Table of contents for 17 May 2019 in Farmer's Weekly

One of the potentially most destructive thoughts around land reform is the idea than smaller and medium-sized commercial farmers can be sacrificed for the sake of reform, while mega-producers are left alone to protect the contribution they make to national food security. This suggestion was one of many discussed at the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies’ (PLAAS) conference, ‘Resolving the land question’, which was held at the beginning of February at the University of the Western Cape. Some controversy emerged when Gabriel Crouse, an associate at the Institute of Race Relations, said that Dan Kriek, Agri SA president, had, at the conference, allegedly reaffirmed a point made by Prof Ben Cousins of PLAAS that “if the 20% of farmers making 80% of the food were left untouched, then…

Pitch AgriHack is an initiative by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Co-operation (CTA) and is aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs in information and communication technology (ICT) for agriculture (ICT4Ag) through capacity building and funding. The initiative also aims to accelerate youth employment and agricultural transformation. Selected finalists will pitch their innovations to ICT4Ag and business experts at the African Green Revolution Forum in Accra, Ghana. Pitch AgriHack takes place from 3 to 7 September. Since its launch, the AgriHack Talent initiative has reached over a million farmers and agricultural stakeholders using the services provided by competition entrants. In 2018, the competition received 325 applicants, of which 14 of the 26 finalists were women-owned companies. FIFTY PERCENT OF ALL FINALISTS WILL BE WOMEN-LED START-UPS The competition is organised with…

The preferential trade agreement between the Common Market of the South (Mercosur), South America’s leading trading bloc, and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) does not feature prominently on the radar in most trade discussions. However, to keen observers, Mercosur remains a key part of SACU’s strategy of consolidating trade partnerships with Latin American markets. The SACU-Mercosur agreement was ratified in April 2016 and came into force in October of the same year. Under the agreement, SACU offered preferential market access to Mercosur countries on 1 065 products, 469 of which are duty-free. Of the 1 065 products, 160 are agricultural commodities. In return, Mercosur offered SACU 1052 product lines, 778 of them duty-free. Part of the SACU offer was some tariff rate quotas for boneless beef, soya bean, soya…

Following the devastating cyclones that hit the coast of Mozambique in recent months, the African Development Bank has called for urgent global action. According to the bank’s president, Akinwumi Adesina, there needed to be concerted international co-operation to establish management systems and response mechanisms to combat natural disasters on the continent. Cyclone Kenneth, which recently made landfall in Mozambique, caused extreme flooding that affected an estimated 240 000 people in northern Mozambique, according to a report released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. “Timely intervention of national, regional and international stakeholders is crucial when disaster strikes. “Increasingly, Africa’s ecological challenges will only be successfully tackled through the harmony of efforts and activities of continental and global institutions,” Adesina said. In March, Cyclone Idai hit Madagascar, Malawi,…

The Kotula corporate social responsibility initiative supplies nearly 10 000 meals from community gardens to learners in Soweto every week. About 14 of these gardens, ranging from a couple of hectares to less than one hectare in size, had been successfully established since 2014, according to Adam Ginster, a South African business person and the founder of Kotula. Kotula’s main aim was to empower orphaned and vulnerable children, as well as women and elderly residents, in the community of Central Western Jabavu, Soweto. “Our objective is to give children the benefit of a healthy meal so that they are able to lead full lives, including being able to concentrate in class,” he said. Ginster added that the objective was to develop abandoned land in Soweto to produce organic vegetables that…

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has highlighted the need for the responsible use of antimicrobials, following the release of a new report calling for immediate action to prevent a drug-resistance crisis. According to a statement by the FAO, the report warned that if no action was taken, drug-resistant diseases could cause 10 million human deaths a year by 2050. “By 2030, antimicrobial resistance could force up to 24 million people into extreme poverty,” it said. The report, released by the UN Ad Hoc Interagency Coordinating Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, recognised that human, animal, food and environmental health were all closely interconnected. It said this required a coordinated, multisectoral ‘One Health’ approach that would address funding and capacity, stronger regulatory systems, and research and development. The report also recommended that…

