Table of contents for 29 March 2019 in Farmer's Weekly

A widely held sentiment among farmers and agribusiness leaders is that South African agricultural colleges can no longer be trusted to produce appropriately trained, technically skilled professionals. I have often heard farmers say that when they employ graduates from these colleges, they have to completely retrain and upskill them as they arrive ill prepared for the realities of a career on a modern farm. This, of course, is not a problem exclusive to the farming sector, and as with many things in South Africa at present, it seems that if you want something done properly, don’t trust government with it, rather do it yourself. Which is exactly what many farmers and producer organisations are doing. We should also not ignore the contribution that poor and insufficient skills training and education…

Did we get our ducks out of row ...? It appears we might have done so. Farmer’s Weekly wishes to apologise for any confusion the 22 March cover photo, featuring what appear to be white geese, may have caused. We want to make it very clear that the cover photo is a stock image sourced from an outside supplier and not a photo provided by the farmer or the journalist who wrote the story. Although white Pekin duck and white geese are both part of the Anatidae family and share a strikingly similar appearance, with their snowy white feathers and orange beaks and feet, geese tend to have elongated necks compared with the ducks, which are stouter. The interesting story about The Blue Orange Farm’s success with free-range duck farming,…

Are sub-Saharan Africa’s grain consumption patterns shifting, and if so, what are the key factors driving these changes? Sub-Saharan Africa has a large population, and it has a lot of land. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, the region accounts for about 13% of the world’s population and close to 20% of global agricultural land. Despite this, the region’s share of global agricultural output is relatively low compared with its counterparts in other parts of the world, such as Asia and Latin America. As a result, Africa has been the world’s fastest-growing grain (particularly wheat) import market for more than a decade. A recent report published by the website World-Grain.com on household consumption patterns shows a decline in maize consumption in Africa in recent years,…

Above-normal rainfall conditions are expected for the southern and southwestern parts of South Africa during late autumn (April and May) and early winter (June and July), according to Cobus Olivier, Weather South Africa’s long-term weather forecaster. In the latest long-term weather forecast report for the year, he said these were the only areas in South Africa that usually received significant rainfall in late autumn. Below-normal minimum temperatures were also indicated. “This typically indicates that there could be either more intense or more frequent cold-front systems that will affect the southern and south-western parts of the country,” he added. Rangeland specialist Dr Mias van der Westhuizen said the anticipated rainfall could go a long way towards assisting with the recuperation of the shrub veld in the drought-stricken areas of the Karoo…

Proposed tariffs on Irish imports to the UK was one of the main topics of discussion at the Navigating Global Trade Conference hosted by the Irish Farmers Journal in Dublin, Ireland, in the second week of March. European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan, said the Irish agrifood industry, particularly the beef sector, would be hardest hit by such tariffs. Hogan stressed, however, that the implementation of tariffs by the UK on Irish imports would be met with fierce resistant by the EU as a trading bloc. “We need to stay calm and not react to the UK’s tariff statement published [recently]. This was a political stunt, pure and simple, designed to change the news cycle in the UK and weaken the unity of the EU 26 in…

Ecological viticulture helps to protect bird populations and reduces the effects of climate change on the environment, researchers in the Conservation Biology Department at the University of Barcelona in Spain have found. The researchers conducted bird censuses in 33 vineyard parcels between 2014 and 2015 to see how ecological agriculture affected the birds. The results showed that the presence of herbaceous cover, an increasing practice in European vineyards, had a beneficial effect on insectivorous birds, particularly in spring. The findings had come at a time when intensive agricultural exploitation and climate change in Europe were resulting in the loss of millions of farmland birds, the researchers said. Ecological farming involved growing completely organic food in diverse systems instead of producing monocultures. The researchers found that this increased the abundance and…

A recent judgment by the Land Claims Court of South Africa has confirmed that the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) is not bound by land values as calculated by the office of the valuer-general. This emerged during a case between a number of landowners in KwaZulu-Natal’s Melmoth area and the DRDLR minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. According to the judgment handed down by Acting Judge AJ Canca, the Melmoth landowners had initially reached an agreement with Nkoana-Mashabane to sell their properties for a total amount of almost R761 million to the DRDLR for land reform purposes. This figure had been reached following evaluations by various assessors. However, according to the judgment, the office of the valuer-general subsequently valued these properties at R420 million. The DRDLR then rejected the original…

