Table of contents for 29 June 2018 in Farmer's Weekly

If you want to experience just how industrious South African entrepreneurs can be, get up really early one morning and head to one of South Africa’s fresh produce markets. I have visited the Cape Town and Tshwane markets in the past, but a few weeks ago, on invitation from the RSA Group, I finally made my way to City Deep in Johannesburg to pay a visit to the Joburg Market. The largest fresh produce market in South Africa and all of Africa by volume and value, the Joburg Market had a turnover of R6,8 billion last year, selling 1,3 million tons of fresh fruit and vegetables. The market is large enough to fill the area of 10,5 rugby fields, and the fresh produce of more than 6 000 farmers is…

South Africa and 54 other African countries are locked in negotiations to consolidate the continent into a single mega-market of 1,2 billion people. The African market is South Africa’s single largest agricultural export market, and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) would unlock new export opportunities by removing non-tariff barriers hindering exports. It is expected that AfCFTA will increase intra-Africa trade by US$35 billion (about R484 billion) a year, creating a 52% increase in trade by 2022 once it has been ratified by member states. WINNERS AND LOSERS Like any trade agreement, there will be winners and losers. However, a free trade agreement is supposed to enhance market access, thereby unlocking gains for the ‘winners’, while compensating the ‘losers’ for opportunities lost as a result of opening up their…

By 2030, global milk demand, which currently stands at 876 million tons per annum, will be 50% higher than it is now, and new technologies needed to be used to meet consumer demand. This was one of the main findings of the Dairy Research Network, presented at the recent International Farm Comparison Network (IFCN) dairy conference in Cork, Ireland. According to Torsten Hemme, managing director of IFCN: “The increase in demand is not only due to an increased population, but also the [increase in] per capita consumption, due to growing prosperity and worldwide investments in dairy product development. “The dynamics of structural changes on dairy farms will continue internationally, and farms will intensify their farming systems.” The role of new technology in milk production, such as biotechnology and ‘big data’,…

With the deadline for submissions from the public on whether the South African Constitution needs to be amended to allow for the expropriation of land without compensation now past, the focus has to be not on the number of submissions received, but rather on the quality of the arguments against or in favour. This was according to Theo Boshoff, manager of legal intelligence at Agbiz. Parliament’s Joint Constitutional Review Committee would now commence public hearings in all nine provinces, starting in Limpopo. The hearings were expected to last until mid-August, but the entire process needed to be completed by the end of September, to enable the committee to table a proposal based on the findings in Parliament. According to Boshoff, a wide spectrum of interested parties made submissions to the…

Sunflower seed can be grown commercially in almost all African countries. However, a number of considerations and initiatives are required to expand current production. This was according to Dr Jean-Baptiste Bahama, crop production and protection officer at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) regional office for Africa. Bahama told Farmer’s Weekly that across much of Africa, edible oils such as palm, soya bean, groundnut and cotton were being used mainly for human and animal consumption. According to Wandile Sihlobo, head of agribusiness intelligence at Agbiz, Africa’s total sunflower oil imports for 2017 amounted to about 717 000t. The leading importing countries were Egypt, South Africa, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Mozambique, Mauritius and Senegal. “[Africa’s sunflower seed] industry is not yet well developed. South Africa, Morocco and Egypt are the only…

Farmers have to prepare for a less favourable economic climate going forward. Inflation is expected to increase and remain at around 5%. This was according to senior economist at Nedbank, Nicky Weimar, who was speaking at the recent congress of Mpumalanga Agriculture held in Mbombela. Weimar added that interest rates were likely to increase from 2019 onwards. She added that despite “easy victories” being achieved when Cyril Ramaphosa was elected as president earlier this year, “the immediate future does not look overly positive in lieu of a recovery in the economy. There might not be drastically negative events like we saw during former president Jacob Zuma’s administration, but there won’t be overly positive events driving things forward either”. Weimar noted, however, that the country would have a far more stable…

