Category: Agriculture NEWS

With close to 35 000 ha of pecan nut trees in South Africa, the industry has witnessed significant growth in recent years, reports the South African Pecan Nut Producers’ Association. South Africa is the third largest pecan producer globally, with the bulk of the production coming from the Northern Cape. As global demand for pecan nuts soars, ensuring optimal tree growth and production is critical for sustained success in the industry. An essential element for its role in promoting pecan nut tree growth is zinc, explains Simon Norton, Executive Director of…

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Nematode populations in South Africa appear to be increasing in both prevalence and species type. Farmers are therefore cautioned to implement full integrated pest management strategies to prevent total crop losses. According to Prof Driekie Fourie, nematode specialist at Syngenta, the impact of nematodes is often overlooked and poses a far greater problem than many farmers may realise. The problem also extends beyond traditional hotspot areas, having a significant effect on crop yields. “Unfortunately, once nematodes are diagnosed in the soil, eradication becomes almost impossible. This leads not only to…

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Zambia’s North-Western Province, near the border with Angola, is known as the country’s top honey-producing region because of its woodlands that sustain bees and beekeeping. Other factors are the availability of water all year round and a shaded, relatively undisturbed environment, although the serenity is disturbed by increasing cases of deforestation. Forest fires that are used for clearing of woodlands for crop production and settlement, coupled with harvesting of wood fuel for urban consumption, also contribute significantly to deforestation. Research shows this situation has affected the country’s honey output in…

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The wine lobby groups UIV and Assoenologi in Italy said earlier this week that the country’s wine production was expected to decline by 12% to less than 44 million hectolitres this year. This was due to the impact of extreme weather conditions as well as fungal diseases plaguing the country’s vineyards. According to Reuters, this would mean that Italy would be losing its position as the world’s largest wine producer, which would return France to the number one spot for the first time in nine years. Although Italy’s northern wine production…

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Loadshedding affects all South Africans on a daily basis, and all industries are affected in some way. However, its repercussions go much deeper than simply being without power. Loadshedding is resulting in problems in the South African poultry industry, with a large number of chicks at risk due to temperature fluctuations. As a testament to constant innovation and support of the agricultural sector, local manufacturer Pratley, and member of the Green Building Council of South Africa, has found a novel application for its Pratliperl® mineral product. Pratliperl®, when mixed with…

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Like many farmers around him, Rex Natala didn’t know what it was like to farm without the use of harmful chemicals. But a training programme opened his eyes and today he’s a top organic strawberry producer in Zambia Having the big responsibility of taking over the farm following the passing of his father, 33-year-old Rex Natala from Zambia started crafting his new chapter of life by working the land. Now, Natala stands as the youngest leader farmer within the Solidaridad Network’s international NGO. But his accomplishments do not stop there.…

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Elijah Muchima, Zambia’s minister of land has defended the move by the government to invite foreign farmers to boost farming activities in the farms that remain largely underutilised. He said the foreign farmers are being sought to help boost production in the various farming area that remains largely stalled. This comes after critics expressed concern over President Hakainde Hichilema’s move to attract Rwandan farmers to invest in Zambia’s stagnant farming sectors to bolster production. The move by the government comes barely three months after provisionally agreeing on a deal to…

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In a world driven by personal and professional success, the true measure of humanity’s beauty lies in our collective determination to create a better and more equitable world for all. Good Nature Agro, a transformative force in Zambia’s agricultural landscape, embodies this spirit through their unwavering commitment to empowering small-scale farmers. Founded by three visionary friends, the company specialises in moving small-scale farmers from poverty and into the middle class through the production of legume seeds and commodities. These include high-value legume seeds such as beans, cowpeas, soybeans, and groundnuts.…

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While the fresh produce industry is facing serious challenges, it has never been set to make as great an impact as now, Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), said at the IFPA Southern Africa conference in Cape Town. The fresh produce industry seemed to be facing a “never-ending series of challenges”, ranging from inflation, extreme weather events, rising input costs, logistic disruptions and poor infrastructure, to labour shortages and lagging fresh produce consumption, according to Burns. “These challenges are not unique to South Africa, but are…

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A R176 million lifeline from the South African Sugar Association has given the country’s small-scale sugar cane growers a fighting chance within the embattled industry. The funding was deemed critical as the industry continued to face a crisis in the milling sector and cane growers tried to recover from the financial shocks of the last season, according to the South African Cane Growers’ Association (SA Canegrowers). Small-scale sugar cane growers were particularly hard hit by the decisions of the business rescue practitioners at the Tongaat Hulett and Gledhow sugar mills…

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