Innehållsförteckning för 26 July 2024 från Farmer's Weekly

In many countries, genetically modified (GM) crops are still taboo. In others, GM crops are outright banned. These countries include many European nations, such as France, Germany and Austria, as well as some African countries, such as Zambia and Kenya. They cite various reasons for their decisions to ban GM crops; for example, that the long-term impact of consuming GM crops cannot be known, and that not enough research has been conducted on their effect on human health. Other reasons are that GM crops could introduce new allergens or increase levels of existing allergens in foods, and that the widespread production of these crops could lead to a reduction in biodiversity by outcompeting or crossbreeding with wild relatives. There is also a concern that the widespread use of GM crops…

The South African agriculture sector is not immune to politics. Agriculture is a vital sector of the economy. This explains why it earned special attention in the National Development Plan, with the entire chapter 6 dedicated to it. Recently, there have also been pragmatic plans such as the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan that set out practical steps to realise a vision to grow the sector and bolster its global competitiveness while achieving inclusion and transformation. The sector must not be a casualty of politics. It is a force for good in growing the South African economy and advancing the country’s place on the global map. The government of national unity (GNU) must keep the agriculture sector uppermost in their mind. This is a sector that should offer an avenue…

The Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA) and the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) hosted a policy dialogue in early July that emphasised the important role of the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP) played in the survival of South Africa’s agriculture sector amid ongoing global geopolitical tension. Bongiwe Njobe, former director-general of the Department of Agriculture, explained how global and local political dynamics impacted South Africa’s agriculture sector. “The upcoming elections in 74 countries, including big trading partners like India and the US, and potential changes within the EU Parliament pose potential uncertainties for international trade agreements, including the EU trade agreement,” she said. “The South African election, on the other hand, has led to the government of national unity of 11 parties at the national level and…

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is intensifying its call to declare the Eastern Cape a disaster area due to the escalating malnutrition and hunger crisis. This plea, championed by Dr Eileen Carter, provincial head of the SAHRC in the Eastern Cape, highlights the severe human rights violations arising from food insecurity in the region. Carter emphasised the gravity of the situation, noting that malnutrition and hunger directly contravened several rights enshrined in the Constitution’s Bill of Rights, including the right to dignity, life, food and basic nutrition. “Children dying of hunger in our province is a clear violation of their human rights. These violations are not only domestic obligations but also international commitments that South Africa has ratified,” she stated. Furthermore, Thabile Nkunjana, senior economist at the National…

Beef prices are expected to trade sideways, while lamb prices could follow a modest increasing trend. Pork prices are expected to have bottomed out in mid-May, and poultry prices are anticipated to trade slightly lower in the coming months. BEEF Beef prices remained under pressure, failing to break above the R55,75/kg level for Class A carcasses at the end of June, weighed down by continued pressure on consumer income. As a result, prices moved sideways month-on-month (m/m) for Class A carcasses, and for Class C carcasses, prices decreased by 1,2% (see Graph 1). Class C carcass prices decreased by 4,3% year-on-year (y/y). In contrast, Class A carcass prices increased by 10,3% y/y. While demand for Class A carcasses remains under pressure, the reprieve in load-shedding over the past few months…

How long have you been involved in the avocado industry and in what capacity? Avocados have been part of my life since I started at Westfalia in January 1986. I have held various management positions in operations and the commercial environment and served on the board of the South African Avocado Growers’ Association (SAAGA) from 1994 to 2013. Since 2017, I have been a shareholder and director in three farming operations in the Southern Cape, which produce mainly avocados but also soft citrus and macadamias. How does the avocado industry differ in the northern provinces compared with the Western Cape? Western Cape avocados have a later window in the market, as harvesting of the Hass and Gem cultivars starts in late September (mostly young trees) or the beginning of October,…