The agricultural workforce of the future will include robots that could single-handedly take care of every aspect of farming, from planting to harvesting, and drones that could monitor the location and health of livestock out in the veld, while commercial farms will be operating from inner-city warehouses. These were some of the possibilities highlighted by Peritum Agri Institute director, Emmie Pietersen, in her address during the recent Agri Human Capital Mini Summit in Bloemfontein in the Free State. With the global population estimated to increase by as much as 2,8 billion people by 2050, food production had to change to keep up with demand, she said. According to Pietersen, there were already examples of vertical commercial farms being pioneered in cities in China, which could realise yields up to 300%…

Great strides have been made since the introduction of independent meat inspectors at the start of this year, but there are still a couple of issues that need to be addressed. This was according to Dr Mphane Molefe, director of Veterinary Public Health, who was speaking at the Red Meat Abattoir Association’s annual general meeting in Stellenbosch. The big question was whether these inspections were actually taking place, as there were rumours circulating that the status quo was prevailing, he said. “My biggest concern is that there may be incidents where the inspections may only be taking place on paper, with abattoirs overriding inspectors’ decisions,” Molefe said. He asked industry role players to work with government to ensure legitimate third-party inspections. “The goal of independent inspections is to boost consumer…

At its inception, the average family business is owned and managed by members of a single family. As the company grows, outsiders may be brought in as directors and managers, but ownership remains with the family. As the operation grows even further and requires additional financial resources, outsiders may be invited to invest, and the family takes the first steps towards dilution of its 100% ownership. We now have a business more accurately described as ‘family controlled’, rather than ‘family owned’, but it’s still very much ‘in the family’. As time passes, further outsider investment may take place until less than 50% of the business is owned by family members. While the family has now lost control of the company, it will typically retain a significant proportion of the shares…

For many farmers around the world, high demand, low profitability and dwindling access to natural resources make the environment in which they have to operate tougher by the year. In order to provide enough affordable food for the world’s fast-growing population, and at a time when increased climate volatility is affecting water availability, farmers have to invest in technology that makes the most of every drop of water used. WORLD-LEADING METHODS Israel has gained renown for developing irrigation systems that increase the efficiency of water use in agriculture per ton of output or hectare irrigated, and many farmers across the world have benefitted from implementing this technology. Water use in Israel’s agriculture sector decreased almost continuously from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, according to the UN’s Food and Agricultural…

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Every year, the Royal Show features exhibitors and agricultural equipment quite different from those at Nampo. The Royal Show is also a showcase for smaller and local manufacturers. 1 Dezzi three-wheeler cane-loader The rugged new three-wheeler cane-loader from Desmond Equipment is true to the company’s motto, ‘Built Africa Tough’. It is fitted with large 800/55-30.5 front tyres and a high flotation 400/60x15.5 rear tyre to reduce compaction. Power comes from a 46kW Deutz F4L912 engine. 2 Massey Ferguson 2125F RB This was the first showing of one of Massey Ferguson’s recently acquired line of round balers. The 2125F RB fixed-chamber baler has 18 Powergrip rollers and a mechanical tailgate lock, ensuring consistent bale shape and density. A two-stage protection system helps prevent blockages while working at speed. 3 Holmac HZC30…

Despite almost a third of racing Thoroughbreds showing some form of bleeding from the lungs after a race, a vet should be called if the horse has blood pouring from one or both nostrils after galloping at speed, as this could indicate an exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage. It is not only Thoroughbred racehorses that suffer from nosebleeds. The condition has been seen in American Quarter Horses ridden in flat races or used for barrel racing, as well as breeds that compete in trotting races and other timed events. CAUSES Nosebleeds can be caused by respiratory infections, injuries, small polyps or tumours in the nostrils, accidental consumption of rat poison, and severe acute African horse sickness. However, exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage occurs when a horse is galloped at full speed during a race.…