Cooperation across all levels was critically important to achieve development in the red meat industry. The executive manager of the South African Feedlot Association (SAFA), Dewald Olivier, said stakeholders such as the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation, the Red Meat Industry Forum, abattoir representatives and feedlot operators not currently involved with SAFA and government, all needed to work together to develop the industry. “Let’s take the red meat industry to where it is supposed to be,” he said. Olivier added that some of the key issues discussed during the organisation’s annual general meeting and conference in Bloemfontein recently included traceability, transformation, a new statutory levy, and the importance of cooperation. The CEO of Beefmaster, Louw van Reenen, was elected new SAFA chairperson. He told Farmer’s Weekly that the implementation of a…

Extreme weather conditions since the middle of February have plagued KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) farmers, many of whom had hoped for good rain following the widespread ‘green drought’ conditions experienced during the 2018/2019 summer season. The KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs issued a number of weather warnings, including for strong wind; heavy downpours that resulted in flooding and caused deaths and destroyed homes; a high risk of lightning strikes; and hailstorms that destroyed crops. In mid-February, Brad Price, a commercial dairy farmer in the Kamberg Valley, lost 48 in-calf heifers valued at about R600 000 to a single lightning strike. He told Farmer’s Weekly that the animals had been sheltering under a tree during a “vicious” storm when the lightning struck. “There have been other dairy farmers who have…

According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), the country’s economy grew by 1,4% in the fourth quarter of 2018, slightly down from the third quarter’s 2% and better than the first two quarters’ negative growth. Stats SA estimates annual growth of 0,8% for 2018, down from the 1,4% growth of 2017. In 2018, the agriculture sector produced 4,8% less, mining 1,7% less, and construction 1,2% less than in 2017, while the manufacturing sector grew 1% and the trade sector 0,6%. Looking at the expenditure side of the global domestic product, the same negative trends are evident. Total expenditure grew by 1,6% in the fourth quarter of 2018. Household consumption expenditure increased by 3,2%, government consumption expenditure by 0,6% and gross capital formation decreased by a huge 38,9%. Household consumption expenditure…

If you are a new farmer and want to sell your fresh produce, you will generally find that the easiest type of outlet to access is the fresh produce market. This is because the barriers to entry are lower than those of retailers or exporters. Bear in mind, though, competition on the market floor is fierce, with every type of farmer, from small-scale to commercial mega-farmer, selling their produce there. ADVANTAGES OF SELLING AT THE FRESH PRODUCE MARKET The price of produce on the market floor is strictly determined by supply and demand on the day. The fresh produce market provides a platform where farmers can differentiate their produce by making use of branded packaging. A fresh produce market allows farmers to send whatever quantity of produce they can on…

Centre-pivot technology has come a long way in recent years, with improvements to irrigation efficiency and data tracking. Pivot manufacturers also have a better understanding of soil health and the water requirements of various crops. These improvements, coupled with drastically lower labour costs, make centre pivots a viable solution for farmers with limited water availability. LEPA CLOSE SPACING Most pivot irrigators have abandoned the inefficient impact sprinklers familiar to many fruit and vegetable growers. Instead, farmers in water-scarce regions have adopted low-energy precision application (LEPA) technology, one of the most efficient irrigation methods available today. LEPA offers high water application efficiency and low, energy-saving operating pressures through a combination of unique sprinkler heads that avoid wetting the crop canopy, and conservation tillage practices that preserve soil moisture and reduce run-off.…

In the future, a typical commercial farmer might be able to enjoy a lazy drink on his stoep while driverless machines work day and night to bring the harvest in. Or depopulated rural areas might be farmed by machines monitored via a cell phone from a megacity, with drones programmed to intervene where problems occur. IT’S NO LONGER ENOUGH JUST TO KNOW WHERE THE BRAKES ARE So much for the future. For now, the adoption of driverless farm equipment has been slow in South Africa. Dr Jim Rankin, secretary of the South African Agricultural Machinery Association, ascribes this to the high cost of this type of technology, which adds another R3 million to the price of machines that would otherwise sell for roughly R7 million, in combination with psychological factors.…

First, a comment on the unfamiliar ingredients: tahini is a dense paste made by macerating toasted sesame seeds. You can make your own, but this is labour- and time-intensive. If you want to save yourself the effort, buy it from your local supermarket. Za’atar is a collection of mixed dried herbs dominated by hyssop. If you can’t locate this item, you can mix dried basil, sage and thyme to make a partial, but splendid, local imitation. To make baba ghanoush, you will need: 3 large brinjals 3 lemons 9 cloves of garlic 1 generous tablespoon of tahini 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons cumin seeds 1 tablespoon of za’atar Salt to taste 1 Preheat the oven to 250°C. Cut off the stems of the brinjals and then place…

