Table of contents for 21 May 2021 in Farmer's Weekly

Talk about food security in Africa has become a song that everybody knows too well. The conversations have all been had, over and over again; all the research has been done; and Africa has all the resources required to achieve food security and sovereignty, but progress is still slow, and sometimes even absent or going backwards. This was the message of Dr Brylyne Chitsunge, a farmer and the Pan-African Parliament’s ambassador for food security, at a recent event hosted by Potatoes South Africa to discuss the status of the potato industry. Evidence of this is clear in the latest Global Report on Food Crises, published by the Food Security Information Network in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The report evaluated instances of food crises…

Hybrid cabbages were popular with specialist producers in South Africa when they were first brought to market here. However, since they were limited to just two varieties, a local seed house began testing others. When hybrid cabbages were first introduced onto the South African market, they rapidly won praise from specialist growers. The two varieties – COHR Cross (HR No. 2) and NS Cross (NS No. 3) – have proved adaptable to a wide range of conditions and requirements; but for some time, seedsmen and growers have realised the limitations of only two hybrids. For several seasons, a Transvaal seed house, specialising in vegetable crops, has been screening many of the hybrid varieties that have been bred overseas. SCREENING The time lag between the commencement of testing and being available…

Based on rapid appraisal studies of fertiliser industries in 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, there are 10 major trends currently evident in fertiliser supply chains across the continent. 1. There has been a significant growth in fertiliser consumption across the continent. South Africa, the largest fertiliser consumer, has seen major growth in fertiliser consumption, particularly since 2009, with consumption increasing by at least one million tons. Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Mali are among the major consumers of fertiliser that have experienced surges in demand. However, there are countries such as Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi that have comparably lower consumption levels and use, but have shown considerable growth albeit from a lower base. These countries have seen their fertiliser consumption being driven mainly by major government programmes such as bulk procurement…

Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, operations and stewardship manager at CropLife South Africa, has warned that the recent huge outbreaks of brown locusts (Locustana pardalina) in Southern Africa could cause a humanitarian crisis. In an interview with Farmer’s Weekly, he said that outbreaks “of note” had been reported in Namibia, Botswana, and the Karoo area of South Africa. The outbreak in the Karoo expanded deep into the Kalahari, as far as Van Zylsrus and Askham. “In the Northern Communal Areas of Namibia, natural grazing has been destroyed by the swarms, and the insects are now attacking crops such as the staple crops of maize and pearl millet, or mahangu, as it’s known. The same is happening in the northern parts of Botswana, and large outbreaks are also still being reported all over…

In the latest protest against proposals for changes to the EU Common Agricultural Policy, about 1 500 farmers demonstrated outside the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, recently. The demonstrators, many driving tractors, expressed their anger about the proposals that they said threatened their livelihoods. The Irish Examiner reported that protesters claimed the plans were leaning too far towards environmental issues and would make farming more expensive. “The Common Agricultural Policy must help to sustain farmers on the land,” explained Laurent Champenois of the French Farmers’ Unions Federation. “There are only 500 000 farmers left, but the future reforms proposed to us will cut this number by half.” The farmers were particularly opposed to ‘eco-schemes’, according to which those who participate in environmental programmes, which would be mandatory under the new…

Ensuring the supply of fresh, nutritious and affordable food to the hungry and vulnerable is a critical focus area in South Africa, and the country’s incredible farmers made it possible to host the Hunger Month campaign in May. This was according to Kate Marais, CSI manager at Food Lover’s Market. “It’s important to remember that every single meal in South Africa is a result of the [good] agriculture industry we have in South Africa. Working with farmers and fresh produce suppliers is the mainstay of our business. “We’re pleased that the agriculture sector and, in particular, our Hunger Month partners, have always been willing to support this annual drive to alleviate hunger [in the country],” she told Farmer’s Weekly, following the launch of the retailer’s fifth consecutive Hunger Month campaign.…

