Содержание выпуска: 21 October 2016 — Farmer's Weekly

The first weeks of October were a tumultuous time for South Africa. Universities around the country shut down as protests about tuition fees and the colonial nature of higher education curricula reached fever pitch. The rand buckled as the Hawks swept in on Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, one of the few sage voices left in the cabinet. In these times, doing business has become a pursuit of the brave, as countries worldwide struggle to adapt to an era where the only certainty seems to be the increase in uncertainty. The introduction to the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report 2016/2017 refers to the current situation as “a time of rising income inequality, mounting social and political tensions, and a general feeling of uncertainty about the future”. According to the report,…

HIGH-PRICED GAME In response to the article on a buffalo bull that was sold for R168 million at a recent auction near Thabazimbi, our Facebook readers responded as follows (you can read the story online at farmersweekly.co.za ): Justus Lamola: This is not on. At least from a poor man’s point of view, who is struggling to pay his varsity fees and sleeping at Park Station. Obviously, in business economics terms there may be nothing wrong. Inequality in our society, not sure how sustainable this is? Louis Mutambirwa: There are enough resources for everyone to live a decent life, if only humans had brains in their heads. Animal lovers my foot – it is all just one big joke. Cedric Tabane: R168 million for foot-and-mouth disease? This,…

Agri SA has called for a comprehensive audit of national and provincial agriculture departments’ drought relief efforts. This was according to Agri SA deputy executive director, Christo van der Rheede, who spoke at the recent SA Agricultural Outlook Conference in Pretoria. “Investigations must be launched into how state funding intended for drought relief was spent,” Van der Rheede said. State support offered to only developing farmers was unconstitutional and discriminatory, as commercial farmers were taxpayers and employed many workers, he said. Agri SA also called on Parliament to instruct state departments to work with organised agriculture to provide drought relief for all farmers in South Africa. “I receive phone calls on a daily basis from farmers who are in distress. The state is supposed to help where it can, but…

The major volatility in South Africa’s currency and agricultural commodity prices over the past 12 months has exposed the country’s crop farmers to major fluctuations in income and production costs. According to GroCapital Financial Services (GroCapital), a subsidiary of agricultural services and processing company Afgri, this placed already drought-stressed crop farmers at further financial risk. “Crop producers can limit the financial impact of adverse price movements in the currency and commodity prices through hedging strategies,” said GroCapital general manager, Jannie van der Watt. Van der Watt said that hedging strategies included hedging against agricultural commodity price risks on Safex, or against currency risks on Yield-X. Crop producers could also enter into speculative positions on either market by making use of futures or options traded on the JSE. GroCapital said that…

Namibia’s livestock producers’ greatest challenge in 2016 was South African authorities’ implementation of strict import regulations, but amendments to these regulations have allowed for simpler and more efficient trade between the two countries. This was according to Mecki Schneider, outgoing chairperson of the Namibian Livestock Producers’ Organisation (LPO). Speaking at the recent LPO congress in Windhoek, Schneider said that Namibian livestock farmers were delighted to have a simpler method of exporting livestock to feedlots and abattoirs in South Africa, rather than having to adhere to strict import regulations. Since July this year, Namibian producers have been permitted to export smallstock to specific regions in South Africa, and since September, live Namibian weaners have been permitted at several registered feedlots in South Africa, without being subject to strict import regulations. “We…

Of a total of 172 339 firearm licences that became due for renewal during the past year (2015/2016), only 65 759 renewals were finalised by the end of this period. This means that 106 580 licences are currently out of date, making these firearm owners open to prosecution for being in possession of a firearm illegally. These figures, which apply to licences issued for self-defence, were revealed in Parliament recently. Petrus Swart, firearm licence helpdesk manager at the SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association (SA Hunters), told Farmer’s Weekly that according to article 24 (1) of the Firearm Control Act (No. 60 of 2000), a licence holder needed to renew his or her licence at least 90 days prior to expiration. “On 3 February 2016, Acting National Police Commissioner, Khomotso…

Dairy farmers in Botswana are calling for the introduction of a tax on milk imports. This follows concerns that some dairy processing companies preferred to import raw milk from neighbouring countries rather than buy locally produced milk. According to figures released by Botswana’s Department of Agriculture, dairy processing companies imported 94% of their raw milk requirements, while local farmers supplied only 6%. In a recent interview with Farmer’s Weekly, Botswana-based dairy farmer, Johan Schutte, said that dairy farmers in Botswana hoped to supply processing companies with 60% of their raw milk requirements within the next five years. However, this could be achieved only if government introduced a milk import levy to protect local producers. “The perception that Botswana’s dairy farmers can’t meet the demand for milk is wrong,” he said.…

