WITH the recent heavy rainfall experienced in the Western Cape, it’s easy to lose sight of the drought that plagued the province in 2018. However, it remains fresh in the minds of fruit farmers in particular, with South Africa being one of the five biggest exporters of apples globally. “South Africa being a water-scarce country, […]
Knowing the right time to plant ensures that crops are sown under optimal conditions for germination and growth. Winter crops often require specific temperatures and moisture levels to thrive. The recent live session of Food For Mzansi’s Gather to Grow on Instagram focused on timely planting and how harvesting can maximise crop yield. Planting too […]
Communities are returning to traditional crops and opting for organic to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture and supplement their incomes. It’s early December, yet the farms’ landscape in Onverwacht, near Polokwane in Limpopo, northeast South Africa, is a dull brown and dry. Red dust rises into the sky as a hot wind sweeps in […]
The agriculture sector is not powerless when it comes to climate change. Daneel Rossouw, head of sales for agriculture at Nedbank Commercial Banking, explains to us the concept of Conservation Agriculture, and how the agriculture sector can implement it. How does Conservation Agriculture (CA) mitigate the impacts of climate change? The three key elements of […]
SOUTHERN African Biogas Industry Association (SABIA) secretary Gordon Ayres is almost annoyed by the assumption that Biogas is assumed to be gas. Though the word gas is in its name, Ayres says a more accurate description is to call it a bio-fertiliser or organic fertiliser, which is derived from waste. Given the confusion, Ayres says […]
Making its debut appearance at NAMPO Cape in Bredasdorp this year, geared motor specialist SEW-EURODRIVE is all set to excite the farming community with even more solutions to drive productivity and efficiency. From its firm footprint in the agricultural sector – through packhouses and bottling facilities countrywide – SEW-EURODRIVE now takes its offerings onto the […]
THE Overberg is putting her best foot forward for NAMPO Cape, which this year will be presented by Grain SA and Bredasdorp Park NPC on Bredasdorp Park from 11-14 September 2024. This marks the 5th presentation of NAMPO Cape and the 30th anniversary of the first Mechanisation Day which took place in 1994. Since its […]
The use of new farming technology is on the rise in South Africa and has the potential to enhance productivity and efficiency, which is good news for farm owners. But, as Gift Mwonzora writes, it may be bad news for farm workers whose job security may be under threat. Across South Africa, farms are ramping […]
It is no secret that maize is one of the most important crops worldwide, and at the rate at which maize plantings increase with each new season, it will probably overtake wheat plantings by 2030. This is largely due to meet the increasing demand for human consumption, livestock and industrial use. White maize is primarily […]
Drones are being used for various tasks in South Africa, from farming to crime fighting. Vergelegen wine estate in Somerset West uses drones to deliver beneficial inspectors to control pests in its vineyard. The aim is to reduce vine disease and produce higher-quality grapes by ensuring that the current 20-25-year-old vineyards can stay healthy for […]
