Table of contents for 08 February 2019 in Farmer's Weekly

Since the beginning of this year, I have made an effort to speak to companies and individual farmers who are still committed to investing in farming in South Africa, to understand why they have taken an optimistic view of the future prospects of the sector at a time when consensus reports suggest that confidence is waning. What I have discovered was that my own view about the South African economy was probably unreasonably pessimistic. However, this is not necessarily due to the fact that the country is performing better than we might care to admit; it is just that compared with the global economic situation, South Africa’s prospects are by far not the worst. There is no way to talk around the crises we face in terms of unemployment, lack…

Litter has direct financial, environmental and health consequences for all individuals, organisations and societies. The cost of picking up litter is money that could be better spent elsewhere. It’s with this knowledge that Woodlands Dairy (Woodlands), as part of its Good Movement, is encouraging individuals to ‘clean up their ‘hoods for good’. Tinus Pretorius, general manager of sales and marketing at Woodlands, says: “Litter blights our streets, parks and beaches and costs us millions of rand to clean up every year. This project aims to inspire people to eliminate litter now and for future generations. The campaign fights for people’s right to live and work in places they can be proud of and prosper in. “The project is about getting people to pick up litter. We aim to change behaviour…

An article published on the Business Day website, called ‘Value of South African wine exports up despite drought in Western Cape’, refers to the fact that South Africa’s wine exports grew 4% year-on-year in value terms in 2018. However, the drought did have an impact on production when one considers the volume of agricultural produce produced in the Western Cape. The uptick in global wine prices, as well as the slightly weaker domestic currency, have somewhat countered the decline in export volume. Wine is one of South Africa’s largest agricultural exports, therefore the growth in its exports contributes positively to the country’s agricultural trade balance. THE GROWTH IN WINE EXPORTS POSITIVELY AFFECTED THE AGRI TRADE BALANCE The data from Trade Map for the first 11 months of 2018 shows that…

Despite milk production increasing 3,9% year-on-year in 2018, a decline has been evident since November 2018, according to a report by the Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO). Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Bertus van Heerden, head economist at the MPO, said this growth figure had been higher than the typical annual growth. “But producer prices already began declining from R5/l in March 2018 to R4,05/l in September, or 19%. Along with high temperatures in many areas of South Africa, this led to the decline in milk production,” he said. Van Heerden added that it was impossible to establish the single per litre price that all milk producers needed to receive to enable them to break even, as this differed from farm to farm. It would also be different for various production methods,…

Agricultural education and training in South Africa need to be re-evaluated as a matter of urgency, according to agricultural economist Dr Kobus Laubscher. He told Farmer’s Weekly on International Education Day (24 January) that the emphasis should be shifted from formal education only to providing training for the large numbers of young people who are left unemployed in the country. In light of the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution, young people desperately needed training in technology and access to top-class connectivity and information. “In my opinion, the entire agricultural value chain needs to take responsibility for the dissemination of knowledge and information. Agricultural institutions such as universities and colleges also need to come on board in an effort to provide education,” he added. According to Laubscher, trends associated with the Fourth…

The latest statistics released by Forestry South Africa (FSA) show that the total area under commercial forestry plantations declined 56 000ha between 2012 and 2017 to just over 1,2 million hectares. Yet in 2017, South Africa’s primary commercial forestry value chain was able to contribute R36,7 billion to the economy, excluding secondary processing activities. Compiled by FSA operations director Roger Godsmark and operations manager Francois Oberholzer, the 2017 statistics showed that the area planted to commercial forestry plantations comprised pine (49,6%), eucalyptus (43%), wattle (7%), and ‘other’ (0,4%). “Of this total area, 50,5% were owned by corporate timber growers; 16,2% by independent commercial farmers; 11,8% by corporates that leased land from South African Forestry Company Limited (SAFCOL); 10,5% by SAFCOL itself through Komatiland Forests; 7,3% by the state and municipalities;…