The South African Predator Association, which represents the interests of South Africa’s commercial predator breeders and their associated value chain, has extended an invitation to Lord Michael Ashcroft in the UK to personally visit accredited lion breeding facilities in the country. This follows Ashcroft’s recent “exclusive revelations about horrific captive-bred lion farming” in South Africa. Ashcroft is an international business person, philanthropist, author and former deputy chairperson of the UK’s Conservative Party. Ashcroft’s allegations stem from a year-long undercover investigation into the country’s captive-bred lion breeding industry, which he funded. Amongst the allegations made on Ashcroft’s website was that “lions were kept in tiny cages and suffered appalling conditions” on a Free State farm. It was also alleged that photographs of captive-bred lions were sent via WhatsApp to potential international…

The Petroleum Agency of South Africa’s recent acceptance of a scoping report compiled for an application by Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration South Africa (ROGESA) to explore over one million hectares of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and the Free State for fossil energy reserves, means that such mining could still go ahead. Matthew Hemming, the African environmental and social impact assessment technical discipline manager at SLR Consulting, the consultancy contracted by ROGESA to carry out the assessment, said this meant that the scoping and environmental impact assessment (EIA) process of the ROGESA application could continue. Once a draft EIA report had been compiled and registered, interested and affected parties would be advised about the availability of the report for review and comment. “Note that the acceptance [of the scoping report] does not…

A design feature rarely included in the construction of a fish farm is a properly designed fish trap to prevent unwanted species from entering the system. Invading fish can do immense harm to a system, from spreading disease and parasites, to outcompeting the farmed fish for space and food. Some years ago, I investigated a new pond-farming venture in Mozambique. The farmer had constructed half-hectare ponds and pumped water from the nearby river using a large diesel-engine pump. The ponds had been stocked with Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) fingerlings about three months prior to my visit. A NASTY SURPRISE I asked the farmer what precautions he had taken to prevent invasion of his ponds through the pump. He scoffed at the idea that fish would survive “being pumped”. After he…

Profit margins in the poultry industry have been at break-even levels since January 2019. Any increase in future maize prices for the 2019/2020 marketing year will lead to negative price margins. Fortunately, poultry prices increased since the low prices in December 2018 (see graph). It is important that poultry import tariffs are maintained in order to secure sustainable production in the future. The industry needs more support to increase local production in order to meet the growing demand currently covered by imports. THE RISE IN IMPORTS During the 10 years between 2000 and 2010, around 86% of the growth in consumption was supplied by local production and only 14% by imports. However, between 2010 and 2017, only 27% of additional supply was produced locally while 73% was imported. South Africa’s…

Ruminants are characterised by their ability to convert low-quality roughage to meat, milk, natural fibres, leather and other useful products. But there can be problems when feeding crop residue: • Many crops are prone to regrowth, and the young shoots cause prussic acid poisoning; sorghum is known for this problem when late rain and high temperatures stimulate plant growth. • The Brassicas (cabbage, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts) all produce substances that block the uptake of iodine. When animals graze these crops or their residue for a long, uninterrupted period, iodine deficiency symptoms occur. Abortions can take place and animals can die young. • The toxin solanin is present in the leaves of many plants, especially potatoes. • Livestock can choke on tubers, maize cobs and other large pieces of food. •…

As a new farmer, it’s understandable that you would want to impress people with your excellent produce. There’s no harm in having a healthy pride in what you grow, but are your fruit or veggies as wonderful as you think they are? In other words, are you assessing them in a balanced way? To answer this question, you’ll need to take your produce to a market and see how it compares with that of other farmers. A FAIR COMPARISON At the market, you’ll be exposed to a variety of standards, so you should be able to position your produce accurately relative to everything else on display. Don’t look only at the best on the floor; take note of the inferior products too. The first will give you tips on how…