SERVES 4 Sunflower oil, for frying 450g packet beef sausages 1 onion, thinly sliced 1 garlic clove, crushed 10ml (2 tsp) mild mustard 400g tin chopped tomatoes 180ml (¾ cup) beef stock 410g tin baked beans in tomato sauce 2 handfuls baby spinach Salt and pepper 4 eggs • Heat a splash of oil in a frying pan on high. Fry the sausages and onion for about eight minutes or until browned. • Stir in the garlic and mustard and fry for two minutes. • Stir in the tomatoes and stock and cook for five minutes. Stir through the beans and spinach. Season to taste with salt and pepper. • Using the back of a spoon, make four wells in the filling and break an egg into each one. •…

The Dirty Secrets of the Rich and Powerful: Exposing the Dark Side of Capitalism by James-Brent Styan (Penguin, R290) Styan took his accountancy qualification into financial and then investigative journalism, using it as ballast to help write cogent exposés on Eskom, Steinhoff and Bosasa. Now he’s broadened his focus, and his latest book sweeps from the fall of the Roman Empire through to tax-dodging around private jets and the word-mongering of Davos. Three central chapters focus on the food industry, namely the listeriosis outbreak, the Competition Commission and bread prices, and GMOs. Later, Styan demonstrates how a welter of greenwashing statistics and claims succeed if they dizzy us into giving up trying to understand. One example involved manipulating the recommendations of an Irish report that found there were roughly 40% more…

The Woolworths Youth Makers Competition, launched in 2023, attracted hundreds of entries this year. Thirty finalists were flown to Johannesburg to pitch their business ideas, and 15 of these each won year-long mentorships and R130 000 to grow their brands. The winners, announced in June, were Balini Naidoo Engelbrecht of Balini Braille Clothing, Helen-Jean Stubbs and Sim Cele of Enzo’s Mighty Bites, Isabel Bothma of Isa B Jewellery Designs, Kabelo Moraloki of Kabelo Moraloki Arts, Khaya Burwana of Agrikey Farming, Makomborero Mutezo of The Hungry Mute, Michael Ludwig Hittinger of Michael Ludwig Studios, Neo Dulaze and Katleho Mchalla of Berry Homeware, Hlubi Hewu of Planned Gifts, Nompumelelo Nhlapo of Gadat House, Sibusiso Mokhachane of Soulart Foundation, Tenele Zwane of Subtle T-Designs, Tshegofatso Ramothibe and Oageng Manana of Meetlo by CityBirds,…

The Algerian agriculture ministry has signed a €420 million (US$455 million or about R8,3 billion) agreement with Italy for an agricultural project. Italian officials said this was their country’s biggest agricultural investment in the southern Mediterranean, covering 36 000ha in Algeria’s Timimoun province. They said the project would produce wheat, lentils and beans, among other foods, in the hope of expanding non-hydrocarbon exports from Algeria, and create about 6 700 jobs. The deal comes months after Algeria signed a $3,5 billion (R63 billion) agreement with Baladna, Qatar’s biggest dairy producer, to set up an extensive cow-breeding facility to produce powdered milk. The July agreement was part of Algeria’s plan to grow production areas in its desert south to 500 000ha. The project is in line with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia…

In early July, the Malawian government partnered with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to launch a US$53 million (about R950 million) agricultural development programme aimed at enhancing food security in the country. The objective is the commercialisation of agriculture production to increase the resilience and sustainability of small-scale farming systems. According to Bernadette Mukonyora, IFAD country director for Malawi, the seven-year Sustainable Agriculture Production Programme phase II (SAPP II) was set to arm farmers with the skills and resources needed to address food insecurity, boost their income generation, and improve their livelihoods. She added that the programme was planned for the rural communities in Dowa, Balaka, Lilongwe and Mzimba. Mukonyora said in a statement that the project was of specific importance for women, as they accounted for more…

Students from Walmer High School in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, recently took first place at the 2024 SA Climate Change Champs competition in Cape Town with their innovative biogas project that tackles the critical issues of waste management and electricity shortages in their community. By turning organic waste into biogas, these young environmental leaders are making strides towards a cleaner and more sustainable future for Walmer Township. According to the team leader, 16-yearold Ima Breakfast, the students produced biogas from organic waste, such as leftover food and animal manure, found in their township landfills. “We separate it, with some being used to make our biogas container and the rest used as feedstock. Everything we used in the biogas digester is recyclable and sourced from around the streets,” Breakfast said The project…