Despite exporting less wine in 2018, South Africa’s wine industry reported positive growth in the overall value of exports. According to Wines of South Africa, the figure increased 4% to R9,06 billion. Spokesperson for the organisation Maryna Calow said she believed that the growth could be attributed to the global wine shortage, which had enabled producers to negotiate better prices. Calow added that the increase had resulted from Wine of South Africa’s strategy for an increased value focus within packaged and bulk wine sales. The value of packaged wine increased 3%, while that of bulk wine increased 7%. In South Africa’s main export markets, good growth in the value of packaged wine to China was evident at 7%. In the European markets, which had seen very little value growth of…

The environment and the slowdown in the global economy dominated discussions at this year’s World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, recently. Environmental lobby groups and governments alike called for a change in food consumption patterns to reduce the harm done to the environment. Beef consumption took much of the limelight amid varying figures on the impact that methane gas from beef production had on the environment. Speaking from the event, Dr Theo de Jager, president of the World Farmers’ Organisation, said a recent report released by the EAT Lancet Commission on food, planet and health was causing a stir at the forum. The report called for a diet consisting of no more than 14g/day of red meat and at least 500g/day of vegetables and fruit. Changing to this new…

Westfalia Fruit Colombia, which forms part of South African fresh fruit supplier and processor Westfalia Fruit, recently announced that it had opened “the biggest and most advanced Hass avocado processing plant” in that country. The processing plant in Colombia’s largely agricultural area of Sonsón featured world-leading grading and sorting technologies, according to a statement by the company. The statement added that since its inception in 2012, the company had developed “very fast” in Colombia’s “buoyant avocado industry”, which had seen the value of avocado exports increasing 413% from US$10,3 million (R141 million) in 2015 to US$52,9 million (R723 million) in 2017. It was expected that the new processing facility would triple the company’s avocado throughput. “In just six years, Westfalia Fruit Colombia has exported more than 800 containers to international…

A young biochemist at the University of the Free State’s Department of Plant Science may be on track to identifying a natural active ingredient for a new herbicide to control ryegrass. Speaking at the annual Combined Congress of soil, weed, horticulture and crop production sciences in Bloemfontein recently, Ingrid Alleman said her findings had evolved from investigating amaranth as an alternative food plant. While attempting to understand how the plant would interact within existing food systems, she had also explored the plant’s allelopathic properties. Alleman said the plant Amaranthus cruentus produced chemicals or phytochemicals with allelopathic properties that were intended to give it a competitive advantage. Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) had been a popular cover crop in the past, but had become a “weed nuisance” that was also becoming resistant to…

Seven newly qualified vets have joined the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development’s Compulsory Community Service (CCS) programme so far this year. ‘RURAL FARMERS FACE LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES’ The graduates will be based in the John Taolo Gaetsewe, ZF Mgcawu, Francis Baard and Pixley ka Seme districts. CCS programme coordinator Dr Lea Shuda, who also serves as state vet in Kuruman, was deployed to the province as part of the programme in 2016. She accepted the position at the end of her service year and has been coordinating the CCS programme since last year. Shuda said that, in the beginning, one of the challenges of working in the rural communities was obtaining permission from tribal chiefs in the area. “With each new community that is serviced, one…

The green season is a critical phase in the production cycle of livestock. It is the only time when the extensive stock farmer has highly nutritious, digestible, palatable natural grazing available to restore the condition of female animals for the breeding season, to grow out replacement animals and potential breeding males, and to stimulate milk production in lactating animals (see Table 1). In Southern Africa, these favourable conditions do not last long; moreover, the majority of soil types are deficient in phosphorus, a critical element required for growth, fertility and milk production. It is general practice amongst progressive farmers to provide phosphate licks during the green season. Feed science has grown in leaps and bounds over the past 30 years, and today’s scientifically formulated phosphate supplements can help a farmer…