Dear Jonno, I purchased a shed some time ago but did not erect it. I have now decided to build a house with the structure instead. I live in the Northern Cape. The only restrictions I have are that the roof structure remain untouched, and the building be as cost-effective as possible. The shed measures 25m x 12m x 3,6m. I need three or four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a guest toilet. I also require a small study and a sitting room. I don’t need a garage. As there is no connection to Eskom, I will need to generate my own electricity. Kind regards, André Dear André, I have provided a sketch layout and perspective view of the home. With the height of the building being 3,6m, the openable windows…

THE WAY I SEE IT by Jürgen Schadeberg (Picador Africa, R310) As a gifted and versatile young photographer, Schadeberg captured iconic images of the rising tide of protest in South Africa in the 1950s and 1960s, including the Women’s March and the Sophiatown removals. In lighter moments, he captured the energy of the young Miriam Makeba in performance, and was there to record Louis Armstrong presenting Hugh Masekela with a trumpet. Schadeberg returned to Europe in 1964, then to Africa in 1985. Eventually he took one of the most frequently used shots of the older Nelson Mandela, gazing wistfully from his cell window on his return to Robben Island, no doubt pondering what had been and what might have been. Written in the lively, energetic style that…

“South Africa is Namibia’s main trading partner in livestock, meat and meat products due to the two countries’ economic integration and geographic location. This has led to an increase in trade over time. According to Trading Economics, South Africa realised a positive trading balance of R30 billion a year with Namibia for the period 2015 to 2017. South Africa’s GDP is approximately 30 times greater than that of Namibia. Both countries belong to the Southern African Customs Union, and are thus bound by similar reciprocal trade agreements. They are also part of the Common Monetary Area, with the Namibian dollar pegged to the rand at 1:1. Fluctuations in the rand therefore affect Namibia, and its economic growth and interest rates are also largely affected by South Africa’s economic conditions. The…

SA Boerperd Championships 25 TO 30 JUNE THE SA BOERPERD 2018 INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS WILL INCLUDE DRESSAGE, JUNIOR AND SENIOR IN-HAND, WORKING RIDING, WORKING HUNTER, WESTERN PLEASURE, AND SHOWJUMPING, AMONGST OTHERS. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 25 TO 27 SEPTEMBER 56th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), Somerset West. For more information, visit centeqevents.wixsite.com/aeasa2018 . COURSES & TRAINING 26 TO 28 JUNE Three-day Basic Conservation Agriculture, Bronkhorstspruit. Phone Neill Jackson on 082 407 6774, or email neill@foundationsforfarming.co.za . 9 TO 11 JULY Sheep and goats: Artificial insemination, George. Phone Lily Rothman on 078 546 7985, or visit rltsafrica.com . 23 TO 25 JULY Cattle: Artificial insemination, George. Phone Lily Rothman on 078 546 7985, or visit…

APART FROM PATIENCE AND SKILLS, FARMING INVOLVES FINANCIAL AND LEGAL ASPECTS The debate on land expropriation without compensation is now moving to the provinces, where public hearings will be taking place from 26 June to 4 August. The big question that is often not asked is whether South Africans, particularly those who are not involved in agriculture, know and understand what farmers do. This week, I will address this question, especially for those who believe that land expropriation without compensation will perhaps magically turn them into instant farmers. Contrary to what they may believe, I can break it down for them into two words: it won’t. First of all, agriculture and farming are not just about land. The latter is just one of many factors that, when correctly combined, result…

The NWK Group in Lichtenburg will continue to assist drought-stricken farmers in the Southern Cape region this year, according to Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager for corporate marketing and communication. He said farmers in the Herold area in the Southern Cape region, among others, were still suffering due to a dire lack of rain. “South African farmers have over the years shown that they stand together in difficult times, and NWK wants to perpetuate the culture.” In 2017, the NWK Group, assisted by its producers, delivered more than 100t of maize to farmers in the Herold area. The situation in this region had not yet improved, and grain producers were called on to again offer assistance this year. Bezuidenhout said the drought in the region had reached a critical stage.…

