Farmer's Weekly 1 October 2021

The ZZ2 name must surely be one of the most recognisable farming brands in South Africa. These days, when you buy fresh produce, it is very likely that there will be a ZZ2 product in your basket. ZZ2 is one of the largest and most successful agricultural enterprises in the country. This means that when Tommie van Zyl, CEO of ZZ2, has something to say about the current challenges facing the sector, you would be wise to take notice. Van Zyl was one of the speakers during a recent webinar on opportunities and challenges in South African agriculture, presented by the University of the Free State. He started off by putting the role that farming plays in South Africa into context, explaining that since primary agriculture contributes less than 3% to GDP,…

The views expressed in our weekly opinion piece do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer’s Weekly. This article is an edited extract from the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy’s Baseline Agricultural Outlook for the period 2021 to 2030. To read the full report, visit bfap.co.za. “The latest round of high-level planning for the agriculture sector, the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan, marks a refreshing departure from the norm as, for a change, agro-processing is included as a critical extension of the agricultural value chain to assist in driving development and growth. The importance of the agriculture sector in facilitating economic development has long been acknowledged by growth theorists mainly because agriculture has strong inter-linkages with other sectors of the economy. Largely based on a number of nations’ development histories and resulting development…

3 to 5 November, Groenkloof, Pretoria Phone AgriSkills Transfer on 012 460 9585, or email admin@agriskills.net. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOS 29 TO 30 SEPTEMBER Agricultural Drones and Robots Conference, Southern Sun, Rosebank. Phone Simon Mkitlane on 067 107 6133, or email him at simon@mogorosicomms.co.za. 18 TO 19 OCTOBER Animal Feed Manufacturers’ Association Symposium (online). Visit afmasymposium.co.za. 21 TO 22 OCTOBER Africa Strategy Execution Conference (online). Visit africastrategy.co.za. 28 TO 29 OCTOBER 4IR Agritech Conference, Protea Hotel, Stellenbosch. Email Connie Mamabolo at connie@mathematraining.co.za, or phone her on 011 862 4001. COURSES AND TRAINING 27 SEPTEMBER TO 1 OCTOBER Veld Management, Modimolle. Email Frits van Oudtshoorn at courses@alut.co.za, or phone him on 071 866 1331. 30 SEPTEMBER Cattle Pregnancy Awareness, Gauteng. Phone Rothman Livestock Training Services on 078 546 7985, or email office@RLTSafrica.com. 5 OCTOBER TO 11 NOVEMBER Trail Guide Course (online). Email Terry Gouws at enquiries@ecotraining.co.za, or phone…

The Swainson’s francolin is considered a pest by some farmers and a boon by hunters, as this article showed. In an age when efficiency and maximum productivity are essential to success in farming, the tendency is to eliminate everything that competes with the primary aim of the agriculturist. Wildlife is one of the factors that may be considered in need of elimination on intensive farms if it interferes with crop production. Fortunately, many farmers are prepared to forgo some of their prospects in order to have wildlife on their land. It is, indeed, the case that problems between farming and wildlife do arise, and Swainson’s francolin (Pternistis swainsonii) is an example. In recent years the Swainson’s francolin population has greatly increased, particularly in the maize areas of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Farmers have come to regard…

Indigenous animal genetic resources (AnGR) constitute the largest reservoir of genetic diversity, and their improvement and conservation have great social, economic and cultural impacts, especially when it comes to climate change and the high unemployment rates. In 2015, the directorate of Genetic Resources at the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development developed a national plan (NP) for the conservation and sustainable use of farm animal genetic resources (FAnGR) in South Africa. COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS Through this NP, numerous projects have since been funded, with the directorate focusing on the conservation and improvement of indigenous breeds. Among these projects are the community-based breeding programmes (CBBPs) of indigenous goats in rural areas across major goat-producing provinces. CBBPs present a viable option for a low-input smallholder production system where flock sizes are small, animals are…

MOST POPULAR ON FARMERSWEEKLY.CO.ZA SA’S AGRIBUSINESS CONFIDENCE WANES IN THE THIRD QUARTER The Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index contracted to 67 points in the third quarter of 2021 from an all-time high of 75 points in the second quarter of this year. However, according to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, any level above the neutral 50-point mark meant that agribusinesses were optimistic about operating conditions in the country. Read the full article at bit.ly/3C1aCVQ, or scan here: Posted: 13 September 2021. Follow us at @FarmersWeeklySA FROM FACEBOOK We posted the article titled, ‘Painted Persian sheep demand a handsome profit’, and some of our followers shared their positive thoughts and interest in the breed. Posted: 13 September 2021. READER’S COMMENTS Jack Mothiba: “One of my favourite breeds. I would love to own one... [they are] very fertile.” Meshesha Sankurie: “Wow, please…