The ability to be able to record audio with your smartphone’s microphone is extremely useful, particularly for reporters, students and business people. All Android phones have a basic voice recording feature, and recording time is limited only by the free space on your smartphone. However, many of these recording apps that come with the phone are a ‘lite’ version of the original app, which means they don’t have all the features of the premium version. Therefore, you might want to try Voice Record Pro, available for both Android (bit.ly/andvrpro) and iPhones (bit.ly/iosvrpro). This can be used covertly, by simply pressing the record button and holding the phone in your hand or placing it in your shirt pocket (making sure the microphone is not covered, of course). Voice Record Pro has…

“President Cyril Ramaphosa recently commented that Africa had failed its youth through neglecting digital training and subsequent deployment. The president’s views on this matter corresponds with the opinions expressed at a conference by the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) in Berlin in January. Organised and hosted by, among others, the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and the Berlin Senate, it was titled ‘Agriculture Goes Digital – Smart Solutions for Future Farming’. A host of international experts addressed issues and challenges such as the improved use of digital technologies’ potential for agriculture, and how farmers’ access to digital technology could be expanded and safeguarded. The GFFA, which focuses on crucial questions concerning the future of the global agri-food industry, met this year for the 11th time. The…

The popularity of rooibos tea is increasing in the Far East due to its health benefits. In 2018, South Africa exported more than 2 000t of rooibos tea to Japan, the largest consignment since the beverage was first introduced to the Japanese market in the 1980s. According to Martin Bergh, chairperson of the South African Rooibos Council, exports to Japan had more than tripled during the past five years due to an increase in the presence of rooibos tea on the shelves of mainstream supermarkets. He added that rooibos tea sales in Japan had increased 7% last year, performing well above the average annual 2,3% growth rate for the tea industry. The council anticipated that demand would grow even further, as the health benefits of the beverage became more widely…

The slow process of rebuilding has begun after a devastating fire at the game pens of Mulati Wilddienste outside Brits resulted in the deaths of about 220 head of game due to be sold at the next sale. The total cost of the losses, including both animals and infrastructure, is estimated to be between R6 million and R8 million. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Mulati Wilddienste owner Gustav Strydom, who lives close to the pens where the game were being held, said he was informed about the outbreak of the fire by security personnel on a neighbouring farm shortly after 11pm on 11 March. ‘WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE A FEW OF THE ANIMALS’ “When we arrived at the pens, everything was on fire and there wasn’t much we could do.”…

CHILE Intercropping with grasses is a simple, effective, and sustainable alternative to standard iron correction strategies in blueberries, according to researchers at the University of Chile. Kept at a height similar to a mown lawn, the grasses increased not only the total weight and number of blueberries per plant, but also the concentration of anthocyanins and other antioxidant compounds in their skins. UNITED KINGDOM Burkholderia ambifaria bacteria could again offer a safe, sustainable and natural alternative to chemical pesticides. Researchers at Cardiff University in Wales have found that, when modified, they have the potential to be used as safe and effective biopesticides. The bacteria were used successfully in crop protection until the 1990s, when they were linked to serious lung infections. The new research opens up the possibility of constructing…

The 14%/l increase in the price dairy producers are expected to receive from milk buyers is coming from an already low base, which means these farmers will continue to remain under financial pressure. This is according to a recent report by the Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO). “Producer prices were under significant pressure from March to September 2018, falling 95 cents [per litre] in seven months, or 19%. Prices started [levelling out in] September 2018,” the report stated. The pressure was exacerbated by the average milk-to-feed price ratio declining from 1,8:1 to 1,2:1 during the same period. The report added that while the projected 14% milk price increase, combined with the good rain that had fallen recently over some of South Africa’s drought-stricken areas, would “moderately support milk production” for the…

It is estimated that South Africa’s table grape harvest, currently under way, will reach the lower limit of the industry’s crop estimate for the 2018/2019 season. According to the latest industry statistics provided by the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI), three of the five production regions, namely Limpopo, Orange River and Olifants River, had completed harvesting for the season. The industry’s first crop estimate for the 2018/2019 season remained unchanged, with volumes expected to reach between 63,2 million cartons and 70,1 million cartons of 4,5kg equivalent. In Limpopo, packing had been completed by the middle of March, with volumes falling well within the average range of the region’s crop estimate, but surpassing the previous season’s harvest. Producers in the Orange River region also achieved volumes within the average range…