The browning of fruits and vegetables after being cut may now become a thing of the past. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently granted the genetically modified non-browning Canadian Arctic apples non-regulated status. Browning occurs when cut fruit and vegetables react with the air, and negatively affects visual appearance and quality. However, cutting-edge technology now enables the suppression of the genes that determine browning. This technology has already been successfully applied to potatos, apples and mushrooms, amongst others, and involves first identifying the four genes responsible for activating the polyphenol oxidase synthesis of browning. These genes are then suppressed, and this suppression is reproduced in following generations. In the case of the apples, Golden Delicious and Granny Smith were designated as antecedents (parental varieties), and after the suppression of…

South Africa’s fresh produce sector operates in an environment that is changing faster than ever before. There are new markets for fresh produce, consumer preferences are changing, and people are asking more questions about the origins of their food. Growers have to adapt to these trends if they wish to remain relevant. At the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Connections Conference held recently in Pretoria, experts shared their insights on how farmers should be changing the way they do business to access new markets. The central message was that exporting should be about more than simply sending products to another country; growers must visit export destinations to understand what consumers want, see where their produce will be sold, and consider farming beyond South Africa’s borders. AFRICA • Non’t export produce only There…

SUBTROP (SA Subtropical Growers’ Association) The annual Subtrop Marketing Symposium will be held in Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit) on 9 November. This event is a ‘must attend’ for all subtropical sector stakeholders. Over the course of the day, knowledgeable speakers will cover a wide range of topics on Subtrop’s four major tropical crops: avocados, litchis, mangoes and macadamias. The symposium disseminates the latest information on production, marketing and management of subtropical crops, and offers excellent networking opportunities. AVOCADOS (SA Avocado Growers’ Association – SAAGA) In an effort to promote the consumption of avocados, SAAGA recently hosted its annual Chef School Competition. This year’s theme was ‘Add an avo to your meal at home’ and the winner was determined by public vote. People were encouraged to ‘like’ the photographs of the food…

KZN Dormer Champions KZN Hampshire Down Champions KZN Hampshire Down Champions Border Leicester Champions Dorper Champions Contacts: Scheepers Lamprecht: 082 807 3152 | Tjaart Steenekamp: 072 313 2232 | Russell Shorten: 082 783 1794 Contacts: Harry Tully: 033 702 1612 | Gert Lötter: 072 199 7707…

When farmer Rick Brendon of Kenya first put on his thinking cap four decades ago, air seeders in most parts of the world were huge implements employed in large-scale farming operations. Brendon was convinced that smaller units would be viable for many farmers in Kenya. He broached the idea to manufacturers of the large units being imported into the country, but failed to generate interest. Undaunted, he decided to turn his idea into reality on his own. He formed Ndume Limited and set about building his own planters – realistically priced, easy to calibrate and simple to operate and maintain. Ndume air seeders consist of a seed and fertiliser box on wheels with a simple three-point linkage system on the back. Because they are trailed units, they can carry a…

COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES AND DISCOVER THEIR REAL NEEDS One of the most challenging problems we face in South Africa today is a lack of communication. The greatest communicator who ever lived was our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. In John, chapter 4, we read how Jesus went to the well and asked a Samaritan woman for a drink of water. Her first reaction was, “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4:9). Then Jesus spoke to her at length, asking her about herself. Jesus’ disciples, returning from buying food, were startled to find their Master in conversation with a Samaritan woman. But she was completely transformed, and went and told everyone in her village about Christ’s Message, and the entire village was saved. COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE FAMILY As never…

Managing a fleet of farming machinery and implements is a complex and ongoing balancing act, according to Clint Jones of the Maricopa Agricultural Center at the University of Arizona in the US. Few commercial farmers would dispute this. Jones is researching ways to make this process easier using fleet management software. After a little more than a year, he is seeing significant benefits. The greatest of these is that the program simplifies gathering data on a specific machine for better time management. “We can also ensure that the operator is following instructions for that particular task,” says Jones. Fleet management software improves a fleet’s efficiency, manages costs and ensures that all safety measures are enforced. The software enables decisions to be made in real time instead of the following day,…