GERMANY A biodegradable agent that keeps pests at bay without poisoning them is being touted as a lifesaver for organic producers losing the battle against crop-consuming pests. A team from the Technical University of Munich has developed the insect repellent that is also ecologically harmless. Sprayed on plants, it works in much the same way as mosquito repellent. AUSTRALIA Researchers at the University of Adelaide in Australia have found a way to use magnetic particles to remove off-tasting substances from Cabernet Sauvignon wine without altering the bouquet. All wines naturally contain substances that contribute to their distinctive flavours and aromas. One group of these substances, called alkyl methoxypyrazines (MPs), produces vegetable-like aromas in some varietal wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon. In excessive amounts, MPs can overwhelm the fruity or floral…

Despite the implementation of broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) initiatives still being voluntary, it was becoming increasingly crucial for running a successful business. This was according to Anton de Wet, managing director of NetValue Equity Partners, who was speaking at a recent Milk Producers’ Organisation information day in Pretoria. “More than 95% of companies with an annual turnover above R10 million that have no black ownership will be ‘non-compliant’, despite any other B-BBEE initiatives that may have been implemented,” he said. Although a company with a lower black ownership percentage could qualify for the full ownership points on the scorecard, there was a massive drive for government suppliers to be 51% black-owned. “We expect 51% black ownership to be built into more and more government tenders as a prerequisite to…

If coal mining companies continue to buy up the best agricultural land in Mpumalanga, it could result in the country being faced with food security problems in the future, according to Jannie de Villiers, CEO of Grain SA. A 2012 pilot study undertaken by the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), which looked at the impact of coal mining on maize production in Mpumalanga, indicated that in a total area of almost 80 000ha, more than 284 000t of maize was being lost to mining every year, while a further 160 000t per annum was potentially being lost as a result of prospecting in the area. Research indicated that the impact of coal mining in the pilot area alone could result in an increase in the price of maize…

One of the country’s top vets and ruminant experts, Dr Faffa Malan, was recently honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the Free State Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) congress in Bloemfontein. Malan achieved worldwide recognition for the FaMaCha (Faffa Malan Chart) scoring method, which he developed in collaboration with Prof Gareth Bath and other vets. This simple method is used by farmers to determine whether livestock are showing signs of anaemia. He has also played a significant role in ruminant health research over the years, and is currently managing director of the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa (RuVasa), serves on the National Animal Health Forum, and is involved in various training and educational endeavours. In his acceptance speech, Malan said he felt honoured to be among “his people”,…

Zambia has a considerable wild fishery, thanks to its large lakes and rivers. Unfortunately, the country’s increasing human population has already over-exploited this natural resource and yields are dwindling. This has resulted in a 50 000t shortfall in national fish demand, which is currently supplied by Asian imports. The Zambian Fisheries Department has recognised for some time that aquaculture can play an increasing role in making up the shortage, and recently launched the Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project (ZAEDP) to this end. More broadly, the programme aims at developing a viable aquaculture subsector in Zambia to promote economic diversification, food security and sustainable employment generation, all of which are central priorities of that country’s government. The African Development Bank (the prime lender) has made available a loan of US$51 million…

Israel’s HomeBiogas produces and sells anaerobic digesters that convert organic waste into methane gas and liquid fertiliser. According to the company, the off-grid system generates clean energy without any electricity and allows users to properly treat household waste. Up to two hours of cooking gas can be produced daily using only food scraps or animal waste. Approximately 6ℓ of waste is fed into the tank every day. Bacteria digest the organic waste and turn it into biogas, which is stored at low pressure inside the tank. Gas can then flow via a pipe directly to a gas kitchen stove, while liquid fertiliser is created as the by-product of the waste digestion process. The system can be activated by using livestock manure. If the user does not have access to animal…

High standards of traceability and animal health, as well as food safety regulatory concerns, are currently the main constraints in meat export expansion. To meet this need, South Africa is in the process of establishing a series of compartmentalised systems across the country, but this practice is not fully accepted in all overseas markets. “[The technique] comprises closed systems where the necessary veterinary and food safety risks are at acceptable levels, even if the country has a disease outbreak,” explains Ezra Steenkamp, research manager and economist at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ (DAFF) Directorate International Trade. AN EASIER WAY IN As a result, the export sector aims to initially obtain protocols for markets easier to access than the EU and US. For the pork industry, this primarily means…