Most people think that the more one pays for a car, the longer it should last, but this is seldom true. Cheaper models, or at least those produced by the million every year, often last the longest. It’s not clear why this should be so, but my own theory is that the more cars that come off the assembly line, the higher a manufacturer’s potential losses if the vehicle gets a bad name. This implies that volume manufacturers are more likely to spend money and effort to produce a product with an acceptably long life. It is possible to design vehicles that last a very long time by employing high-quality materials, choosing dimensions that would result in low stress levels, and using inspection techniques that guarantee low failure rates. This…

To feed four hungry diners, you will need: FOR THE PASTA: 10 medium tomatoes 1 tablespoon of Modena balsamic vinegar 300g spaghetti 60mm of a large, red, fresh chilli 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil 200g pecorino cheese 1 punnet or 2 handfuls of rocket Salt and coarsely ground black pepper to taste 4 tablespoons of pesto FOR THE PESTO: 2 handfuls of fresh basil 60g pine nuts 4 cloves of garlic 150ml extra-virgin olive oil Salt and black pepper 1 We begin with the pesto. Separate the basil leaves from their stems, crush and peel the garlic, then add all the other pesto ingredients to a food processor or blender and reduce to a fine puree. If a little too runny, thicken it up with more basil leaves. Season…

Curious about those strange tracks you’ve come across in the veld? Now there’s an app that can identify them for you effortlessly. It’s called iTrack Southern Africa, and is available for Android from Google Play (bit.ly/itracksa) and for iPhone users on iTunes (bit.ly/itracksaios), with the pro version selling for R229. A BIG DATA BASE FOR EASY SEARCHING The app documents the common gait patterns of many Southern African mammals, making use of more than 2 000 measurements. It has powerful search features and goes far beyond what a traditional field guide can offer, making spoor identification easy. Simply select the basic characteristics of a track you want to identify and you can quickly narrow down your search to just a few similar examples. You then browse through the photographs until…

Our TV news broadcasts are still reporting on the floods over the Easter weekend, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Scores of people died, homes collapsed, and townships along the rivers were swept away by floodwaters and mudslides. The cost of the devastation in KZN alone has been estimated to be R1,1 billion. Government disaster relief is desperately needed for the thousands who have lost homes and belongings. Just days after the KZN floods, Cyclone Kenneth struck northern Mozambique, which is struggling to recover from Cyclone Idai of a month before. The already flooded country was subjected to further hundreds of millimetres of incessant rain, as well as howling winds. Our farm escaped the worst of these weather systems, with a mere 100mm of rain here. Our son Paul and daughter Ashley,…

The 18th South African Cheese Festival was held from 26 to 28 April, and was a huge success, according to the organisers, exhibitors and visitors. This celebration of cheese has been offered by Agri-Expo since 2002. Johan Ehlers, CEO of Agri-Expo, said that a highlight of this year’s festival was the high standard of products, with the Dairy Product of the Year 2019 (produced by Belnori Boutique Cheesery) and the Gin of the Year 2019 (produced by Deep South Distillery) available for tasting during the tasting room sessions. The great variety of exhibitors is an important reason for the growing success of the festival, said Ehlers. “We had a record number of more than 170 exhibitors this year. In addition, about a third of them were new participants.” Another highlight…

Because the global population needs food to survive, farming has become a thriving trade in most parts of the world, including South Africa. This has resulted in agriculture becoming a crucial economic activity globally. Starting a farming business may not necessarily cost you that much, but learning most of the techniques required for success is essential before delving into the business itself. To be successful, a farmer must know a great deal about the land and the products he or she plans to produce on it. In the previous article (FW, 3 May), I indicated that most start-up commercial farmers, despite having the necessary skills and adequate resources, including land and finances, focus the majority of their efforts on their ability to grow a single crop. However, they often forget…