The ostrich industry remains on high alert following the recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) confirmed on three poultry farms in South Africa. According to Francois de Wet, managing director of Cape Karoo International, HPAI posed a grave threat to the industry, as ostriches were raised in open-air camps where they were susceptible to diseases transmitted by wild birds. Since the first large outbreak of HPAI in 2011, the ostrich industry had adhered to strict biosecurity protocols to prevent transmission, regardless of whether or not there was an outbreak of the disease under way, he said. “Movement of ostriches from one farm to another, or from a farm to an abattoir, is only allowed if ostriches test negative for avian influenza and are signed off [as such] by…

Legislation regulating the use of new genomic techniques in the EU is not keeping pace with scientific and technological development, causing implementation challenges and legal uncertainties. This was according to a recently released study commissioned by the Council of the European Union. In addition, the study highlighted an unjustifiable discrepancy between the different levels of regulatory oversight applied to products with similar levels of risk, as was the case for conventionally bred plants and those obtained from certain new genomic techniques. Dr Hennie Groenewald, CEO of Biosafety South Africa, explained that both South Africa and the EU’s definitions of genetically engineered (GE) crops were rooted in developments during the 1990s, when genetically modified (GM) crops were first introduced to the market. “Genetic modification is basically defined as the cross-species movement…

As the debate around climate change heats up, farmers should expect to face even harsher and sometimes unfair criticism from certain quarters. We have already seen how the crusades by the anti-meat, -milk and -egg lobby groups have grown more strident, employing information selectively to claim that these industries are the primary cause of environmental damage. The most emotive weapons in persuading consumers to stop eating meat are the cases of animal cruelty exposed from time to time. When such cases are exposed, and rightly so, the industry only has itself to blame for failing to self-regulate and ensure that all farmers implement the necessary production practices that meet international animal-welfare standards. If ever there was a time that animal producers were vulnerable to vilification and threat, it is now.…

There are many pillars that support good customer relations (and hence business success); amongst these are recognition, acknowledgement and praise. The fresh-produce sector provides many opportunities to practise these. Indeed, they are essential items in the toolbox of market agents, and will go a long way when dealing with farmers and buyers. Rule number one for most of us, whether or not we are salespeople, is to remember another person’s name when first meeting him or her, and using it when we next meet that person. Everyone appreciates it when other people remember their name. PRAISE FOR A JOB WELL DONE Equally, everyone responds to praise. Good farmers often go to great effort and considerable expense to produce fruit and vegetables of the highest quality. It stands to reason that…

The World Bank’s Agricultural Price Index increased more than 9% in the first quarter (Q1) of 2021 (q/q), building on the previous quarter’s momentum. Overall, prices for agricultural commodities have risen 20% over the past year and are close to a seven-year high. Price gains have been driven by supply shortfalls for some food commodities, especially maize and soya bean, strong demand for feed commodities by China, and US dollar depreciation. The largest price increase in the quarter was for grains due to production shortfalls, followed by oils and meals [oilcake]. Agricultural prices are expected to average 14% higher in 2021 compared with 2020, followed by a small rise in 2022. OUTLOOK FOR GRAINS The World Bank’s Grain Price Index jumped more than 17% in 2021 Q1 and stands 25%…

Agriculture’s great performance in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, compared with some other sectors that have been struggling, should convince banks to extend lending to previously ignored farming communities. The agriculture sector in South Africa is once again in the spotlight. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused unprecedented instability in some industries, a rise in input costs, and operating in an unstable, uncertain and sometimes contradictory policy environment, the sector continues to emerge stronger and more resilient. If there is one thing the pandemic has done well, it is to highlight the importance of agriculture and its ability to help economic development, create and retain employment, and improve exports. It is a well-known fact that the production of food and the availability thereof are of strategic significance to…