When Susi Engelbrecht and her husband Theunis purchased a small section of Suurfontein farm near Lamberts Bay on the West Coast in 1999, their initial goal was to supply the market with organic fresh vegetables. They worked hard to gain and maintain the status of independent supplier to one of South Africa’s leading retail groups, but gave up after about five years. “We learnt valuable lessons about packing, processing, ethical production and food safety, but after a while realised we were too far from the market and too small to justify all the effort we were putting into production. A lot of our produce, while extremely tasty, went to waste because it didn’t meet the high standards of the retailer,” Engelbrecht recalls. The couple decided instead to focus on greens…

THE HIGHER THE ORGANIC CONTENT OF THE SOIL, THE EASIER IT IS TO FARM Humus contains about 10% nitrogen (N). As the humus content builds up in the soil, so does the N reserve stored in it. However, this N is locked into the humus and released only when the humus breaks down. When a farmer cultivates virgin soil, the humus content built up over many years starts to break down due to aeration, stimulating the bacteria to feed on the organic material. The process releases N for uptake by plants. This explains why the farmers who initially cultivated vast areas of South Africa for the production of maize and wheat had to add much less N to soil for high yield. To maintain the organic content, and so retain…

To make a mutton curry with coconut rice for four blissed-out diners, you will need: FOR THE CURRY 800g boneless mutton or lamb 2 onions 4 potatoes 1 can of tomatoes 1 or 2 tablespoons of medium-heat mutton masala 1 or 2 whole fresh chillies 1 cup of fresh dhania leaves 2 sprigs of fresh curry leaves 2 tablespoons of canola or sunflower oil 25mm fresh root ginger 3-6 cloves of garlic 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 tablespoon of lemon juice Water FOR THE COCONUT RICE 1 cup of plain rice ¾ cup of coconut milk ¾ cup of water ¼ teaspoon of salt 1 level tablespoon of white sugar 1 Peel and thinly slice the onions, quarter the peeled potatoes, peel and chop the garlic, grate the peeled ginger,…

As regular readers of this column will know, unmanned aerial vehicles or drones have become extremely popular with farmers over the past few years. It’s little wonder: these remarkable devices have numerous uses and are also becoming increasingly affordable. With this in mind, a recent Agweb.com poll asked US farmers, “Will you use a drone on your operation this year?” Of those who responded, one-third said they would, with 21% saying they would be operating the drones themselves and 12% saying they would use drones flown by third parties. Another 31% said they would not be using a drone this year, but would keep an open mind about using drones in the future. If you fall into this category, here’s a recap of what a drone can do for you,…

19 AUGUST 1988 Don’t let politics wreck unity 30 YEARS AGO Mike Fisher was the editor of Farmer’s Weekly from 1987 to 1994. In his editor’s letter of the above date, he speaks about the importance of impartial public servants. “Politically inspired mischief-makers in the Agricultural Credit Board have caused trouble for an undisclosed number of farmers by deliberately delaying their applications. Fortunately, these officials were found out and asked to resign or go on early pension. “Those farmers affected by the mischief (which seems a more appropriate term than a Sunday newspaper’s headline calling it a ‘revolt’ against government policy) would undoubtedly have liked more severe punishment for the culprits. We feel the same way, and also hope the Directorate of Financial Assistance will redress any harm caused to…

Public hearings on the review of Section 25 of the Constitution, which would make it possible for the state to expropriate land without compensation, will soon start in all nine provinces. Now is therefore a good time to stop and reflect on how far the debate has progressed. When the decision was made to review the Constitution, many of the protagonists were not exactly clear about what it was they were aiming for. Although the EFF and the DA had been consistent in their positions, the ANC was still in the process of formulating its position. The EFF has been clear that the party’s support for expropriation without compensation extends to both rural and urban land. However, the salient point that distinguishes the EFF’s ambitions from other parties is what…