The 2023/24 season is a difficult one for many farmers. Drought resulted in substantially lower summer grain crop yields. The total maize crop is expected at 13,3 million tons, the lowest since 2018/19 and down 19% on the previous year. The sunflower crop is 10% down and the soya bean crop 37% down on the previous season. The maize crop in North West is expected to be 45% less than in 2023. The anticipated lower white maize crop did result in higher prices, and a large carry-over stock limited prices increases for yellow maize. A foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the Eastern Cape, as well as weaker consumer demand, led to depressed meat prices, with a 30% drop in weaner prices. Input price increases were moderate, with some inputs being available…

FOCUS ON IRRIGATION In the quest to achieve sustainable agriculture and global food security, the connection between crops and water is paramount. Efficient crop irrigation is more than just a farming practice; it is a sophisticated science that ensures plants receive the precise amount of water they need at the very moment they need it. According to Sixolise Mcinga, senior analyst in sustainable agriculture at GreenCape, an NPO that drives the widespread adoption of green economy solutions, crop irrigation is the process of applying controlled amounts of water to plants or crops at the required intervals. She adds that this is essential for maintaining soil moisture levels that are conducive to crop growth, particularly in regions that receive insufficient rainfall. IRRIGATION PLANNING “There are several factors farmers must consider when…

SERVES 4 8 canned guava halves 100g sugar 60g soft butter 125g sugar 150ml water 125g self-raising flour 60ml milk 2 eggs 40g fine desiccated coconut Pinch of salt Custard or crème fraiche, to serve • Preheat the oven to 200°C. Grease four teacups with butter. • While you’re making the batter, drain the guava halves, reserving the syrup. • Cream the butter and sugar, add the remaining ingredients, and mix through. • Spoon the batter into the teacups and place half a guava in the centre of each. • Place the cups on a small baking tray to make it easier to remove them from the oven later. • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. • Remove the cups from the oven and pour the guava syrup over. • Serve…

Dear Prof McCrindle, There are a lot of wild baboons in our area. Could they spread the monkeypox (mpox) virus to people? Lwazi Dear Lwazi, Mpox has received a lot of publicity recently because it was diagnosed in patients in South Africa. However, you are not likely to catch mpox from wild baboons in South Africa. It is a disease that is endemic to the Congo and has been isolated from a variety of indigenous animals like monkeys, rats, mice, squirrels and pigs. There are two subtypes of the mpox virus: one that is zoonotic and infects people, and one that is not zoonotic. The virus was isolated for the first time when monkeys that were imported into Denmark in 1959 became ill. Only in 1970 was it confirmed for…

ARCHIVE David Stubbs and Elizabeth Howard wrote this column entitled ‘Talking Horses’. The riding horse class originated in South Africa. It is a wonderful class for the everyday horseman who cannot necessarily afford to own a showhorse, or whose horse does not fall into any particular show category. Unlike valuable show animals, which tend to be cosseted, a good riding horse must be the sort you can ride anywhere and really enjoy. And this fact should always be borne in mind by the riding horse judge. He/she should design their test to encompass the practical hazards that might be encountered on a Sunday hack. Let’s say you and a large group of friends decide to ride some distance to another farm to enjoy morning tea or a braai. Here are…

In a dramatic turn of weather, icy temperatures, snow, damaging winds and heavy rainfall are posing significant challenges for farmers across parts of the country, causing widespread concern. In early July, the South African Weather Service warned of several cold fronts expected to reach South African shores, starting with an intense system affecting the western, central and eastern parts of the country. Dr Peter Johnston, a researcher at the University of Cape Town’s Climate System Analysis Group, noted that this cold front was deeper and stronger than the average front. “This is one of the wettest cold fronts we’ve had in a long time. It’s depth indicates how high it extends into the atmosphere, sucking in cold air and causing strong winds. This front brought rainfall of up to 100mm…