There is nothing controversial or sinister about a recent announcement by the Zimbabwean government that 500 elephants in the country are being made available for hunting in 2021. This was according to ecologist Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, operations and stewardship manager at CropLife South Africa, and a hunter himself. He told Farmer’s Weekly that the country allowed elephant hunting, mainly of tuskless female elephants, every year. Zimbabwe had a very large elephant population of 84 000, the second-largest in the world, which far exceeded the country’s carrying capacity. “Recurrent droughts have added to the strain of overburdened national parks, forcing the elephants to seek food and water further afield. The culling of 500 elephants will not harm the population, and by hunting tuskless animals, the tuskless gene balance in the population…

HONG KONG Exports of pineapples from Taiwan to Hong Kong soared in March, following the ban on Taiwanese pineapples in mainland China. Just 13t of the fruit were shipped to Hong Kong in February, compared with 1 768t in March. Surpassing Japan’s 1 719t, Hong Kong became the biggest importer of Taiwanese pineapples during the period. In total, 4 717t of pineapples were exported in March, but despite this sharp increase, exports dropped 60% from the same period last year. UNITED STATES The eight-year high surge in prices of US maize and soya bean is boosting farmers’ incomes and their demand for land, tractors and tools. This represents a turnaround for the agriculture sector after farmers struggled for years with a series of challenges, according to Reuters. In western Iowa,…

Government’s virtual consultations with various stakeholders on the updated draft of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), aimed at supporting South Africa’s transition to a lower carbon economy, will be completed at the end of May. The new targets for a reduction in carbon emissions aimed to lower the upper range of South Africa’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by 17% from 614 million tons to 510 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO²)-equivalent units in 2025, and 28% to 440 million tons of CO²-equivalent units in 2030. The targets will be reviewed again in 2025. According to Ndivile Mokoena, project coordinator at climate-justice NGO Gender CC Southern Africa, these targets were not ambitious enough. “Surely, [we] can do better than this, knowing that [other African countries are taking] twice the measures [against]…

A large parcel of land was recently handed over to the Covie community near Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape, after the successful settlement of a land claim. The land claim was lodged by Irene Bernardo, a descendent of one of the original inhabitants of Covie. The community lost its land rights when Portion 1 of Farm 287 was declared part of the Tsitsikamma National Park. Speaking during a virtual ceremony, Deputy President David Mabuza said this handover would have a positive impact on the ability of the 411 households to gain financial freedom. He said that it was part of the ongoing work of the Land Reform Inter-Ministerial Committee to accelerate land reform by mobilising state resources to increase the efficiency and sustainability of land redistribution and restitution.“Inclusive land…

The sustainability of the rapidly growing global macadamia industry lies in its ability to grow its product offering and maximise value-added goods. However, industry consolidation and reliability of supply are needed to ensure investment in value-added product development. In an industry where volumes were climbing rapidly, a cohesive undertaking was needed to create stability in the market to prevent prices from unnecessarily overcorrecting, said Roelof van Rooyen, director of the Marquis Group. He was speaking at an event to mark the link-up of one of South Africa’s largest macadamia nut processors, Global Macadamias, and the Marquis Group, the world’s largest macadamia processor and marketer. “This can’t happen at farm level, but rather needs to be driven at marketing level to lead buyers in placing the product in longterm product lines…

The wool market continued to strengthen at the 30th sale of the season, gaining 3,7% from the previous sale to close at R162,74/kg. A total of 9 483 bales were on offer, with most of the offering consisting of Merino wool types in the medium-length category. The local market followed the similar upward trend seen on the Australian market during the same week, with better all-round buyer sentiment driving prices upwards, according to Cape Wools SA. All micron categories delivered positive results, with the medium micron wool showing the best performance on the day, amid good competition from buyers. An overall sales clearance of 96,06% was achieved, with good after-sales assisting in achieving these good levels amid some seller reserve prices not being met. The major buyers at the sale…

