curve for them. But they stuck to their plans and systematically…

To make this classic winter soup for four hungry diners, you will need: 800g steak 1 500ml chicken stock 120ml dry white wine 120g pancetta 1 can white beans 1 can chickpeas 2 cans chopped tomatoes 3 cloves of garlic 120g penne pasta 40g freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus a little extra per serving 1 bay leaf ¼ cup chopped parsley 1 tablespoon chopped origanum 1 onion 2 carrots 3 sticks of celery 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper Salt 30ml extra-virgin olive oil, plus a light drizzle extra per serving Like bacon, pancetta is made from pork belly. However, unlike bacon, it is unsmoked. If hard to find, bacon is a second-class substitute as the smoked flavour tends to dominate. 1 Dice the vegetables and the pancetta into…

As previously discussed, electromnnsa.com offers a do-it-yourself tracking device for vehicles. (Simply search for ‘vehicle tracking’ on the site.) I use these devices in my trucks and I know of businesses with fleets of 30-plus vehicles that use them too. However, the tracking devices rely on a cellular signal; when there’s no signal they don’t work. The SPOT GPS tracking device remedies that by using satellites to triangulate its position, and so can be used anywhere on land or at sea, unlike tracking devices that rely on a GSM or cellular signal. Download the SPOT app and have a live tracking device at your fingertips 24/7. You’ll also be able to see the vehicle’s exact location on Google Maps. The tracking device itself measures 8,72cm x 5,13cm x 2,14cm and…

After a highly succesful function last year, Merino South Africa will again present a prestigious dinner preceding the national auction on Thursday evening, 15 August, at the Botanical Sports Grounds in Graaff-Reinet. The singer, Elvis Blue, will entertain the guests. Tickets will be charged at R300 per person, or R3 000 for a table of 10, and include a three-course meal. A cash bar will be available. The dress code is semi-formal. The national Merino ram auction, the prestige Merino auction of the year, will be held on Friday, 16 August, at the Botanical Sports Grounds in Graaff-Reinet. The auction starts at 11am, and around 90 top-quality rams from 15 breeders will be on sale. These rams can be viewed on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning before the auction. Merino…