South Africa’s credit downgrade by the American credit rating agency, Standard and Poor’s (S&P) to BBB-, otherwise known as junk status, is potentially bad news for South African farmers, but there is a silver lining for exporters. According to Wessel Lemmer, senior economist at Absa Agribusiness, the sovereign downgrade by international credit agencies will lead to a […]
The Zambian livestock business Agriserve Agro will now also provide mechanisation services to farmers, thanks to a deal signed with the Czech Republic during the recent Agritech Expo. According to Renier van Vuuren, managing director of Agriserve Agro, his company and several Czech machinery manufacturers sealed a deal for the distribution of several mechanical options […]
Here’s a new addition to Wuhlf’s range of earth moving equipment. The 70kW Skerpioen, which translates to scorpion, is a backhoe loader ideal for digging foundations, ditches and holes. This new addition to its stable is also manufactured in South Africa and costs R592 800.00 (VAT inclusive). The Skerpioen’s backhoe is ideal for accurately digging holes […]
The Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) have appealed to government to remove Value Added Tax (VAT) on milling equipment to promote diversification in the sector. However, the proposal was likely to be resisted as past incentives in the form of maize subsidies to millers were not transferred to Zambian consumers. “The removal of import tax on milling […]
Wuhlf Equipment, which is based in Pretoria, South Africa, manufactures and distributes equipment like front end loaders, forklifts and associated attachments for the Southern African market. These attachments are designed to fit to its front end loaders and forklifts through quick couplers and plug-hydraulics and can easily be attached and removed by one person. The […]
New Holland has just revealed its methane powered concept tractor, taking a step to provide a self-sufficient fuel and lower carbon emission future for farmers. In practice, this means farmers with all the necessary resources won’t have to rely on fossil fuels to power their machinery, but can be energy independent, utilizing natural gas from […]
In these articles we look at the importance of keeping records as part of farm management, no matter how small or large your farming business may be. In the previous article we look at the filing system of Production and Marketing. In this article we look at Management and touch on Financial and General. A […]
Proactive machine maintenance works better than dealing with breakdowns. Farm machinery and equipment is expensive so it’s worth looking around for decent second hand implements. Many second-hand tractors and pickup vehicles (bakkies) have given their owners years of reliable service. If you have a weakness for new machines and tools, which some farmers do have, […]
A commercial venture into irrigated sugarcane on a 2 500ha parcel of land on the banks of the Luapula River, has taken shape in an astonishingly short time. The bush that covered this land has made way for fields of sugarcane, a year off harvesting, in three years. The Great North Road makes its way […]
Mr. Alexander and mrs. Agatha Tendai Matuka may have started out as small-scale farmers in Zambia’s Central Province some years back, but their joint passion for agriculture, keen business sense and ambition to excel has propelled them into commercial status in a short time. At their current rate of expansion and progress this husband-and-wife team […]
