Table of contents for 13 November 2020 in Farmer's Weekly

South Africa has a huge food insecurity problem. Approximately 56% of the population live in poverty and 51% of people face moderate to severe food insecurity. In addition, more than a quarter of South Africans suffer extreme poverty and severe hunger. According to Dr Marc Wegerif, a lecturer in development studies at the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of Pretoria, who spoke during a webinar jointly hosted by agricultural development company, FarmSol, and Farmer’s Weekly, 27% of five-year-olds in South Africa are stunted due to lack of nutrition during the first years of their early childhood. As if these figures are not bad enough, Wegerif said that they were moving in the wrong direction, with the number of people affected by food insecurity increasing due to job…

The 2020/2021 global grains and oilseeds markets are looking rather bleak after production projections were recently revised downwards. This follows doubts about the potential size of South America’s and the Black Sea Region’s harvests because of dry conditions, which are threatening crops. In Brazil and Argentina, both key global producers accounting for 14% and 50% of global maize and soya bean production respectively, concerns have emerged after persistent dry conditions led to delayed plantings. With respect to wheat, Russia, the Black Sea Region, and the US, which collectively account for 17% of global production, have experienced crop damage as a result of dry weather. It is therefore not surprising that US maize, wheat (hard red winter wheat) and soya bean prices were up 31% year-on-year (y/y), 32% y/y, and 24%…

South Africa’s wine tourism sector had lost R2,5 billion by the end of July, due to the lockdown regulations implemented to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. This figure was revealed by Marisha Nieuwoudt, Vinpro’s wine tourism manager, during a webinar hosted by Landbouweekblad and Standard Bank in which various speakers outlined the road to recovery for the wine industry. “Wine tourism is a significant revenue generator for the South African economy, having contributed R7,2 billion to GDP in 2019; the industry also supports 36 000 jobs. This is according to a study conducted by Vinpro into the economic value of wine tourism in South Africa.” She added that the study also showed that the average winery relied on wine tourism for 15% of its total revenue. “[With smaller wineries], for example…

Two commercial abalone farms and two commercial finfish farms are likely to be the first of their kind in operation at the long-awaited Coega Aquaculture Development Zone (ADZ) near Port Elizabeth. The reportedly R2 billion development of the 400ha Coega ADZ was recently kick-started with a symbolic sod-turning event attended by government dignitaries. According to the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) that oversees the management of the Coega Special Economic Zone, the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism had provided R206 million in catalyst funding for the construction of the first four aquaculture farms within the Coega ADZ, which would cover 110ha. “A feasibility study was completed in August 2014, and the envisaged [Coega ADZ] will focus on the commercial cultivation of marine animals and plants as…

A farmer near Hereford in the UK, Sam Stables, has received the Farmers Guardian’s Farming Hero award for 2020 after moving 140 of his friend David Newhouse ‘s sheep across the country for lambing when he was hospitalised with COVID-19. Stables moved the flock to his farm overnight from Malham in North Yorkshire in early March. “David came down with symptoms while lambing his sheep,” Stables said. “I thought the only thing I could do to help was get the sheep down to me.” According to a report by BBC News, the first lambs were born within hours of arriving at Stables’s farm. Newhouse, who had known Stables since he was a teenager, said: “I feel so humbled by Sam’s act of kindness. He deserves so much recognition for his…

The recent sale of the Langeberg & Ashton fruit canning factory in Ashton in the Western Cape by Tiger Brands is now casting further doubt on the viability of the fruit processing industry in South Africa. The industry had been under pressure for the past few years, and the factory, which was one of only two remaining in the country, terminated long-term supply contracts with producers in 2018. These producers now had to be satisfied with one-year contracts. However, it was not all doom and gloom, according to Jacques Jordaan, CEO of the Canning Fruit Producers’ Association, who said Tiger Brands was managing the sale’s process responsibly as the company realised the important role the factory played in the Ashton community and farms in the region, in terms of job…

Sporadic rainfall over the past few months, combined with snow on the Swartberg mountains, is signalling a return to normal rainfall conditions in most parts of the Klein Karoo. Cornel Landman, the owner of Karoo Lusern, said most farmers were hopeful about 2021, because the older generation believed that climatic conditions in the region ran in seven-year cycles. However, even if rainfall returned to normal, it would take some time for farmers to get back on their feet. Landman explained that most farmers in the Oudtshoorn area had suffered lucerne crop failures for the past five years. Re-establishing these lands would cost up to R13 000/ha, and then it would take at least a year before the lucerne was ready to be harvested. Even without any lucerne, some farmers could…