Agri SA and the South African Association of Water Users Associations recently concluded a memorandum of understanding aimed at enhancing effective water resource management by national government catchment management agencies and water user associations. A statement released by Agri SA said that both organisations were in favour of the establishment of fully representative effective local water resource management institutions that supplied water efficiently and cost-effectively to legal water users. According to Janse Rabie, policy head of natural resources at Agri SA, prior to 1998, water could be privately owned. Thus if a person owned a tract of land, he or she also owned the water. Following the enactment of the National Water Act in 1998, government assumed custodianship of all water in South Africa, and water could be used only…

Value added tax (VAT) is a fairly simple and straightforward tax. Nonetheless, it does hold some dangers for the unwary business person in South Africa. If your turnover reaches the R1 million/year mark and you have not taken note of it, you could be liable for output VAT on the sales. Another problem is that VAT could be interpreted differently by the taxpayer and by SARS. Taxpayers and SARS typically interpret the law against the backdrop of their own interests. This leads to differences of opinion about the meaning of certain sections in the VAT Act. Most differences arise around interpretation of the zero VAT rate provisions. Most business people are aware VAT is levied at a rate of ‘zero percent’ in specific instances. The most common example is the…

There is an ever-growing focus worldwide on renewable energy alternatives as technological advances on the one hand and increasing resistance to ‘dirty’ energy resources on the other push us towards the use of renewables. Investment in renewable energy will grow exponentially over the next 12 months and beyond. Primary as well as secondary agriculture industries will be part of this, due to the enabling regulatory developments of the past 12 months, and the fact that irrigating crops and sustaining the cold chain rely on an uninterrupted power supply. INDEPENDENT POWER The increase in energy costs and the reintroduction of load shedding in South Africa at the end of last year put sustainability and investment in energy production on top of the agendas of farmers and agribusinesses. Already, there is strong…

Designed specifically for South African conditions, the NOVAP Sub-Surface Water Diffuser facilitates deep root irrigation and supplies water directly to a plant’s root system. As no water is exposed to the soil surface, moisture loss through evaporation is dramatically reduced. WATER USE DECREASED 56% IN A BLOCK OF TABLE GRAPES Ferdinand de Klerk, NOVAP’s brand manager, says the system was developed and patented in Cape Town by Jan Nortjé, an inventor who strives to provide practical solutions to specific problems. “His insight into technical challenges has led to the registration of various international inventions,” says De Klerk. Development started in 2013, and the irrigation system was launched in April 2017. Trials have shown water-use reduction of as much as 70%. In a Western Cape trial on 1ha of table grapes,…

ABS (antilock braking system) brakes are a clever electronic copy of what racing drivers do when they brake hard: they employ cadence braking. In this technique, the brakes are applied hard, then released somewhat to avoid locking the wheels, and applied hard again. Doing this at the correct frequency, in tune with the car’s suspension compliance, helps prevent skidding and ensures the shortest possible stopping distance. A modern ABS is controlled by an electronic brake control module (EBCM) that receives inputs from wheel speed sensors, a vehicle speed sensor, brake pedal position sensor, yaw rate sensor, steering wheel angle sensor and the hydraulic line pressure sensor. The EBCM calculates hydraulic pressure in the brake fluid distribution lines accordingly. It also shares information with other electronic units that control stability during…

Tasting this baba ghanoush was a new experience for me. It is an intense and complex dip, with a hint of smoke as well as earthy and nutty characters from the tahini and cumin, while the za’atar adds lovely herbal notes. But it’s the lemon that really shines here with its intense acidity and fresh flavour. I had two wines lined up for the taste-off. The first was a Sauvignon Blanc, as I thought its acidity would be complementary and its intensity on the nose and palate would be the perfect fit. It was, and yet it wasn’t in the end. The first few sips seemed to be the right combination but resulted in the pairing being a bit too sharp, with too much residual acidity. If there were less…

Research has shown that if L-carnitine, a type of amino acid, is administered within a day or two of a heart attack, survival is extended and the area of tissue damage reduced. Well-known US cardiologist and lecturer Dr Stephen Sinatra recommends 1g to 2g a day in divided doses of, say, 500mg each. Much evidence shows that magnesium in appropriate doses can reduce mortality in heart attack patients. In one study, adding magnesium to the diet improved these patients’ survival rate by 800%. Magnesium calms the heart, reduces arrhythmia and spasm of blood vessels, and lowers blood pressure. Sinatra recommends 200mg to 400mg of magnesium chelate daily. When the heart is deprived of oxygen during a heart attack, there is a profound depression of the energy compound ATP, which is…