The rounding off of lambs is dependent on genetics, feeding, processing and weather, but above all, management. So says Kenneth Hamlett, technical adviser at Tau Mills, based in Leeudoringstad, North West. “With 80% of lamb performance based on a farmer’s management and only 20% on feeding, there’s a lot a farmer can do to ensure optimal growth,” he says. BEGIN BEFORE LAMBING “A lamb’s life actually begins four to six weeks before it is born. About 80% of foetal development occurs during this phase, so it’s crucial to pay special attention to a ewe’s feed requirements then,” says Hamlett. As the foetus grows larger, the ewe’s rumen capacity decreases. Contrary to what many believe, smaller rumen capacity does not mean that a ewe should be fed less. In fact, the…

An area of approximately 250m² can provide a family of three with green mealies for about six months, provided planting days are extended over a period. Water is usually the main limiting factor. A lower plant density will therefore reduce the risk of crop failure. The soil should ideally be at least 75cm deep, but shallower soil can be cultivated if irrigated carefully. Over-irrigation of shallow soils, however, can result in waterlogging and salinisation. Day-length and heat units affect the yield. A crop that produces cobs (green mealies) during midsummer will have nearly double the yield of a crop harvested as grain in May. To put it simply, the plant converts solar energy into starch. During midsummer, the light intensity is much higher than in winter as the sun’s rays…

TRUTH by Hector Macdonald (Bantam, R320) While philosophers may agonise over whether objective truth can exist, Macdonald believes it is possible to identify both factual truths and consensus truths formulated by those with expertise on the subject. A strategic communications consultant and novelist, he knows better than most the fine line between truth and interpretation. Using numerous examples, he attempts to contain the vipers’ nest of would-be truth in four groupings: partial, subjective, artificial and unknown. In a year where fake news is a hashtag and we face the politicking of elections, this fascinating discussion has immediate application to our time and place. TEN TO ZEN by Owen O’Kane (Bluebird, R230) O’Kane has blithely filleted Zen Buddhism and a collection of Western therapies, including mindfulness and…

Every year in March, the Bonsmara Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa (Bonsmara SA) hosts an event that should not be missed by any serious cattle producer. On 13 March 2019, Bonsmara SA’s Red Breed Event and National Female Sale will again be held at the Afridome in Parys. RED BREED EVENT The Red Breed Event, as always, is an excellent opportunity for cattle farmers to meet Bonsmara breeders from all over the country, and will also include addresses by some of South Africa’s leading economists, political analysts and leaders in the agriculture sector. This year’s guest speaker is Theo Venter, a lecturer at North-West University’s Business School. Venter is known for his open-minded approach to the South African political climate, as well as his discussions on how farmers are…

“Much of the attention devoted to common property resources has centred on the environmental question. Can land, sea, estuaries and rivers, which belong to no single user, survive the ‘tragedy of the commons’? Will their utility be negated by ‘free riders’, those individuals who maximise their own benefit at the cost of the general good? In South Africa, a range of local black and coloured groups have used municipal commonage since 1994, and their profile reveals increasing economic stratification. This emerging class of proto-commercial commonage farmer is increasingly prevalent and a widespread social phenomenon in rural towns. These farmers have benefitted from subsidised municipal land rentals, but they have also experienced many years of frustration with municipal mismanagement, social conflict, and cramped and overgrazed land. Some have also benefitted from…

The Eastern Cape is in the grip of a severe drought, exacerbated by fierce easterly and westerly gales. Driving on the R72 past ploughed lands, you could almost imagine that you’re in a desert sandstorm, with top soil simply swirling away in clouds. The lands have been cleared of all bush and trees and many of our dairy farmers do the same; they clear all bush and trees to plant pastures. I recently watched Sebastiao Salgado of Instituto Terra on TED TALKS and feel everyone, particularly farmers, should watch this particular talk. You can find it on Youtube. It makes one realise that trees and bush are vital to prevent drought and erosion. After watching this talk, I would suggest that for every tree and bush taken out, five indigenous…