Failure is something everyone experiences in life. There are the personal failures, such as not passing an exam, missing selection for a team, not getting a job you would have loved, or being overlooked for a promotion. Then there are the business failures, such as seeing a pet project, into which you have poured enthusiasm, time, energy and money, come to nothing. This might be due to your misjudgement of one or more of the risks involved, or, as happens so often in farming, the elements simply turning against it. Failure is common, especially in the life of anyone trying to innovate and achieve ambitious goals. Aristotle is credited with saying that only those who say nothing, do nothing, or are nothing never fail. FAMOUS FAILURES There is no shortage…

Dependency is dangerous. This holds true in most circumstances, but the COVID-19 lockdown exacerbated this fact. We all have stories of shady cigarette deals, bootlegging, and starting an exercise regime just to get out of the house. Business people throughout South Africa did their best to continue operating and ensure the livelihoods of their businesses and staff. Some were successful; others not. FOOD EXPORTERS Farmers were fortunate in that they could continue operating as an essential service. Most food exporters, though, faced a conundrum: their products were geared towards, and graded, packed and priced for, an export market that relied on timeous delivery and difficult regulations at the best of times. Now they could not export at all. The upside was that consumers were able to source some excellent export-grade…

The beekeeping journey of the Van Zyls, who farm fruit, wine grapes and honey at Redbeard farm near Ashton in the Western Cape, started out as a holiday activity more than 30 years ago. Albertus van Zyl, who was only nine years old at the time, suspects that his father, Louré, might have been rather bored while they were on a family holiday at Mossel Bay. So the two ended up helping the late Hannes Londt, a missionary who kept bees on his son’s farm near Gouritz, harvest honey. The excursion turned into an annual ritual, and some years later Londt gave them 10 hives to start their own beekeeping operation on Redbeard farm. “Hannes had over 50 years’ beekeeping experience, so we learnt everything we needed to be successful…

EGGS Moroccan-style scrambled eggs These easy-to-make scrambled eggs are perfect for breakfast or brunch, and can be served with a slice of your favourite bread or pita. Serves four 15ml (1 Tbsp) extra-virgin olive oil 1 red onion, diced 5ml (1 tsp) cumin seeds 5ml (1 tsp) ground coriander 250g button mushrooms, quartered 1 red and/or green chilli, thinly sliced 1 tomato, diced 30ml (2 Tbsp) butter 8 eggs, whisked 30ml (2 Tbsp) fresh coriander Salt and ground black pepper Pita bread, wedges or toast Lemon wedges 1. Heat the oil in a pan and gently fry the onion and cumin seeds over a low heat for four to five minutes. 2. Increase the heat and add the ground coriander and mushrooms. Fry for another three to four minutes. 3.…

X is a US-based company that claims to develop “radical new technologies to solve some of the world’s hardest problems”. Its website (x.company) states that it is “a diverse group of inventors and entrepreneurs who build and launch technologies that aim to improve the lives of millions, even billions, of people”, and that it approaches projects “with the speed and ambition of a start-up”. A HIGH-TECH BUGGY THAT INSPECTS CROPS The company’s Mineral project is focused on sustainable farming. At its core is an inspection buggy equipped with sensors, sophisticated cameras and machine perception tools. The technology is designed to identify more resilient crops in certain environments, and ultimately help lessen reliance on fertilisers, chemicals and water. A prototype buggy currently monitors crops using GPS to pinpoint the precise location…

“Over the past 20 years, sub-Saharan Africa has registered one of the highest growth rates for agricultural GDP in the world. There have been knock-on effects, with the region also seeing the fastest growth in off-farm employment and non-farm labour productivity. There is a widely held view, however, that Africa’s agricultural growth trajectory could be jeopardised by an ageing farm population because young people are fleeing from farming. Several sources indicate that the average age of Africans in farming has risen to 60 years or more. But we are unaware of any empirical evidence to support this claim. To understand what is really going on, we used nationally representative survey data collected by the government statistical offices of six African countries, namely Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Nigeria and Tanzania. Because…

The ANC is determined to use Parliament as a mere rubber stamp for its December 2017 decision to amend Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for expropriation without compensation (EWC). Parliament continues to go along with this and to pretend that it is doing a proper job on the most important legislative change since 1994. The ANC’s stratagem has always been to divide the Section 25 amendment process into three stages. In the first, it would get the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) to recommend a constitutional amendment. This would pave the way for the second stage, in which a parliamentary ad hoc committee would draw up a bill with the necessary wording. This would usher in the third stage, in which the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces…