Mpumalanga Wine Show 5 TO 6 APRIL A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SAMPLE AN ARRAY OF MORE THAN 250 OF SOUTH AFRICA’S FINEST WINES, WHILE MEETING THE WINEMAKERS OR THEIR MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES. THIS IS AN EVENT THAT NO WINE LOVER SHOULD MISS! CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & EXPOS 24 APRIL Soil Preparation Workshop, Kuruman. Visit bommereaipela.co.za, or email info@bommereaipela.co.za. 21 TO 23 MAY Southern African Manufacturing Expo, Nasrec, Johannesburg.Visit localmanufacturingexpo.co.za. 6 TO 7 JUNE Hortgro Technical Symposium, The Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West. Email Thea van Zyl at thea@hortgro.co.za. 10 JULY Agribusiness Africa Conference, Premier Hotel OR Tambo, Kempton Park. Email Marianna du Plessis at africa@caxton.co.za. COURSES & TRAINING 27 TO 28 MARCH Pig Nutrition Management, George.Visit RLTSafrica.com, or email office@RLTSafrica.com. 28 TO 29 MARCH Profitable Pig Production, Rustenburg. Visit bommereaipela.co.za, or email…

The economic partnership agreement (EPA) between the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), Mozambique and the European Union (EU), which came into force in October 2016, showed much promise for improving trade relations between the regions. However, the past two years have been particularly challenging for all parties. One can argue that the transition from the previous trade arrangement, the South Africa-EU Trade and Development Cooperation Agreement, to the current EPA was off to a bumpy start because SACU imposed poultry safeguards and anti-dumping duties, and banned poultry from EU countries due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, barely a few months after the EPA was concluded. What infuriated the EU at the time was the fact that, despite a lengthy investigation by the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) that…

The importance of adhering to the code of best practice set out by the National Wool Growers’ Association (NWGA) was reiterated by numerous speakers during the organisation’s Free State provincial congress, held near Brandfort recently. National NWGA chairperson Guillau du Toit said during his address that it was also important to ensure the code was brought in line with the globally accepted Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). “Buyers are [now] specifically asking for RWS wool,” he said. Du Toit added that the RWS regulated standards in terms of labour ethics and animal welfare, as well as environmental issues. He told producers that the domestic industry would have to align itself to the RWS and be able to prove compliance through an audited process. “I foresee that if you don’t adhere, in…

The drought in the Northern Cape is continuing unabated, and the Namakwa and ZF Mgcawu district municipalities have been declared disaster areas by the provincial legislature, according to the chairperson of Agri Northern Cape’s disaster management committee, Willem Symington. The Namakwa District Municipality includes towns such as Springbok, Sutherland, Fraserburg and Carnavon, among others, while the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality encompasses towns such as Upington and Postmasburg. “We have requested that the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality, which includes towns such as [De Aar], Prieska and Delportshoop, also be officially declared a disaster area. The effect of the drought is escalating dramatically and entire communities are in danger because of it. We desperately need state support,” he said. Extreme drought conditions were also prevalent in the western parts of North…

Farmers must be the drivers of land reform to ensure their future and that of their farming operations. This was the message from Prof Johann Kirsten, director of the Bureau for Economic Research at Stellenbosch University, during the annual SKOG Pre-Plant Information Day on Langgewens Research Farm near Moorreesburg. “To prevent expropriation, it is important that farmers, banks, input suppliers and agribusinesses work together to implement rapid land reform. Consequently, you will control the processes, the choice of the beneficiary, as well as the model that you can meaningfully implement and manage,” Kirsten said. A VIRTUAL LAND REFORM DEPOSITORY IS NEEDED He added that there were ways and mechanisms by which farmers as individuals or as a farming business could promote the redistribution or restoration of land rights by increasing…

The Cape Wools Merino Indicator declined 3,3% to close at R214,42 (clean) at the second sale of March. “Although the offering consisted of good-quality, well-grown Merino wool, the market was under pressure because of [the Chinese buyers’] absence,” said Heinrich Victor, OVK’s operational fibre manager. “The biggest decrease of up to 3,6% was in the 20-micron segment, but shorter wool was under pressure as buyers became more selective. Fortunately, the exchange rate softened the impact of the decline and the demand for high-quality, top-making wool from Europe remained healthy.” Despite Chinese authorities’ decision to suspend wool imports from South Africa in February following the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, the Merino indicator closed almost unchanged from the first sale of the month. Although 8,4% down on the opening sale of the season,…