Raising pigs has become popular in many communal farming areas in South Africa, because they have up to 15 piglets per litter and produce more than one litter a year. They also grow reasonably quickly and can be kept in areas where there is no naturally occurring grazing. And there is always a demand for pork. But raising pigs can be costly. If you don’t have access to free feed such as supermarket leftovers or ‘swill’, buying pig feed can be completely unprofitable, especially if you’re growing pigs to sell rather than for self-consumption. As soon as you start increasing numbers for sale, you’ll need to ensure that your pigs gain as much weight as possible every day; the faster they grow, the sooner you can sell them and the…

A virus is a small, infectious pathogen that reproduces only inside the living cells of other organisms. Viruses can infect all types of life forms, from animals and plants to micro-organisms, including bacteria. About 5 000 virus species have been described in detail, although there are millions of types. The following are viruses that can infect tomato plants. • Potato virus Y (PVY) Mainly a problem in Mpumalanga’s Lowveld region, PVY also attacks potato and pepper plants, hence its name. Infected leaves initially show yellow or transparent veins, later developing a mosaic pattern and sometimes necrotic (brown) spots. Occasionally, infected plants show no symptoms of the disease. PVY is spread by aphids. Control: Control aphids chemically; avoid planting near other susceptible crops; plant resistant cultivars; practise crop sanitation; control weeds.…

A healthy back is critical for so many ordinary activities, yet we tend to take it for granted until problems arise. The belly button seems insignificant, yet it holds the key to a healthy back, advises a certified physiotherapist. This is true for most people today since we do so many activities while sitting. What we should do, whatever position our bodies are in, is to focus on pulling our belly button toward our spine. This helps prevent us from putting strain on the back if the muscles of the front of our core are pulled in tautly. CORRECT POSITION While sitting, it is natural to let your stomach muscles relax, but it is important to concentrate on the belly button‘s correct position to reduce strain on the back muscles…

We were all captivated by the events at the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, also known as the Zondo Commisssion, during April. What caught my attention in particular was the role and function of a dominant party in a democratic system. One can accept, in general, that political parties contest for political power in a democracy, and that changes in government are a given in this field. But there is an exception, and in the study of politics we refer to it as a dominant party system, or a predominant party system. This means that one political party among a large number of parties contesting elections usually wins the contest. Some argue that if a party wins four consecutive elections, that party becomes the dominant one. There…

Vinpro’s legal challenge of the way in which government managed the liquor bans during the COVID-19-related lockdowns has been postponed from the end of April until August. Rico Basson, managing director of Vinpro, said the postponement of the court case was forced by the late filing of affidavits by government, in combination with its attempts to incorporate more than 1 000 pages of “irrelevant” material from the challenges brought by South African Breweries (SAB) against the ban. In addition, government was represented by three teams of advocates, and an earlier date could not be found that suited all the legal personnel. From the outset, Vinpro had objected to the large contingency of advocates representing national government. “It is ironic that national government is paying for so many lawyers when they…

With the successful implementation of the EU’s Green Deal, Europe will be the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. However, with bold plans to cut carbon emissions by over 55% by 2030, the produce industry supplying Europe will have to understand and work within these policies and regulations in order to remain both compliant and profitable. This emerged during a webinar hosted by the Produce Marketing Association. David Farrell, CEO of Blue North Sustainability in Stellenbosch, said that while the headline commitment of the Green Deal was to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, it went well beyond just climate policy. “The Green Deal is intended to address environmental sustainability issues more broadly, including the protection of natural resources. “Policies being rolled out include the Farm-to-Fork strategy, which commits…

The recent inspection by the Namibia Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO) and the Meat Board of Namibia of a section of that country’s Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF), east of the Bravo gate and directly north of Tsumeb, revealed the poor state of the VCF in the area and the urgent need for the maintenance thereof. This was according to Thinus Pretorius, LPO chairperson. The VCF separates the veterinary buffer and veterinary surveillance zones in Namibia. It starts at Palgrave Point on the west coast of that country, running in a more-or-less easterly direction to a point on the common border between Namibia and Botswana at 20° latitude. Movement of game and animals between the two zones was strictly controlled to prevent the spread of animal diseases such as corridor and foot-and-mouth…