The recent heavy rainfall received over large parts of the country has resulted in a delay in the harvesting of potatoes, triggering a surge of more than 40% in the average price of the commodity on fresh produce markets. André Jooste, CEO of Potatoes South Africa, said that producers were unable to harvest potatoes at the normal rate as they could not enter the wet potato lands to bring in the crop. Specialised equipment was needed to harvest the crop. “If the lands are too wet, the potatoes can’t be lifted from the ground,” he said. In the first half of April, the average price of potatoes on all fresh produce markets was R34,28/10kg bag. However, in the week of 23 to 26 April, the average price rose to R47,06/10kg…

India will continue to be one of the largest markets for South African fruit in Asia, after China, according to Dr Mono Mashaba, a development specialist at Fruit South Africa. Mashaba last month visited Fresh Produce India 2019 in Mumbai, India, an annual conference and expo for that country’s fresh fruit and vegetable industries. He said that attendees had the opportunity to listen to expert advice from international speakers, who brought market insights and strategic perspectives about new products, supply chain innovations, and analyses of the challenges facing the Indian market. Mashaba said that with the Indian population currently standing at about 1,3 billion, South Africa could benefit from exporting to this market. IMPORTS TARGET THE GROWING MIDDLE CLASS The income of consumers in India was increasing, and millions were…

More than 200 members of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) took part in a protest outside the City Hall in Cork recently. The protest was held to express their opposition to the government’s “lack of action” to protect the Irish beef sector from the effects of Brexit. The farmers brought more than a dozen tractors and an Angus bull to the protest, and blockaded the street in the city centre, where they were met by a heavy police presence. Joe Healy, president of IFA, said: “This is a very serious situation; the beef sector is on its knees. The sector is so important to the whole country. It brings in €3 billion [about R48 billion] to the economy and keeps rural areas alive, particularly areas not suitable for dairy farming.…

A recent report released by a team from the EU Commission in alliance with the African Union Commission has made recommendations aimed at unlocking the full potential of Africa’s rural economy. The investigation that led to the report was initiated by EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in 2018, who said at the time that a stronger economic and trade relationship between the EU and Africa would be an investment in the two blocs’ shared future. The Task Force Rural Africa team, comprising 10 experts from both the EU and Africa, were mandated to investigate how Africa’s rural productivity and trade could be significantly improved. The team came up with six key recommendations for the short to medium terms. According to a statement issued by the EU Commission, these recommendations were…

The results of a study carried out on the African swine fever virus by researchers at Kansas State University in the US have revealed that it can readily be transmitted through the consumption of virus-contaminated liquid and feed. According to a statement by Kansas State University, Megan Niederwerder, an assistant professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine, and her team were conducting a series of studies to explore how outbreaks of African swine fever could be spread through feed and feed ingredients. The study, which recently appeared in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, detailed the dose necessary to transmit the disease when pigs ingested virus-contaminated feed or liquid. According to the study, it…

The inability of farmers in South Africa to honour the loans they receive from credit providers could, among other issues, be ascribed to a lack of knowledge about the prerequisites of credit provision. This is according to Chris van Rensburg, CEO of Kudough Credit Solutions. He added that it was crucial for producers to understand the terms and conditions of credit provision, how to maintain a good credit record, and what the repayment requirements were. In December 2017, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries estimated that total agricultural debt in South Africa stood at R158,3 billion. Many farmers were currently struggling to make their debt repayments and had taken out additional loans simply because they could otherwise not afford to plant crops. “The high credit levels make it essential…

At the most basic level, the primary role of organised agriculture within a country’s agriculture sector is to voice the concerns and issues that their constituencies (farmers and other related sectors and role players) regard as being important, and to put into action the necessary steps that will bring about the required end result. Southern Africa is quite well organised in this respect, with the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) functioning as an apex organisation that represents farmers’ unions from countries within the region, including Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, Madagascar, Namibia, Zimbabwe, eSwatini, Lesotho and South Africa. Further north, there are also active unions, and they tend to be less fragmented than the ones we find in South Africa. These unions are representative of the whole farming…