When we talk about the empowerment of women in South Africa, those women working or aspiring to work in the agriculture sector are often neglected, and we instead focus primarily on those thousands of women working in the corporate sector in big cities. This may not be wrong, but we should not disregard those women working in the agriculture sector when talking about women empowerment. Furthermore, the vision of socioeconomic empowerment of South African women cannot be imagined without empowering those living in South Africa’s rural areas. This is what Dr Vuyo Mahlati, president of the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (AFASA), advocated for until her recent untimely death. OBSTACLES In South Africa, women farmers often go unnoticed due to their gender and have to struggle to establish their…

Regenerative agriculture was one of the most important tools available to the Namibian agriculture sector in its quest for sustainability and optimum profitability in the years to come, according to Piet Gouws, president of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU). He said in his 2020 annual report, released recently, that although the drive towards regenerative agriculture was still in its infancy in that country, he was confident that NAU members would embrace the initiative launched by the organisation earlier this year. Colin Nott, regenerative agriculture consultant in charge of the programme, said that the degradation of 60 million hectares of Namibia’s rangeland was resulting in a loss of carbon from the soil, deterioration of soil structure, and the loss of water holding capacity. According to him, the country needed to introduce…

A new online marketing platform, called The Wine Farmer, aims to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family-owned wine producers. It was recently launched by the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), and Francois Rossouw, CEO of Saai, said it was hoped that this initiative would help wine farmers “get the industry going again”, as it provided a platform for winemakers to tell their stories and share information about the wines. The products of 10 wine farms would initially be listed on The Wine Farmer online store, after which more farms would be added every week. Kwagga Boucher, owner of La Boucher Wines and CEO of The Wine Farmer, said: “This platform gives every consumer access to wines that are not necessarily available locally. It also cuts out the…

AUSTRALIA The largest mushroom grower in Australia, Costa Mushrooms, has again urged authorities there to scrap the mushroom spawn levy. In a recent full-page advert in The Land newspaper, the supplier said: “Stop the mushroom levy from destroying our industry,” claiming that since the mushroom levy was doubled in 2014, AU$18 million (about R208 million) of growers’ money had been wasted on ineffective marketing and administration. BRAZIL A project to build a 900km long railway line across the Amazon rainforest to transport grain has been met with fierce opposition in Brazil, due to the potential impact on indigenous communities and the environment. Prosecutors representing civil rights groups claimed during a recent federal audit court hearing that indigenous communities had not been consulted about the construction of the railway line that…

Agricultural economists are playing a critical role in supporting important sectors in South Africa’s agricultural value chain, and are increasingly harnessing electronic data to generate outputs and recommendations for these sectors. This emerged during the recent Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa’s (AEASA) webinar. Ikageng Maluleke, an agricultural economist at Grain SA, said her responsibilities included analysing factors such as production input costs, production conditions, national and international market prices, as well as any risks thereto, and then using this information to give South Africa’s grain and oilseed producers real-time information on which to base informed decisions for their operations. “We also inform government of what our producers need, such as finding more international markets [where] we can sell our excess grains and oilseeds,” she said. Louis Fourie, general manager…

Demand for rooibos has shown a sharp increase due to rising consumer preference for herbal beauty products that included this indigenous herb. This was according to Adele du Toit, spokesperson for the South African Rooibos Council (SARC). She explained that there was a universal shift towards “clean beauty” across all cosmetic categories, with about half of consumers seeking out organic herbal brands, which in turn, was driving a growing preference for products containing rooibos. She added the global herbal beauty products market was currently valued at US$78,5 billion (about R1,3 trillion), and was anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5,2% within the next few years. Du Toit said that while herbal products aimed at women still accounted for the largest share of revenue (72,4%) around…

A recent investment of US$372 million (about R6,14 billion) will allow French company, Ÿnsect, to complete its new insect farming enterprise. Billed as the largest vertical insect farm in the world, the business is expected to produce 100 000t of insect products per year, and is now under construction in the city of Amiens, north of Paris in France. The farm is set for completion in early 2022, and a total of 500 direct and indirect jobs were expected to be created. With the global population and per capita income rising rapidly, demand for animal and plant protein was fast accelerating. This had necessitated the expansion of the production of feed sources for the fish, poultry, and livestock sectors around the world that supplied these consumer needs, a statement by…