CONFERENCES & EXPOS 2 TO 4 NOVEMBER Integrated Environmental Understanding of Food Security in Africa, East London. Visit www.agbiz.co.za/uploads/AgbizNews16/160930_IDAMconference.pdf. 9 NOVEMBER Subtrop Marketing Symposium, Emnotweni Arena, Mbombela. Phone Lizette de Wet on 015 307 3676. 28 TO 30 NOVEMBER Africa Agri Investment Indaba, CTICC, Cape Town. Visit www.agri-indaba.com. COURSES & TRAINING 17 TO 19 OCTOBER Artificial Insemination, George. Phone Di Rothman on 082 772 1208, or visit www.rltsafrica.com. 17 TO 21 OCTOBER Veld Management, Pretoria Botanical Gardens. Phone Frits van Oudtshoorn on 078 228 0008, or email info@alut.co.za. 18 TO 19 OCTOBER Beef Cattle School, Zimbabwe. Phone Agri Breedplan SA on 012 667 5258, or visit www.agribsa.co.za. 20 OCTOBER Pregnancy Awareness, George. Phone Di Rothman on 082 772 1208, or visit www.rltsafrica.com. 21 OCTOBER Calf Rearing, George. Phone Di Rothman…

SA APPEARS TO BE HEADING TOWARDS AN AFRICAN SOCIALIST STATE “It’s disconcerting to realise that businessmen, generals, soldiers, [and] men of action are less corrupted by power than intellectuals [...] You take a conventional man of action, and he’s satisfied if you obey. But not the intellectual. He doesn’t want you just to obey. He wants you to get down on your knees and praise the one who makes you love what you hate and hate what you love. In other words, whenever the intellectuals are in power, there’s soul-raping going on.” – Eric Hoffer: The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements. CONSTITUTIONAL STATE What kind of a state is South Africa? Let’s go back to 1994, when South Africa’s Constitution, including the Bill of Rights,…

The case to have a Special Master appointed to ensure the implementation of the Labour Tenants Act No. 3 of 1996 (LTA) is once again before the judiciary. Labour tenancy applicants, represented by the Legal Resources Centre, are being supported by the Association for Rural Advancement (AFRA) in this case. According to an AFRA statement, the case had been brought to court on behalf of over 19 000 labour tenancy applicants and their 100 000 dependants, and had been “an ongoing battle”. “Twenty years later, the lack of implementation of the Act has meant that labour tenants have continued to live with insecure tenure, further diminishing their rights, due to the inaccessibility to basic services because of lack of title deeds,” AFRA communications officer, Tom Draper, said. KwaZulu-Natal attorney and…

US farmers are struggling to find labourers, according to a report on CNNMoney. This has led to an increase of 5% in farmworkers’ wages over the past year. Farmworkers can now earn US$12 (R165)/hour, $2 higher than California’s $10 (R137)/hour minimum wage. According to Tom Nassif, CEO of trade organisation Western Growers, some farmers are paying up to $15 (R206)/hour. Despite higher wages, better working conditions and overtime benefits, Americans are still reluctant to become farmworkers, as the work is labour-intensive and seasonal. “Americans want stable jobs with vacation and other benefits. That doesn’t exist in agriculture,” Nassif said. Meanwhile, South Africa faces its own challenges with agricultural employment. As part of its National Development Plan (NDP), government wants to expand production under irrigation to create more jobs in the…

The profitability of Namibia’s agricultural industry was declining markedly, according to Ryno van der Merwe, Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU) president. “During the past decade, income from livestock production, for instance, increased 71%, compared with a 154% increase in input costs,” Van der Merwe said at the NAU congress recently held in Windhoek, Namibia. Over the same period, income from smallstock production increased 123%, while input costs increased 154%. Since 2011, this difference between income and expenditure had become particularly noticeable. Namibia, like South Africa, was suffering its worst drought in decades, which added to the sector’s diminished profitability. Van der Merwe said that South Africa’s livestock import regulations, which over the past three months had limited the number of weaners that could be imported, added to the decline in profitability,…