The Southern African citrus industry is continuing to break yield records with an estimated export crop of 137 million cartons for the 2018/ 2019 season. This was two million cartons more than the previous season’s record export crop of 135 million cartons, said Ben Vorster, chairperson of the Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA), speaking at the organisation’s summit held in Port Elizabeth recently. Vorster said a growth forecast of 500 000t for the next three years would more than likely ensure further increases in export volumes. According to the CEO of the organisation, Justin Chadwick, the record yields made an invaluable contribution to the South African economy. “Last year’s crop yielded a revenue of nearly R19 billion. Our local citrus industry is one of the country’s most important fruit [categories] by…

Lumpy skin disease is caused by a pox virus, and characterised by permanent skin damage and a sharp decline in the fertility and productivity of the herd. Here are typical questions asked by cattle farmers about this serious threat: • How can my animals contract lumpy skin disease? The disease is transferred mainly by biting insects such as stable flies. Because of the mobility of the vector, the disease can spread over a large area from a single infected animal. Within herds, the disease is also spread by saliva where animals share drinking and feeding troughs. Cows excrete the virus in their milk and in this way infect their calves. People can also spread the disease by using contaminated equipment. Most cases occur in late summer and early autumn, usually after…

Dipping is an important part of livestock management. Dips are toxic to bird and fish life, and can prove disastrous to beehives. I therefore urge that when buying a dip, you ask for a brand that is less destructive to the environment and to other forms of animal or insect life. PROTECT SHEEP, HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT Here are some important aspects to consider when dipping sheep: • No sores If any sheep has sores or cuts, it should not be dipped. These injuries can act as entry points for clostridial diseases such as malignant oedema (blood poisoning) and cheesy gland. The bacteria of the latter, which is found in many communal farming areas, can enter the skin even in the absence of sores, and farmers should therefore vaccinate against this…

Two of the biggest challenges facing agriculture are the unreliable supply and quality of water. Speaking at the Combined Congress of Soil, Horticulture, Weed and Crop Production Scientists held in Bloemfontein earlier this year, Dr Willem de Clercq, a researcher at the Water Institute at Stellenbosch University, said these and other demands on agriculture needed to be addressed in order to continue producing food sustainably. De Clercq, who previously worked as a soil scientist, says that expanding populations in many countries, including South Africa, will place increased demand on food production and natural resources. Population growth has repercussions for the soil as well as water supply and quality. A threat that South Africa needs to guard against is water demand exceeding supply. “For this purpose, we need a water budget,”…

Many farmers have farm stalls alongside a main road as an outlet for their produce. I’m always intrigued by the variety of farm stalls encountered on our roads; they range from dinky little ‘shacks’ to major retail complexes. PRIME POSITION On the N2 between Port Elizabeth and East London, for example, is the well-known Nanaga farm stall at the confluence of three major routes. It’s ideally located to attract the passing trade. But Nanaga is not your traditional farm stall; it’s a large retail complex offering every conceivable type of farm produce, in every conceivable form. Fresh produce enjoys a prominence deserving of its importance. As an optional extra, an independent trader has placed his stall next to the parking area. He does well because he feeds off the steady…

To make these brownies, you will need: 250g butter 420g caster sugar 1 tspn vanilla essence 2 tbspn brandy Pinch salt 240g cake flour 180ml cocoa powder 4 eggs 100g hazel nuts 1 x 65g packet of Whispers Icing sugar or cocoa powder for dusting (optional) 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a 15cm square pan with baking paper. 2 Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the sugar, vanilla essence, brandy and salt, and stir until just combined. 3 Sift the flour and cocoa powder together. Add the butter mixture to the flour mixture and mix until just combined. 4 Add the eggs and nuts and mix well. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and press the Whispers chocolate on top. Bake for 28 to 30 minutes…

HOW TO SUCCEED IN THE AFRICAN MARKET by Winfred Oppong-Amoako (Zebra, R280) Despite the roller-coaster image of Africa’s politics and national economies, more than 75% of companies and investors in the continent are successful, according to international business consultant Oppong-Amoako. It’s a bold claim in a book that’s definitely gung-ho about the prospects of reaping rewards by doing business in some of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Those who don’t succeed, argues Oppong-Amoako, have often hobbled themselves from the beginning by blinding themselves to cultural and other differences between African countries. Carry out good research and make yourself visible to the market you want to be part of, and you will be many steps ahead of most of your competitors, he recommends. 63 DAYS TO OPTIMUM HEALTH…