The corruption in South Africa is a betrayal of the country’s Constitution, as well as a betrayal of the trust of the people who voted for the ideal portrayed by the ANC. There are many individuals and companies involved in corruption, according to the testimony of former Bosasa COO, Angelo Agrizzi, who has been revealing bombshell after bombshell during the state of capture inquiry. Here is a brief summary of all those who allegedly received bribes from Bosasa to secure political favour and/or tenders: Dudu Myeni, former chairperson of South African Airways. Agrizzi said that Myeni had handed over confidential documents of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to Bosasa officials. She also allegedly facilitated payments of R300 000/month to former president Jacob Zuma. Dr Khotso de Wee, suspended secretary for…

The impact of the drought in some parts of South Africa has deteriorated beyond the point of being critical, with some farmers in the Williston district in the Northern Cape, for example, last receiving good rain in 2012. Willem Symington, who farms in the district, said farmers were taking drastic measures to keep their already vastly reduced sheep flocks going. “They are, among others, cancelling medical aid funds and short-term insurance, and making their [other] policies paid up. The situation is dire, and exacerbated by the recent sharp drop in lamb and mutton prices.” Symington said some of the younger farmers in the district had left to work in countries abroad, such as the US, but the majority were remaining on their farms. “In any case, where would they go?…

The implementation of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ (DAFF) national livestock identification and traceability system was being delayed by a lack of resources. This was according to DAFF spokesperson Steve Galane, who said the operational policy framework for the system had been initiated in 2015 and approved in 2018 in accordance with the South African Veterinary Strategy. However, the department continued to engage with National Treasury and the private sector to source the necessary funding for the implementation of the policy, he added. ‘INFRASTRUCTURE MUST BE IN PLACE TO TRACK A NEWLY TAGGED ANIMAL’ Dr Tania Prinsloo, a lecturer at the Department of Informatics at the University of Pretoria, said the use of a livestock traceability system was a less economically damaging way of controlling foot-and-mouth disease as…

Unusually high exposure to pesticide has been linked to a poor sense of smell among ageing farmers. At the start of a study, carried out on 11 200 farmers over 20 years, researchers at Michigan State University in the US found that 16% had reported experiencing a high pesticide exposure event, such as a large quantity of pesticide spilling onto their bodies. Two decades later, they were asked if they had suffered olfactory impairment, a partial to complete loss of the sense of smell. Farmers reporting an incident of high exposure were 50% more likely to have a poor sense of smell at the end of the study. The research also showed that immediately washing the pesticide off with soap and water could mitigate the risk. Professor of epidemiology at…

South Africa’s pome fruit producers are in a much better position than last year due to good rainfall during the past winter. “Although the drought has not been completely broken, volumes are looking better and growers are much more positive,” said Nicholas Dicey, chairperson of Hortgro Pome. Hortgro Pome recently released its first pome fruit forecast for the season, which indicated that an average export crop would be achieved for the 2019 season. Exports of apples were expected to increase 5%, while no growth was expected for pear exports. In fact, according to Dicey, pear exports would decline slightly, by an estimated 45 000 cartons of 12,5kg-equivalent, to a total volume of over 16,9 million cartons. He attributed this to pear plantings stabilising over the past few years. Dicey told…

More than 10 000 jobs in the tobacco farming industry in South Africa, including those on commercial farms, are at risk from the trade in illegal cigarettes. At the launch of the Black Tobacco Farmers’ Association (BFTA) in Pretoria recently, members demanded that government take immediate action against the illegal industry, which now reportedly controlled almost half of all tobacco sales in the country. A study released by market research company, Ipsos, in May 2018 had indicated that the illegal market had exploded in recent years. Cigarette brands selling for less than the tax of R17,85 levied on a packet by the South Africa Revenue Services (SARS) had grown their market share significantly. Quoting a new Econometrix report, the CEO of Limpopo Tobacco Processors, Christo van Staden, said that demand…

A flourishing agriculture sector could be the answer to Africa’s flood of migrants seeking economic opportunities. Speaking at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture held in Berlin recently, José Graziano da Silva, the director general of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said investment in rural development and agriculture would offer young people in rural Africa an alternative to migration. Noting that almost half of Africa’s population remained extremely poor and food insecure, Graziano da Silva said it was critical to channel public and private investments towards the agriculture sector. “This is not only crucial to achieve prosperity in Africa and guarantee the continent’s young people an alternative to migration, but will also ensure we have the young people needed for modern agriculture.” He said fostering the creation…