Toxic plants are a potential danger to livestock almost everywhere in South Africa. The problem is made worse by drought, where naturally occurring grasses become depleted and toxic plants start to proliferate. These are often green and succulent, and hungry livestock will naturally tend to graze them. Some of these plants also proliferate where there is overgrazing, a problem in many communal farming areas. In addition, when animals come under stress during difficult environmental conditions, they can suffer serious shortages of trace elements and vitamins, and may therefore feed on plants they would not ordinarily consume. Some toxic plant varieties are high in salt (sodium) content, for example, and so attract animals that have low sodium levels in their bodies. Poisonous plants carry toxins in their seeds, seed pods, tubers,…

Labour legislation sets strict requirements when it comes to establishing the employment relationship. The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) and Sectoral Determination 13, which regulates labour relations in the agriculture sector, dictate the minimum employment conditions that an employer and employee can agree upon. Legislative requirements are nonnegotiable. Failing to manage the employment relationship in line with these requirements poses a serious business risk for the employer. The employer-employee relationship starts with employment. The employee is employed from the moment that he or she accepts employment, irrespective of how the relationship is recorded, whether it be via an oral or written agreement. A written agreement (employment contract) creates clarity by confirming the terms and conditions of employment agreed upon and protects the employer in terms of the employment relationship.…

It’s not easy to pin down Mthandeni Ntanzi for an interview. That he is clearly a busy, hands-on farmer with little free time is evinced by his neat and well-tended homestead surrounded by 4,5ha of well-managed black wattle (Acacia mearnsii). And it is precisely for his strong work ethic and resourcefulness that Ntanzi was named NCT Forestry Co-operative’s 2019 Tree Farmer of the Year in the small-scale grower category. Ntanzi is a fourth-generation resident of his family’s 5ha smallholding on KwaCele Traditional Authority land in KwaZulu-Natal’s eMatimatolo area. Like his great-grandfather, grandfather and father before him, Ntanzi grows black wattle for commercial purposes. However, unlike his forebears, he has made the trees his primary income source and so dedicates almost all of his time, efforts and resources into producing the…

The guava is a shrub or small tree that grows 2m to 8m tall and bears fruit in winter. When cultivated, it is usually pruned back to between 2m and 3m. Trees that are not pruned normally flower during October. When pruned (usually in September or October), they reach full bloom 10 to 12 weeks later. Bees are the main pollinators, but self-pollination also occurs. The period from flowering to ripening of the fruit is 20 to 28 weeks, depending on when pruning takes place. Guavas grow best in regions with hot summers and cool winters. An air temperature of up to 45°C can be tolerated, although the highest yields are usually recorded at a mean temperature of 23°C to 28°C. Before flowering, the plant grows best between 15°C and…

It is often said that we live in changing times. This is both a cliché and states the obvious. But few would argue that it’s profoundly true at the moment, with the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its lockdown restrictions. Agriculture, despite being an essential service, has not escaped its effects. No matter the size of the farming enterprise, the current situation demands that farmers adapt to meet the accompanying challenges. On the fresh produce front, this has been notable across the world. One reads of farmers who have been forced to add new crops to stay in business. Some have turned to growing fresh vegetables to earn extra income, thereby hoping to counteract the severe economic pressures they are experiencing. A BALANCING ACT Growing vegetables, however, can…

Potassium and calcium The relationship between potassium and calcium plays a key role in preventing kidney stones and maintaining bone health. Potassium citrate is often used to treat chronic kidney stones, as the compound attaches to calcium in urine and prevents the formation of mineral crystals, which can develop into calcium stones, the most common type of kidney stones. It also prevents urine from becoming too acidic, thus reducing the risk of uric acid stones or cystine stones forming. These less common forms of kidney stones occur due to fluid loss or genetic factors. Potassium contributes significantly to bone health. Research shows that potassium reduces bone resorption, the process of breaking down and weakening bone. In clinical trials of potassium’s effect on bone mineral density (BMD), supplementing with potassium citrate…