Eskom announced earlier this month that load-reduction measures would be implemented in seven of South Africa’s nine provinces. The load reduction was aimed at areas where local grids were overloaded by the onset of winter. The utility stated that load reduction differed from load-shedding, as it pertained to overloaded infrastructure like transformers in localised areas, which could lead to blow-outs. The colder weather in the second week of July had also exacerbated the situation. Naudé Pienaar, assistant general manager at Agri North West, told Farmer’s Weekly that despite the uncertainty over what form the load reduction would take, it did not seem as though it would have a widespread impact on the agriculture sector in the province. He added that although members of the organisation had attended a meeting with…

After six years working as an assistant winemaker at Nederburg, Jamie Williams has been appointed as the new head of Nederburg’s white wine team. She will report directly to cellar master Samuel Viljoen. Williams, born and bred in Cape Town, did a BSc degree that initially focused on molecular biology and biotechnology and later wine biotechnology. Her graduation was promptly followed by an opportunity to work in California in 2016, after which she interned as a laboratory analyst at Die Bergkelder in Stellenbosch. A year later, she moved closer to production as a harvest cellar intern and joined Nederburg in 2018. Williams believes that wine is a means of connecting people, igniting the senses and celebrating life. On her new role, she said she was excited and grateful to “lead…

UNITED STATES The ancient pongamia (Millettia pinnata), a wild tree native to India, Southeast Asia and Australia, is now flourishing in groves in Florida, US, where citrus trees once grew. Over the past two decades, citrus blight and canker have decimated the state’s citrus production industry. The climate-resilient pongamia can be used to produce plant-based proteins and sustainable biofuel. It requires little care, thrives in drought and rain, and does not need fertilisers or pesticides. SAUDI ARABIA FarmERP, a sustainable technology solutions company based in India, recently announced a strategic partnership with Seiyaj Tech, a Saudi Arabian company focused on localising green energy technologies from top international companies. The aim is to grow FarmERP’s footprint in Saudi Arabia, leveraging Seiyaj Tech’s large business network and local expertise. Saudi Arabia’s agriculture…

Rand Water has assured residents of Johannesburg that water will soon be restored following a monthlong maintenance project that was initiated on 22 June 2024. The utility’s spokesperson, Makenosi Maroo, emphasised the importance of proactive maintenance to preserve the quality and integrity of the infrastructure, reduce long-term maintenance costs and increase the lifespan of assets. To alleviate the impact of the maintenance work, 85 water trucks were dispatched to various parts of Johannesburg at the request of councillors, while 250 tanks were supplied to hospitals, clinics, old-age homes, schools and police stations. Rand Water also stated that maintenance would be carried out on different dates across various municipalities to ensure a stable water supply. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Mothusi Noko, an aquaponics farmer in Sandton, said that while there had…

Hemp-derived CBD, a non-psychoactive relative of cannabis, offers potential relief from a variety of ailments without the psychoactive ‘high’ associated with marijuana. However, as CBD products become more widely available in South Africa, questions about their safety, efficacy and legal status continue to arise. UNDERSTANDING CBD IN SA CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of more than 100 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant. In South Africa, hemp-derived CBD products must contain less than 0,2% (tetrahydrocannabinol) THC. This low THC content allows CBD products to be sold more broadly than cannabis-derived alternatives, making them accessible through retail outlets. LEGAL STATUS AND REGULATION The legal landscape for CBD in South Africa has evolved significantly. In May 2019, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) descheduled CBD products from the Medicines…

In March this year, dairy cows in Texas, US, tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). This is the first known case of the virus spreading to cattle. The virus was subsequently detected in raw milk via diagnostic testing, which suggested that it passed from cow to milk. RISK TO HUMANS? As reported by ScienceDaily, this led scientists to question whether humans were at risk of contracting HPAI through dairy products. To answer this question, Erica Spackman, PhD, a virologist at the US Department of Agriculture, along with her collaborators, used PCR testing to analyse close to 300 samples of pasteurised milk products, which comprised 23 different types of product from 132 processors across 17 states around the US. According to their findings, which were published in early July…