Global climate change has resulted in coffee production coming under threat from pests, diseases, and even extinction. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Charles Denison, a co-founder of Cultivar, an international coffee consultancy and coffee trading company based in Durban, said that coffee was traditionally grown only in very specific climates. This was in areas close to the equator. But small changes in temperature meant that the production potential of these areas was now being disrupted. “Even a temperature change of 0,3°C could mean lower yields, lower quality and more disease prevalence,” he said. Denison said the most well-known coffee species were Arabica and Robusta, but there were hundreds of wild cultivars of these species that were yet to be explored. Climate change threatened wild cultivars, in particular, and some of these…

Armando Loureira and Rebecca da Costa (not their real names) married young. They both graduated cum laude in the veterinary science class of 1972. Armando joined a British company with international agricultural interests, and Rebecca was employed by government. A son was born 12 months later, and soon, as owners of a small home and with doting grandparents living close by, they had lives filled with joy. But this was Mozambique. A war of attrition between Portugal and FRELIMO (the Mozambique Liberation Front) had been waging in northern Mozambique since 1962. Fortunately, being far from Lourenço Marques, the young Loureira family got on with their lives and paid little heed to it. Then, in April 1974, the authoritarian Portuguese regime in Lisbon was overthrown in a coup d’etat, and Mozambique…

What causes a correctly installed and tightened nut and bolt to work loose? Side-shifting is the most likely cause. This refers to the sideways movement caused by either a differential thermal expansion, applied loads or a bending of the bolt shank. All three conditions apply forces at the bolt head/ workpiece interface that tend to move the bolt head and workpiece in opposite directions. As soon as movement starts, the coefficient of friction (Μμ) is reduced to such an extent that the bolt unwinds by a very small amount. This makes it easier for the next side-shifting event to reduce the bolt tension even more, so that after a while the bolt tension is so low it cannot do its job anymore. You can experience this relaxation of Μμ by…

To make this quick chicken and pasta dinner for four, you will need: 10 chicken pieces 200g big brown mushrooms 1 onion, peeled 2 cloves of garlic 1 can of tomatoes 4 tablespoons of tomato concentrate 2 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh basil 2 tablespoons of finely chopped parsley 130ml dry white wine 130ml chicken stock 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon brown sugar Salt and coarsely ground black pepper to taste 70g freshly grated Parmesan or other hard cheese 400g skinny pasta, such as linguine 1 Slice the mushrooms and chop the herbs and garlic, before thinly slicing the peeled onion. Select a heavy-based frying pan, add the butter and olive oil, and bring these up to medium-high heat. Brown the chicken sections, beginning with…

Stock theft and poaching are on the increase, threatening livelihoods and the future of endangered animals. In response, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and National Geographic Society, together with non-profit company Resolve, have developed a diminutive trail camera called TrailGuard AI. The device is equipped with artificial intelligence software that can differentiate between humans, animals and vehicles. The cameras are typically placed at strategic entry points and along paths that poachers and thieves use, and act as an early warning system. The camera uses Intel Movidius Vision Processing Units (VPUs) for image processing, running algorithms for object detection, and image classification inside the camera itself. “By pairing AI technology with human decision makers, we can solve some of our greatest challenges, including illegal poaching of endangered animals,” says Intel’s Anna Bethke.…

Our district nurse arrived in her clinic van for her monthly visit. Neighbour Jan leaped up from our morning coffee session, in indelicate haste I thought, to be first in queue for her consultation. Behind the van’s door I could hear the giggles between her stern rebukes to Jan to do something about his excessive weight. Over coffee, we’d been discussing the British National Health Service’s declaration that obesity is a disease. Perhaps the district nurse had heard about it too, and was warning Jan to go on diet or suffer a heart attack. “What’s taking her so long with Jan?” his wife Hettie asked the gathering queue. The fact that the nurse is a very attractive lady, and was now alone in the van with her husband was more…