South Africa’s beekeeping for honey production is rapidly losing ground to beekeeping for pollination. This was according to Mike Miles, chairperson of the South African Bee Industry Organisation (SABIO). Miles told Farmer’s Weekly that the beekeeping for pollination industry was likely to grow within the next five years, while the honey industry was less likely to grow at the same pace. The primary reasons behind this were economic and environmental challenges. According to Miles, local demand for honey was between 4 000t to 3 000t a year. However, as South Africa was not producing enough honey to supply this demand, honey was being imported, often at a lower price than locally produced honey. “Imported honey is much cheaper. When vast quantities are imported from China, they drop the price,” said…

COMPARING THE BALANCE SHEETS WITH EACH OTHER TELLS THE STORY OF A BUSINESS I became a farmer because of tea parties. When I was a child, my parents would pile us into the family Chev and drive out of town to have tea with a local farmer. After greetings and some home-made ginger beer, we children would head for the farm shed. It was always a magical place, with its ploughs, mowers, hay rakes, half-dismantled engines and – holy of holies – tractors. I remember walking with my father and a farmer on the rich soil of one of the latter’s recently ploughed lands. I was about four at the time. As I write, I can still smell that special, fresh, earthy aroma. It was a beautiful afternoon, and that…

USE A SYSTEMIC PRODUCT AT THE FIRST SIGN OF PURPLE BLOTCH A number of onion diseases are highly destructive and all prospective onion growers can benefit from knowing about them. • Nowny mildew This disease can ruin a crop rapidly in cool, humid conditions. It often appears in warm areas in spring and late winter, flaring up where conditions are favourable. Pinpointing its origin can be difficult, however. The fungus survives the off-season in plants of the Allium genus (onions, leeks, chives and hundreds of other wild species) that can grow during this time. Spores landing on the plants do not need rain or irrigation to germinate; dew is sufficient. The spores can germinate in temperatures as high as 25°C, with 7°C to 16°C being most favourable. Spores are released in…

STEERING DEGRADES SLOWLY WITH WEAR AND TEAR The steering system is amongst the more challenging of a vehicle’s components to design. The main reason for this is that the typical commuter and the typical motor enthusiast each wants a particular steering ‘feel’. This is the feedback that enables a driver to estimate how close the front wheels are to losing grip. ‘Feel’ is determined in the first instance by the steering ratio – the number of steering wheel turns from full left lock to full right lock. Cars with a good feel (mainly from Europe and the UK) usually have a ratio of about three turns while cars with sloppy steering (mainly from the US) usually take closer to four turns. Fewer turns promote a more positive feel, but often…

Begin by selecting a 250mm-diameter heavy-based frying pan. If you own a well-seasoned cast iron skillet, so much the better. Coarsely chop the bacon. Clean the carrots and trim the leeks, using only the white stems. Thinly slice the carrots and leeks. Quarter the button mushrooms. Crush, peel and finely chop the garlic. Over medium heat, add the butter or olive oil, then fry the carrots and leeks until soft. Remove and reserve under cover. In the same pan, fry the bacon and mushrooms with the garlic. Remove and reserve in combination with the already cooked leeks and carrots. In a mixing bowl, combine the herb or herbs of your choice with the milk. Break in the eggs, season with salt and black pepper, and mix with a fork or…

People who suffer from asthma often also suffer from multiple allergies, resulting in symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, sneezing, watery eyes, stuffy sinuses, coughing and skin rashes. Antihistamines are usually prescribed for asthma. But in The Miracle of MSM, the authors explain that these are contra-indicated for asthmatics as they dry mucous membranes, which interferes with the normal lubrication of the airways and the ability to clear out congestion. Also, asthma is now recognised as primarily an inflammatory process. A SAFE, CONVENIENT FORM OF SULPHUR Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), a natural, safe form of sulphur present in foods and the human body, is ideal for asthmatics as it has strong anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy effects. This leads to easier breathing and dramatically improved forced expiration volume (FEV). MSM is available as tablets, but,…

London’s East End in the 1850s was not the ideal place to raise a family. The Isaacs family had lived in the area for nearly a century and young Barnet Isaacs attended the Jewish Free School in Whitechapel. His father, Isaac Isaacs, made his living from selling second-hand clothing, and the young Barney loved to haggle with customers. His mother died when he was young and he was cared for by his sister. At age 14, he left school and joined the family business. Barney was a lively, streetwise youngster. When he wasn’t boxing for money, he performed as a clown at music halls. It was at this time that he decided to change his name to ‘Barney Barnato’. DISCOVERY OF DIAMONDS In 1866, a 15-year-old boy, Erasmus Jacobs, who…