Pig farming 23 TO 25 NOVEMBER THIS IS A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMME THAT FOCUSES ON THE CARE AND FEEDING OF GESTATING SOWS, LACTATING SOWS, FEEDER PIGS AND FINISHER PIGS. EACH COURSE MAY FOCUS ON A PARTICULAR PHASE OF A PIG’S LIFE. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 23 TO 24 NOVEMBER Nigeria Postharvest and Agroprocessing Summit (webinar).Visit agriquestafrica.com/niphas. 26 TO 27 NOVEMBER AGRICO International Conference (webinar). Visit agroconference.com, or email info@agroconference.com. 26 TO 27 NOVEMBER Emerging Farmers and Agro-processing Conference, Protea Hotel Fire and Ice, Menlyn, Pretoria. Email Lindokuhle Nxumalo at lindo@empiretraining.co.za. COURSES & TRAINING 9 TO 13 NOVEMBER Introductory Course in Small-stock Management, Agricultural Research Council Irene Campus, Pretoria. Email Mpho Makhanya at makhanyam@arc.agric.za, or phone her on 012 672 9153. 16 TO 20 NOVEMBER Beef Cattle Production, Groenkloof, Pretoria. Email Agri…

There was a 91,5% sale clearance at the 10th sale of the 2020/2021 wool season, where 7 011 bales were on offer. Of this, 26% consisted of Responsible Wool Standard-certified (RWS) bales, according to Cape Wools. The local market gained 1,7% on the previous sale to close on R148,82/kg, but a 2% decrease in the Australian market indicator during the same week resulted in some caution on the overall market. Although there was good competition for the better-quality, fine Merino fleeces on offer, the broader micron categories dragged the market down, Cape Wools said. The major buyers were Modiano SA (2 012 bales), Standard Wool SA (1 335), Tianyu SA (955) and Lempriere SA (821). According to OVK, further uncertainty was being created on the market due to the larger…

Government wants to fast-track the implementation of the revised Rural Safety Strategy in an attempt to better respond to the security needs of rural communities. This was according to the Minister in the Presidency and ANC executive member, Jackson Mthembu, briefing the media following a recent Cabinet meeting. “The farming community is an integral part of our economy, and crime on farms poses a threat not only to the safety of farmers and farmworkers, but also to food security,” he said. He added that Cabinet also fully supported the work of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in arresting those committing heinous crimes, which included the killing and maiming of farmers and farmworkers throughout the country. ‘RURAL CRIME AFFECTS FARMERS, WORKERS AND FOOD SECURITY’ “We must work together to root…

To ensure the sustainability and profitability of the South African groundnut industry, increased co-operation between role players is of the essence. This was according to Adri Botha, chairperson of the South African Groundnut Forum. “It is particularly important in terms of the development of new cultivars. Although a number of South African groundnut processors have started with new cultivar research, it is exceedingly expensive. “The exorbitant costs calls for teamwork, collaboration and mutual aid in the quest to establish cultivars that will ensure a viable future for both producers and processors,” she told Farmer’s Weekly. According to Botha, it took about 14 years to succesfully develop a new cultivar. This meant that a lot work would have to be done to find a workable structure for the private sector to…

A borehole is just one of the water sources that you can use to irrigate your crops or provide water for your livestock. It is not a cheap option, however, and you may be in for much higher costs than you originally thought. You will therefore need to do your homework and budget carefully. WATER DIVINING The first step in having a borehole drilled is to obtain the services of a water diviner. Having learned from experience, I strongly suggest that you use someone who is reliable and professional, and has been referred to you by someone whom you trust and who has used his/her services before. There are plenty of chancers out there! A water diviner will typically charge between R2 000 and R3 500 to come to your…

My research project at the University of Pretoria’s Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute is titled ‘Ensuring human food and animal feed safety: characterising sources of mycotoxin contamination’. It focuses on identifying which fungi occur on South African crops and animal feed, with the aim of developing new approaches to make their identification more robust, faster and cheaper. THE STRUGGLE TO FEED THE MILLIONS World hunger is one of the greatest challenges facing people. One in nine people go to bed hungry and one in three is malnourished. According to pre-COVID-19 statistics, 23% of Africa’s population are undernourished and approximately 45% of child deaths are linked to malnutrition. In South Africa, even though it is considered one of the most food-secure countries on the continent, 26% of the population suffer from…

A WILDER LIFE by Joan Louwrens (Jonathan Ball, R270) Louwrens gave a twist to her medical career and her love of far-flung, usually wild places by doing stints in the little-known field of adventure medicine. Despite chronic seasickness and, eventually, three hip replacements, she took jobs attached to trips, such as on the South African Agulhas heading for Antarctica, as a locum on the remote South Atlantic islands of Tristan da Cunha, St Helena and South Georgia, and accompanying a cycle tour through Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and the Taklamakan Desert. Closest to home was the Kruger National Park, but even here a medical emergency meant on-the-spot treatment. Her patients ranged from scientists and stubborn retiree tourists to poachers, but her instincts (and, where possible, an Internet call to a…