14 TO 15 FEBRUARY Cattle: Nutrition & Feed TRAINEES STUDY CATTLE’S NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, HOW TO MIX RATIONS, THE VALUE OF VARIOUS FEEDS, GRASSES AND GRAINS, AND HOW TO PREPARE CATTLE FOR MARKET. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 27 TO 28 FEBRUARY Efficient Beef Cattle Production, Kuruman.Visit bommereaipela.co.za , or email info@bommereaipela.co.za . 6 TO 7 MARCH Agripreneurs Conference 2019, Emperors Palace, Kempton Park.Visit agripreneurs-conference.com . 6 TO 7 MARCH Undercover Farming Expo, CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria. Visit undercoverfarmingexpo.co.za . 11 TO 13 MARCH First Biannual International Soy for Human Health Conference, St George Hotel, Pretoria. Email Bronwyn or Petra Lawson at conferencepl@gmail.com . 28 TO 29 MARCH Profitable Pig Production, Rustenburg. Visit bommereaipela.co.za…

Globally, the role of business leadership is undergoing a highly significant cultural shift, according to YPO, an international leadership organisation. YPO shared its 2019 Global Leadership Survey findings during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, recently. The survey was conducted to determine whether the purpose of business was to have an impact on society beyond profit and wealth. Ninety-three percent of participants said business should have a positive impact on society. Approximately 4 000 respondents participated in the survey. They included more than 2 000 chief executives from 110 countries, and 1 900 future business leaders between the ages of 18 and 31. According to the report, a large majority of respondents (74%) indicated that their perspective on their role as business leaders had…

GERMANY Thousands of people recently took to the streets in Berlin, Germany, to demand a new food and farming policy that would benefit small farmers and protect the environment. Farmers, consumers, conservationists, beekeepers and food activists joined the march, which was led by 171 tractors. Equipped with colourful posters and creative costumes, about 35 000 people took part in the protest. – Staff reporter AUSTRALIA Australia’s strict border biosecurity controls recently paid off when six illegal shipments of pork products carrying African swine fever were intercepted. Australia has about 20 million farmed pigs and an equal number of feral pigs. According to researchers, African swine fever would be very difficult to eradicate if it ever broke through the border defences. The Australian Animal Health Laboratory is working with Kansas State…

The Farm in a Box concept is expected to be launched in South Africa in the near future, according to Gary Collar, senior vice-president of AGCO, a global distributor of agricultural machinery. The concept consists of a modified shipping container that contains, among other items, a tractor and some implements to carry out basic land preparation, planting and crop transportation. It also includes tools and spare parts, and can be used as a storage facility and workshop. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Collar said the concept was already in the testing phase in Zambia, and aimed to introduce mechanisation across a large part of Africa. As part of the concept, training would be provided to new farmers to ensure sustainable operation. When available, container farms would be distributed by the South…

The Cape Wools Market Indicator increased 578 points, or 2,7%, to close at R221/kg clean at the fourth sale of January, as the rand weakened against the US dollar and the euro. Most of the gains were in the 19,5-micron and 22,5-micron segments, but the price of good-quality long, fine wool also increased due to constant demand, while stronger wool prices continued to fluctuate. As buying houses had expressed concern about the possibility of good-quality wool being in short supply in the short term, the South African Wool and Mohair Buyers’ Association had announced that the sales of catalogues 21 and 22 would be combined on 13 February, Heinrich Victor, OVK’s operational manager of fibre, said. “Worldwide, wool production remains under pressure, mainly because of the ongoing drought in especially…

People need to start realising that conservation agriculture (CA) does not just consist of no-till farming methods. This was one of the key messages that emerged at a workshop during the annual Combined Congress of soil, weed, horticulture and crop production societies held at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein recently. One of the organisers was Dr Cobus Botha, a specialist researcher at the Agricultural Research Council’s Institute for Soil, Climate and Water. He said the aim was to provide insight into the various areas related to the practice of CA, as well as share knowledge and experience, and identify research gaps. According to Botha, CA implementation remained very low in South Africa. This was due to a number of reasons, including perceptions, cost of investing in implements,…