KwaZulu-Natal’s public and private animal health sectors have expressed concern that animal rabies cases in the province could reach more than 300 this year. This would be the second-highest annual total for rabies cases in KwaZulu-Natal since 2007, when 463 cases were confirmed. In a statement issued in response to questions from Farmer’s Weekly, Kevin le Roux, manager of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (KZN DARD) Rabies Project, and Dr Mercia Fynn, chairperson of the Northern KwaZulu-Natal and Midlands branch of the South African Veterinary Association, said that between January and May, 107 positive cases of rabies in dogs and 21 positive cases in jackal had been reported across the province. During the same period, there had been five confirmed cases of people being infected with the…

FairPlay has expressed concern about soft drinks manufacturer Coca-Cola Beverages SA (CCBSA) allegedly increasing sugar imports at the expense of South African suppliers. In a letter addressed to CCBSA’s managing director, Velaphi Ratshefola, FairPlay founder, Francois Baird, said Ratshefola had reportedly “committed to diverting R3,9 billion in procurement spend to black-owned and black women-owned organisations over the next three years” at the company’s annual supplier development conference in March. “In the event that you are purchasing quantities of imported sugar, it would be important for you to explain how you reconcile the imported sugar with these commitments when local supply is available,” Baird wrote. He added that “many of the 15 000 jobs that have been lost in the sugar industry since 2013 have been in family and black-owned, small-scale…

The 2017/2018 season will go down as one of its toughest yet for the canning industry. “The drought, a smaller harvest and fruit sizes combined with poor market distribution, the collapse of the pulp and puree market, poor demand for canning fruit and a strong rand culminated in a ‘perfect storm’,” according to Anthony Dicey, chairperson of the Canning Fruit Producers’ Association (CFPA), who was speaking at the association’s recent annual general meeting in Worcester. Wiehahn Victor, CEO of CFPA, said the drought had had a huge impact on production, with the total volume of Bulida apricots produced declining from about 35 800t in 2016/2017 to approximately 28 500t during the 2017/2018 season. Volumes for the canning industry declined from about 21 500t to about 18 000t, while juice and…

The future of agriculture in South Africa depends on farmers’ ability to make land reform successful. This was according to Dr Theo de Jager, president of the World Farmers’ Organisation, who was speaking at the recent congress of Mpumalanga Agriculture in Mbombela. De Jager said that farmers could not rely on government to make land reform work, and instead needed to strive to create a class of successful black farmers if they wanted to prevent land expropriation without compensation. “There are two extremes in the land reform debate: expropriation without compensation and market-driven land reform. Agriculture has hammered its point of view, and government the other. We have not tried to meet each other in the middle. There is no way we are getting our way in this argument. We…

The egg industry is recovering from a turbulent year dogged by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and still faces the threat of recurring outbreaks during winter. This was according to the chairperson of the South African Poultry Association’s (SAPA) egg organisation, Willie Bosoga, speaking at the recent AVI Africa Conference in Johannesburg. “We need to pull together as producers and focus on stringent biosecurity measures, otherwise we face more farm closures, job losses, egg shortages and retail price increases,” he said. ‘WE NEED TO PULL TOGETHER AS PRODUCERS’ Bosoga said the organisation would work closely with relevant sector stakeholders, including government, to restore farms affected by HPAI. Low interest loans would be offered to those affected, and egg producers would be encouraged to join SAPA in promoting egg consumption, which…

Newly appointed MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Free State, Dr Benny Malakoane, has described himself as the owner of a broken bus that he intends to fix using a “balanced scorecard” approach. Malakoane recently briefed the media about the work done during his first month in office at Glen College outside Bloemfontein. He said a mini skills audit would be undertaken to determine whether the “right passengers” or employees were on the “right seats” in the bus. The department would also be taken through a strategic planning process, while the organisational structure could be redeveloped or amended. “It is not going to be an easy journey. I think it is going to be very tough for me and those who would be affected directly and/or indirectly by…