NWK HAS BEEN UNDER A LOT OF FINANCIAL PRESSURE. WHY? Eight years ago, NWK decided to pursue an aggressive growth strategy, venturing into Zambia and Botswana, and investing in farming activities and farming technology. Losses from these ventures ate into profits made in our core business divisions, which were also under pressure because of droughts. WHAT WENT WRONG? In Botswana, we bought a 50% stake in a feed company. Our partner had great ideas to expand the business, but we continually clashed because he was not used to the process of corporate decision-making. Poor governmental policy was the main challenge in Zambia. We were welcomed into the country but then, before the elections, government ended up paying huge premiums for grain and then closed the borders for imports because of…

Mahindra South Africa recently announced its fourth business line by introducing a range of durable and cost-effective farming equipment, including Mahindra tractors and implements, Sampo combines, and Hisarlar implements. All are sourced from India, Turkey and Finland. ‘SOUTH AFRICAN FARMERS HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF US’ “Mahindra is the world’s largest tractor manufacturer by volume, and many of our models are designed for markets that demand tough and efficient solutions that are easy to operate in harsh conditions,” says Rajesh Gupta, the CEO of Mahindra South Africa. “Our initial market study shows that these attributes are in high demand in South Africa. “South African farmers have been supportive of us, using our bakkies in various applications, and this has motivated us to widen our product offering to the farming community.” Mahindra,…

PIC South Africa produces superior boars and gilts. Our farms are Pork 360-accredited, meeting all standards of biosecurity, health, hygiene and animal welfare. A combination of quantitative analytics and leading-edge biotechnology helps our customers maximise profitability. PIC’s Camborough sows produce robust, fast-growing, efficient, lean pigs and the most kilograms of pork per sow per lifetime. PIC selects for reproductive and maternal traits in the Camborough sow, and also for growth and carcass efficiency traits. The robust sow is known as the industry-leading economic package with lower total cost per piglet. TERMINAL SIRES In South Africa, PIC has three different boar lines, each able to adapt to the unique production systems of South African farmers. Our flagship terminal sire is the PIC 337. This line is by far the best-selling sire…

The sweet, roasted balsamic tomatoes are the star of this dish, but not unlike a good wine, balance is needed. The peppery rocket achieves this while the pesto adds a little texture and lovely, intense flavours. Balance in white and rosé wines is established when the fruit, sugar and acidity complement each other without any standing out. The first of my two choices with this meal was the well-balanced Young Vines Chenin Blanc from De Waal Wines in Stellenbosch. It offers ripe fruit, pineapple, white peach, pear and a crisp acidity to set off the sweetness in the tomatoes. The lightness of the wine was never overpowering and, importantly, it created a wonderful balance throughout the meal. La Couronne Wines in Franschhoek makes the Upper Deck Chenin Blanc. It is…

A goitre can be toxic (associated with hyperthyroidism) or non-toxic (caused by an iodine deficiency). Hyperthyroidism is caused by an excessively high level of thyroid hormones. People with hyperthyroidism are often sensitive to heat, are hyperactive, and eat excessively. Hypothyroidism is a common condition characterised by low thyroid hormone levels. It may cause sensitivity to cold, depressed appetite and overall sluggishness, and often goes unnoticed for years. Solitary nodules, or lumps, in the thyroid are quite common, but the great majority are benign. Thyroid cancer is fairly common, although long-term survival rates are excellent. The first supplement you should consider for improving overall thyroid function is the trace element selenium. This has powerful antioxidant functions and is highly beneficial. Studies have shown that selenium helps balance out the thyroid hormone…

8 TO 12 JULY Beef Farming Management and Production THIS COURSE WILL BE OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO BEEF FARMERS HOPING TO IMPROVE THEIR PRODUCTION, AS IT OFFERS A COMPLETE OVERVIEW OF BEEF FARMING SYSTEMS, INCLUDING NUTRITION, FEEDLOT SYSTEMS, HUSBANDRY AND RECORD-KEEPING. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 14 TO 16 MAY Power Gen Africa, Cape Town International Convention Centre.Visit powergenafrica.com. 21 TO 23 MAY Southern African Manufacturing Expo, Nasrec, Johannesburg.Visit localmanufacturingexpo.co.za. 29 TO 30 MAY Agripreneurs’ Conference, Emperors Palace, Kempton Park.Visit agripreneurs-conference.com. 6 TO 7 JUNE Hortgro Technical Symposium, The Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West. Email Thea van Zyl at thea@hortgro.co.za. 6 TO 9 JUNE Cannabis Expo, Sibaya, Durban.Visit thecannabisexpo.co.za, or email info@thecannabisexpo.co.za. 10 JULY Agribusiness Africa Conference, Premier Hotel OR Tambo, Kempton Park. Email Marianna du Plessis at africa@caxton.co.za. COURSES &…

The Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group recently changed its name to Sauvignon Blanc South Africa. According to its chairperson, RJ Botha, the change had been a long time coming. “The former title didn’t express strongly enough what we needed it to [say]. Now anyone in the wine world will know what we’re about and where we’re from.” The organisation, originally established to promote the cultivar, appointed a new marketing and support agency, revamped its logo and website, and engaged the services of a specialist to expand its knowledge centre. The organisation has also been bolstered by the appointment of Agri-Expo to take care of day-to-day operations. Sauvignon Blanc is the third most widely planted white grape variety in South Africa and among the most extensively planted variety in New World wine…

UNITED STATES Researchers at the University of Alabama are undertaking a study into post-harvest interventions to extend the shelf life of microgreens. These include temperature control, packaging and washing. Microgreen vegetables were highly perishable and had a short shelf life, which discouraged farmers from producing them, according to Dr Lingyan Kong, assistant professor of human nutrition at the university. EUROPEAN UNION As fears mount that retailers in the EU will not be able to secure adequate supplies of onions this season, prices have increased to the highest levels in 20 years. Sowing for the new season is, however, still under way in major production countries such as Germany. “Depending on the weather and the possibility of irrigation, the yield may vary quite a lot. It did so in 2018, due…

The local sugar industry needs to diversify its product offerings to remain viable as a sector and combat the negative impact not only of the health promotion levy or tax on sugary drinks, but also ‘cheap’ sugar imports. This came to light during a meeting between the South African Cane Growers’ Association (SA Canegrowers) and the Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, where the effect of sugar imports on the sugar value chain was discussed. Graeme Stainbank, SA Canegrowers chairperson, said the financial impact of imports was immense. “For every ton of sugar that’s imported, the local industry has to export the same volume on the ‘dumped’ world market, at prices well below the cost of production.” He said that in 2017/2018, deep-sea imports had resulted in a loss…

South Africa should intensify efforts to diversify its wool export market, according to the head of economic and agribusiness intelligence at Agbiz, Wandile Sihlobo. He said that South Africa’s wool industry had suffered a major setback due to Chinese authorities temporarily suspending wool imports from the country as a result of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak earlier this year. According to Sihlobo, China accounted for an average of 71% of South Africa’s wool exports in value terms over the past five years. However, instead of being reliant on the Chinese market, South Africa’s wool industry needed to rather focus on increasing its market share, he said. Among the possible markets that could be targeted were India, Italy, the Czech Republic, South Korea, Egypt, Thailand, Bulgaria, Japan, Germany, Turkey, Taiwan, Lithuania, and…

The Farmer’s Weekly SA Stud Book Mentor Breeder of the Year award for 2019 was recently presented to Mpumalanga-based breeder Cassim Hassim. Hassim and his family came to South Africa from Botswana in 2010, and Hassim started farming for the first time in 2012. He runs a Bonsmara stud herd consisting of 200 female animals on his farm near Bethal, is a member of the Ermelo Bonsmara Group, and is also a member of the African Muslim Farmers’ Association. “It’s a very big accomplishment from where we started with no background or past history in farming. Whatever I have achieved up to now is what I have learnt from other mentors,” he said. Hassim said other breeders had put their energy and time into his progress and by so doing…