General unskilled farmworkers in Namibia earned approximately double the official basic hourly cash wage of N$4,62 (R4,62). This was according to Danie van Vuuren, the principal officer of the Namibian Agricultural Employers’ Association (AEA). He said the association’s 2018 wage survey showed that the workers earned N$8,20/hour in 2017/2018. “The AEA is committed to ensuring that farmworkers on commercial farms receive market-related remuneration.” Employer participation in this annual survey is voluntary and almost 3 300 took part in the most recent survey, which focused on income earned in the 2017/2018 financial year. According to the survey, the average basic monthly pay for permanent employees on commercial farms amounted to an average of just over N$2 100, while permanent employees’ total remuneration package on average came to about N$3 400. Van…

The start of a new year is always a good time to take stock of what has been achieved in South African fresh water aquaculture during the past year, and assess where the sector is going. Trout farming appears to be stable as far as production is concerned, but the industry now faces a real challenge: trout have been declared a Category 2 invasive species under the NEMBA legislation. This has caused alarm in the industry and is subject to ongoing legal challenges. The uncertainty does little to encourage new investment in the industry. Catfish form a very small part of aquaculture at present, with only one large government project (in Graaff-Reinet) at commercial level. Several years of research and development to perfect hatchery and production techniques, coupled with considerable…

In spite of the current perception that bigger is better, the Landmans’ story is proof that, with careful planning, an entire family can make a living off a small farm. Johann Landman bought the farm Vogelsang and simultaneously started a family company in 2004, making the property part of the business. The farm is rented out to the family farming enterprise operating under the Karusa brand name. Karusa is a Khoisan word meaning ‘land with little water’. Johann’s son and daughter-in-law, Theo and Denielle, are in charge of the development and maintenance of the farm as well as the overall management of fruit, olive and vineyard production. The plan is to systematically expand the tourism offering, and to this end the farm opened its first two self-catering cottages at the…

The year is well under way, everyone is back at work, and I find myself looking ahead to what might be in store for the fresh produce sector in 2019. With this being an election year, we have to brace ourselves for the inevitable torrent of hot air from politicians. Will that ‘hot air’ have any positive spin for the fresh produce industry? I doubt it, but it would be refreshing if it did. What, for example, if it were decided to hand over management of the markets to experts who truly understood, and really cared about, the sector? It would change everything for the better. A SERIOUS, ONGOING ISSUE Let’s take the vexed issue of food safety, for example. This ongoing problem could be solved if those in power,…

Burgundian Pinot Noir is often described as being earthy with aromas of forest floor and even mushrooms and truffles. Due to different soils and climate, New World Pinots seldom attain these characteristics to the same extent; instead, they show more ripe fruit on the nose and palate, with subtler earthiness. Cooler climate areas such as Elgin and Walker Bay are where most of South Africa’s really good-quality Pinot Noir is grown. The beauty of this recipe is how it brought out Burgundy-type notes in the Pinot Noir I sipped. Thelema Mountain Vineyards in Stellenbosch purchased a second property in Elgin in 2002 and produce a Pinot Noir from here under the Sutherland label. With only nine months in French barrels, it is fruit-forward, with bright strawberry notes and understated earthiness…

Importance of magnesium Magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps to maintain normal nerve and muscle function as well as bone strength. It also helps regulate blood glucose levels, which is important for anxiety, and aids in the production of energy. Diets very high in protein, calcium or vitamin D increase the need for magnesium. Most dietary magnesium comes from dark green vegetables such as spinach and chard. Other magnesium-rich foods include almonds and cashews, peas, beans, seeds and whole grains. The symptoms of magnesium deficiency include hyperexcitability, insomnia, muscle weakness, cramps and debilitating fatigue. A deficiency can occur in people who abuse alcohol (and coffee!) or in those who absorb less magnesium due to a gastrointestinal disease or surgery. As magnesium is…