What is the current size of South Africa’s buffalo industry? The country has about 2 500 registered buffalo farms. The privately owned, disease-free buffalo population is estimated at 50 000 to 70 000 animals. THE CAPE BUFFALO IS THE SECOND-BIGGEST EARNER AFTER THE LION How accessible is the buffalo breeding industry for the less affluent, given that some bulls sell for millions of rand? We need to differentiate between stud and commercial breeders. Stud breeders easily pay R5 million for an outstanding bull and R1 million for a cow or heifer. I know of only 22 buffalo bulls with horns exceeding 50” [127cm] in the entire country. Such bulls are rare and therefore very expensive. But this may create the perception that buffalo breeding is restricted to the super-rich. The…

According to Ezra Steenkamp, South Africa has the potential to grow its exports of beef, mutton and poultry products to a number of Middle Eastern countries, thanks to good political relations. Another attraction of these markets is that some countries, such as the UAE, consume high-value meat cuts. As an exporter, South Africa has the added advantage of halaal manufacturing facilities. “The overall assessment is that meat tariffs in the main targeted regions of the Middle East are usually below 10%, which doesn’t present a major competitive disadvantage to South Africa in relation to competitors,” says Steenkamp. The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is in the process of applying for market access to Indonesia (beef), Philippines (beef, pork), Singapore, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia (beef, lamb and poultry).…

Some role players within the ranks of the fresh produce markets industry would like to see it being placed under greater control. They claim that more control would mean a better deal for all. I’m afraid they are wrong. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT Firstly, history has shown repeatedly that market forces cannot be controlled. How do you control the production of thousands, of farmers scattered across the country? How do you control the flow of goods to their natural destination (the buyers or consumers) when the demand exists and the price is right? South Africa has tried single-channel marketing; it didn’t work. Socialists in other countries tried it and gave up. They would never admit, however, that it was an unmitigated disaster. The second reason that more control is a…

This is the first in a series of profiles on motor manufacturers and the bakkies they produce to help farmers decide on which brand to buy. In many cases, of course, a farmer’s final decision will also depend on how reliable the local dealer is. THE COMPANY The Ford Motor Company was founded by Henry Ford in Detroit on 16 June 1903. It is currently the world’s fifth-largest automotive company and the largest that is still family-controlled. The company at one stage owned Volvo, Land Rover, Jaguar and Aston Martin, but has since sold these marques. Mercury, their middle-range model, was discontinued in 2011. Henry Ford “put the world on wheels”. His company produced more than a million Model T cars annually for many years, and by 1922 every second…

Pairing wine with curry can sometimes be tricky. The origin of the curry, the mix of spices, and the amount of heat all play important roles in choosing the accompanying drink. The coconut rice gives this dish another layer of flavour, which pulled this pairing together perfectly for me. The rich mutton suggested a light and fruity red, but this clashed terribly with the spice and tomato, making me wonder why so many curry houses have wine lists dominated by red wines and unwooded whites. The red felt very sharp when tasted with this curry, and although a wooded white was better, it was still too acidic. What is needed here is a touch of sugar, and while there are many off-dry or semi-sweet wines that would work nicely, the…

Resveratrol is a phenol, which is a healing and protective chemical produced by certain plants in response to injury or when under attack by bacteria or fungi. Sources of resveratrol include the skin (and wine made from it) of red grapes, blueberries, raspberries and mulberries. Resveratrol has been shown to prevent and heal cancers of the prostate, liver, colon, pancreas, skin and various other organs. Cancer patients can take more than 200mg of resveratrol daily; for prevention, take 20mg to 100mg daily. Ginger is an excellent source of 6-gingerol, which protects against free radical damage (a forerunner to cancerous cells) by stimulating antioxidant defences. Add it generously to tea and food. Silymarin is a product of the milk thistle plant. This healing nutrient acts as a strong detoxifying substance, optimising…