The contribution of the agriculture sector in Mpumalanga to national food and fibre security remains under major threat from widespread past, present and future mining operations in the province. This is despite legislation that is meant to ensure that mining’s environmental impact is kept to an absolute minimum. Robert Davel, CEO of Mpumalanga Agriculture, said a balance was needed between South Africa’s demand for fossil-based energy, as evidenced by this province’s many coal mines, and the country’s need for food, fibre and water. Davel said it was of great concern to the organisation and its members that mines were often given access to productive agricultural land that was then frequently taken out of production for at least 20 years. Operational mines utilised and often polluted already scarce freshwater resources necessary…

Since March 2021, the quality and volumes of cabbages, carrots, onions, potatoes and tomatoes has improved, thanks to drier weather. Market stakeholders reported less damage and waste, especially with regard to potatoes. They also noted that tomato prices had surged 110% year-on-year (y/y) due to extremely low volumes. This was mostly because of rain and flood damage experienced earlier this year in key production areas that is still affecting supply from South Africa’s northern regions. In line with seasonal trends, demand around the Easter holiday period held firm for these commodities, which was reinforced by the fact that it coincided with month-end. Taking historical seasonal price movements into consideration, prices should soften over the next three months. CABBAGES Demand for cabbages was under pressure in mid-March due to quality concerns…

What is the Road Transport Management System (RTMS) and why was it established? Overloading causes premature road deterioration and, together with inadequate vehicle maintenance, high levels of driver fatigue and poor driver healthcare programmes, contributes significantly to South Africa’s poor road safety record. The RTMS is an industryled, government-supported, voluntary, self-regulatory scheme that encourages consignees, consignors and road transport operators to implement a management system that demonstrates compliance with the Road Traffic Regulations and contributes to preserving road infrastructure, improving road safety and increasing productivity. The RTMS standard comprises four main pillars: load control, safety and compliance, driver wellness, and training and development. In essence, RTMS was initially established as an overload control mechanism, but has evolved into a tool that is making a significant contribution to road safety in…

Kitty du Plessis and her late husband, Marius, never dreamt of having their own farm, thinking there was no way they could ever afford one. Then in 1999, the owners of the Daytona farm in the Warm Bokkeveld of the Western Cape, where Marius was the farm manager for over 20 years, passed away soon after one another, and their heirs, who lived abroad, wanted out of the business. Daytona’s stud was bought shortly thereafter, but the new owners weren’t interested in the fruit division, Aurora, leaving Marius, who had been in charge of everything but the horses, without a job. Potential buyers of Aurora were also put off when they realised the farm was situated behind the Nduli informal settlement. In the end, the attorneys who managed the estate…

Almost all parents, in their estate planning, say they want their assets to be divided equally among their children. This concept seems so obviously fair that it’s rarely challenged. But is it really fair to give siblings equal shares in the family farm when one has worked hard for 20 years building the agribusiness while the others have had nothing to do with it? Most people would agree that this is probably not fair. When parents think about their estate, they rapidly retreat to equality because this at least has the appearance of being fair. It might also seem like a simpler approach than creating a meaningful division of assets. However, there are many ways of fairly dispensing family wealth that don’t depend on the straightforward, ‘equal’ treatment of one’s…

THE PROMISE THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING by Nancy Kline (Penguin Life, R350) Worried about poor communication in your personal or professional life? Have you sat at meetings and wondered why nobody realises that they’d communicate better, not worse, if they stopped talking over each other? Kline argues that promising not to interrupt can make everything in your life more thoughtful, creative and productive. For most of us, it’s truly difficult to refrain from interrupting, especially when you perceive that time is short or the speaker is on the wrong track. In fact, you can start a session by making the promise and yet, as the discussion becomes more absorbing, gradually find yourself butting in more and more as you revert to old habits. It’s surprising, however, what emerges when you don’t…