Daughter Dear Ashley and her eldest daughter Shea arrive for a visit to us next week. Our excitement is at fever pitch as it has been a long while since we’ve seen them. Shea is getting married soon, so we’ve been asked to book at a seaside resort for a beach holiday. The plan is no doubt to get a tan before the event. They’ve had a cold and wet Irish summer, so swimming in the sea and basking on a remote beach is high on their agenda. Sadly, Shea’s first question was: “Is it safe where you intend taking us?” What an indictment of our crime-ridden country! South Africa’s murders and riots are widely reported on their TV channels. Neighbour Jan’s dam is still a dust bowl, so a…

Resilient Free State farmers While driving from Johannesburg to the Free State recently, I was once again amazed by the farmers of the area. Even though the effect of the drought is still very evident, these farmers are preparing their lands for planting. You can see the worry-lines on their faces, but they still smile and have faith that everything will be okay, and that there will be something to harvest at the end of the season. Wherever you go, you see friendly faces, and when driving through towns you are greeted, despite being a stranger. You are warmly invited into homes on farms and treated like family. I take my hat off to all the farmers throughout South Africa – they are the real heroes. We can all take…

GLOBAL PRICE PRESSURE COULD BENEFIT SOUTH AFRICAN IMPORTERS IN THE MEDIUM TERM Recent data from the National Crop Estimate Committee indicates that in the 2015/2016 production year, South Africa produced 18 850t of groundnuts. This is the smallest crop in 71 years. It is also a threefold reduction of the 2014/2015 season’s production figure, due to a decline in area planted to the crop to about 22 600ha. This declining production can be ascribed to the widespread 2015/2016 El Niño-induced drought. The figure of 22 600ha is also a record low in terms of hectarage planted to groundnuts, according to South African Grain and Information Services (SAGIS) data dating back to 1936. LABOUR COSTS It is worth noting that South African groundnut production has been on the decline since the…

A new trade deal will reportedly see improved market access for more than 30 South African agricultural products exported to the European Union (EU). The deal will also involve eventually phasing out export subsidies for EU products headed to South Africa and the four other Southern African countries that are part of the agreement. A statement released by the European Commission said that Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland and South Africa, had ratified the Southern African Development Community – EU Economic Partnership Agreement (SADC-EU EPA). “The EPA takes into account the different levels of development of the partners. It gives Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Swaziland duty-free and quota-free access to the European market. South Africa will also benefit from enhanced market access, going beyond its existing bilateral arrangement with the…

Governments in Africa should be doing more to address low levels of trade between countries on the continent. According to Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, intra-African trade stood at only 13%, and he urged business leaders to “turn national agreements into concrete plans to grow trade and investment across the SADC region”. Makhura was speaking at the Invest in Namibia International Investment Conference launch held recently in Johannesburg. The conference provided politicians and business leaders with a platform to discuss trade and investment opportunities between Namibia and South Africa. The agriculture, agro-processing and water industries were identified as key investment sectors. Makhura said that Africa needed to introduce laws and policies that could improve the ease of doing business and moving goods throughout the region. Jeff Radebe, minister in the South…

The drought is likely to persist in South Africa until midsummer. This was according to the SA Weather Service’s seasonal climate watch report for October 2016 to February 2017. Although the forecast showed that rain in late spring was unlikely, there were indications that the chances for above-average rainfall could increase by midsummer. “The [rain] uncertainty level is high, with marginal confidence. Farmers are encouraged to continually check updates and utilise seven-day weather forecasts for short-term planning,” the report stated. Current observations suggested the occurence of a weak La Niña. “Most forecast models’ predictions indicate the likelihood of a weak La Niña to neutral state development towards late spring through summer 2016/2017.” Currently, very dry conditions persisted throughout the country, and water restrictions had been enforced in some areas. According…

INDUSTRY HAS FUNDED THE RESEARCH ON NEMATODES A three-year collaborative project between Dr Antoinette Malan, an insect biological control researcher at Stellenbosch University, and Dr Prasanna Belur, a bioprocess engineer at Karnataka National Institute of Technology in India, promises to boost the use of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in the battle against fruit pests. Malan told Farmer’s Weekly that insect-parasitic nematodes have been used in Europe and the US for decades, particularly in niche markets such as glasshouse and tunnel production. However, growing concerns over the impact of pesticides on the environment and animal and human health have resulted in Europe and the US now also using these nematodes in commercial production systems. Research conducted in South Africa revealed that EPNs could be successfully used against codling moth on deciduous fruit…

