Farmer's Weekly 15 July 2022

At the end of June, Eskom implemented Stage 6 load-shedding to protect South Africa’s national grid from complete collapse. The country hasn’t experienced this level of load-shedding since December 2019. According to Eskom, the high-stage load-shedding had been implemented as a result of illegal labour action. In their discussions, the utility’s management and labour unions Numsa and NUM had failed to reach consensus on a wage increase for workers, with Eskom offering 5% and union members demanding 15%. Aside from this disagreement, the strike was unprotected, and a small minority of Eskom employees were intimidating others, resulting in around 90% of the utility’s workforce being unable to go to work, according to various media outlets. In this week’s issue of Farmer’s Weekly, we look at the impact of load-shedding on food security…

“Global tea production amounts to more than US$17 billion annually (about R275 billion), while world tea trade is valued at about US$9,5 billion (R161 billion). Smallholders are responsible for 60% of world production. Tea provides productive jobs in rural areas, which enables households to meet their food security needs and improve their nutritional status. Global per capita tea consumption has increased by 2,5% over the past decade, with marked expansion in tea-producing countries. Developing economies in East Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean have been driving the growth in demand. In the more mature European markets, as well as other advanced countries, demand for tea has dropped. The need for innovation is evident, as consumers increasingly demand organic ingredients, and diversified blends and flavours. There is also growing interest in higher-quality speciality…

This Academy Poultry Module is offered by Rothman Livestock Training Services, and offers basic introductions to various components of poultry production. Some of the topics covered include chicken anatomy, breeding, hereditability, physiology and tips to improve conception. Also covered are infertily, incubation, hatchling care and inoculation, amongst many more topics. Email Rothman Livestock and Training Services at office@RLTSafrica.com. CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND EXPOS 21 TO 22 JULY Precision Farming and Technology, Protea Hotel, Sea Point, Cape Town. Visit mathematraining.co.za/upcoming-events-bookings. 21 TO 24 JULY Cannabis Expo, Globe at Suncoast, Durban. Visit thecannabisexpo.co.za, or email info@thecannabisexpo.co.za. COURSES AND TRAINING 18 TO 22 JULY Agricultural Research Council’s Aquaculture Course, Pretoria. Email Mpho Makhanya at makhanyam@arc.agric.za. 20 JULY Calf Rearing, Gauteng. Email Rothman Livestock and Training Services at office@RLTSafrica.com. 20 JULY Profitable Boer Goat Production, Potchefstroom. Phone Johan Steyn on 072 594 4626. 24 JULY TO 5 AUGUST Pasture, Grazing,…

South Africa’s Food Lover’s Market and partners recently announced that they had collected funds for a record number of over 2,5 million meals during World Hunger Month in May. In mid-June, Andrew Millson, head of human resources and sustainability at Food Lover’s Market, and Roelf Pienaar, managing director of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, handed over a cheque in the amount of just over R1,7 million to Andy du Plessis, managing director of FoodForward SA. DURING WORLD HUNGER MONTH, SHOPPERS COULD BUY A MEAL FOR A FELLOW SOUTH AFRICAN AT A COST OF JUST 68C EACH Over the past six years, Food Lover’s Market and its partners have done extensive fundraising for World Hunger Day. The beneficiary of the funds is FoodForward SA, whose main focus is reducing hunger in South Africa by securing quality food…

MOST POPULAR ON FARMERSWEEKLY.CO.ZA MORE RATE INCREASE SHOCKS ON THE CARDS FOR SOUTH AFRICANS South Africans are expected to face hefty fuel price and interest rate hikes in July, which according to Marlene Louw, senior economist at Absa AgriBusiness, will further worsen cost pressures on farmers, and leave consumers with less money to spend on food. Read the full article at bit.ly/3ntfpKA, or scan here: Posted: 28 June 2022. Follow us at @FarmersWeeklySA FROM FACEBOOK @FarmersWeeklySA FW posted a link to an article titled ‘More rate increase shocks on the cards for South Africans’, and some of our followers let us know what they thought about the issue. Posted: 29 June 2022. READERS’ COMMENTS Nicolas Custers: “If you look at the interest rate, they are simply correcting themselves to pre-COVID-19 levels. The way everyone is carrying on, you’d think the rate…

When it comes to farming, it pays to not put all your eggs in one basket, as the Northern Cape producer in this article revealed. These days, a farmer needs to be a jack of all trades and master of all, too. In most of South Africa’s farming areas, a system of mixed farming is or must be adopted to lessen the big risk factor faced by all concerned in this industry. A good example of a successful producer applying mixed farming practices is Pietie Haasbroek of the farm Geduld in the Northern Cape. He operates a diversified farming system with crop farming as the main interest, cultivating maize, sorghum, groundnuts, cowpeas, lucerne and sunflowers. The farm covers 230ha and was bought 20 years ago. It was originally divided into four camps, and the…