In February 2017, death robbed humanity of a remarkable man who had set out to improve the world: Hans Rosling. A Swedish physician, statistician and public speaker, he was the founder of the Gapminder Foundation, an organisation dedicated to making statistics more easily understood, and to fighting the ‘devastating ignorance’ of people who should know better. People like you and me. Hard, unshakeable facts don’t embed themselves easily in our minds. Most of us consistently get a distorted picture of the world around us. You don’t believe me? Rosling’s audiences didn’t either, so he produced a series of questions to test them. Here are four. Test yourself. • What percentage of the world’s one-year-old children are vaccinated against some diseases? 20%; 50%; 80%. • In the past 20 years, the…

Commercial agriculture is one of the longest-standing business sectors in South Africa. One of the reasons for its success is co-operation amongst its many role players. Farming is a multifaceted discipline, and every farmer is reliant on a host of input suppliers and marketing channels. Similarly, businesses that operate in the agriculture value chain rely on each player upstream and downstream to operate effectively. If one link weakens, the entire industry suffers. For this reason, farmers cannot operate in silos; everyone benefits from the sharing of information. By working together on those issues that affect all role players, and by having a shared vision and goal, the entire sector takes a step towards success. STRONGER TOGETHER This need for co-operation within the sector has resulted in the establishment of a…

To handle the relentless daily demands of farm work in all weathers, and still look good in town, a shoe has to be exceptionally made and styled. The classic Safari boot by Bata is exactly that: it’s unparalleled in quality, fit, durability and versatility. Originally designed in 1939, these indigenous desert boots are highly regarded worldwide for their rugged finish and comfortable fit, and their quality and popularity remain unchallenged. Born on the savannas of Kenya, the ‘King of the Jungle’ boot has tamed the streets of Paris, Singapore and New York City, and is as much at home in the veld as it is in the city. EVERY DETAIL CRAFTED WITH PRECISION The Safari boot is a broad-fitting, superbly comfortable design. It has an upper of the finest, soft,…

CedarVest introduced the first Combilift Combi-RT to South Africa in 2014, and remains one of the country’s leading suppliers of this renowned brand. Combilift is amongst the world’s largest manufacturers of multi-directional forklifts. The Combi-RT is designed specifically for live poultry hauling, where 18-hour days are often called for. Positive customer feedback has highlighted the quality, robustness and ease of use of the Combi-RT. The tough, proven Kubota engine, coupled with Poclain hydrostatic motors, makes the Combi-RT one of the most reliable forklifts on the market. Generous 300mm ground clearance avoids unnecessary litter disturbance, and a quiet transmission and refined controls offer a smoother, stress-free ride. VERSATILE Although aimed at poultry operations, the Combi-RT is equally capable at general-purpose lifting and handling, making it ideal for a wide range of…

Dear Jonno, Our farm is in the Soutpansberg area, and we want to build a new, three-bedroom home with plenty of daytime living space. We have selected a site that is on a raised area, with views of the mountains. The living area must be at ground level and open-plan, with kitchen, lounge, dining room and an activities area adjoining. The bedrooms should be on the first floor. We would like modern styling, with windows opening on to the view. This is a temperate zone, with only occasional cold snaps, and we can then light a fire. Our present farmhouse will be converted into two or more cottages for visitors to the wildlife resort nearby. We want to go completely off-grid. Kind regards, Annette and Karel Dear Annette and Karel,…

GANGSTER STATE by Pieter-Louis Myburgh (Penguin, R290) Award-winning investigative journalist Myburgh’s previous book, The Republic of Gupta, was a South African bestseller in 2017. In Gangster State, he focuses on the ‘web of capture’ around one player, ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule. Myburgh’s portrait of Magashule as both captured and capturing has aroused vehement indignation, legal writs and political boycotts and threats, telling you how much some people do not want you to read this book. Myburgh’s detailed analysis of documents and records, interwoven with source interviews, builds up a picture that extends far beyond the infamous Vrede dairy project. SOUTH AFRICANS VERSUS ROMMEL by David Brock Katz (Delta, R280) Military history fans will delight in the detail, fascinating maps and military statistics of South Africa’s…