HOME-MADE TUNNELS SELDOM WORK – THE SHEETING USUALLY ENDS UP CHAFED AND TORN Greenhouse tunnels provide an energy-free solution to heating the water in an aquaculture system. No other method is as energy-efficient. The design of these tunnels varies widely, however, and not all structures are suitable for aquaculture systems. The sun’s radiation passes through the plastic sheeting as shortwave radiation. Once it has been reflected by the ground, the radiation changes to a longer wave, which is trapped inside the sheeting, warming the air. Most sheeting is designed for plants, so comes in white or green to scatter the light and prevent plants from burning. Fish systems require maximum heating, so 100% transparent sheeting is preferable. FRAMES A greenhouse tunnel often features cross-bracing to strengthen the roof for trellises.…

Christo Nowers is the project leader of the state-run Dohne Agricultural Research Institute’s (Dohne ARI) Dohne Nguni stud. This stud was recently named the Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC) Eastern Cape Beef Cattle Improvement Herd for 2016. In the mid-1990s, more than 150 Nguni cows arrived at the 1 650ha research farm in the Eastern Cape. “When the animals arrived, it was decided that they would have to prove themselves,’’ Christo recalls. “That is exactly what they have done.’’ Since then, the Dohne Nguni stud’s performance on the region’s sourveld has ensured its place as a finalist in the ARC Beef Cattle Improvement Herd competition seven times since 2006. Furthermore, the herd achieved the lowest ICP (375 days) of all South African beef studs with between 51 and 100 cows in…

Those who believe that market agents are no longer relevant remind us that more than 50 years ago, when supermarkets started buying directly from farmers, markets and market agents did nothing about it. They simply wrung their hands in dismay and complained about the disloyalty of some farmers. To this day, there are markets that still have not responded to this development and they wonder why they are losing market share. Fortunately, in more recent times, most market agents have corrected this deficiency, and serve both their supermarket and producer clients admirably. However, some producers insist they don’t need the market as a price-determining mechanism. They know their costs, they claim, and are therefore able to negotiate supply deals with supermarkets and other buyers. Well and good, but can this…

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR MAKES AN EFFECTIVE NATURAL INSECT REPELLENT You can find apple cider vinegar (ACV) in most health shops. It’s a wonderful tonic for arthritic joints, it detoxes the system, settles upset colic tummies, promotes healthy joints, balances sugar and is a wonderful insect repellent. ACV reduces calcium deposits and is helpful in treating joint ailments. And horses love its taste. Administer 125ml to 250ml a day and use raw apple cider vinegar with the ‘mother’ in it. This is Mycoderma aceti, a substance composed of a form of cellulose and acetic acid bacteria that develops on fermenting alcoholic liquids. High-quality, natural, unpasteurised ACV is made by crushing organic apples and maturing them in wooden barrels. The ‘mother’ will be seen as a cloudiness at the bottom of the…

Dear Jonno My husband and I are intrigued by the variety of homes on your website. We’ve bought a smallholding west of Rustenburg, close to the Cradle of Humankind. We’d like to build a three-bedroom home on one level, with open-plan living rooms surrounding an atrium. The latter would accommodate all the plants that we’ve collected over the years – ferns, succulents, bromeliads and others. Because hailstorms are infrequent in this area, we would like the house to have glass roofs and doors. We’re thinking of a U-shape home layout, with the atrium placed centrally and extending towards the front of the house. We would also like the verandas and braai area to be at the front of the house. We leave it up to you to produce a unique…

THIS PRESENT DARKNESS by Stephen Ellis (Jacana, R250) This final book from the late Prof Ellis of the Leiden African Studies Centre, takes him back to West Africa and a topic on which he became a world authority. His portrait of the creativity and extent of scams stemming from Nigeria is detailed and sometimes mind-boggling. It is carefully woven into a broader portrait of the country and society from which this tendency has emerged. Meticulously referenced and with a wide-ranging bibliography, this is the book that will either tell you everything you need to know about Nigerian organised crime, or set you on the path to your own research. THE BANTING SOLUTION by Bernadine Douglas & Bridgette Allan (Penguin, R220) With summer almost upon us, you…