SA pome fruit sector set for record exports in 2021
South Africa’s apple and pear production is set for a record export crop this season. Apple exports are expected to rise by 5% year-on-year to 38,4 million 12.5kg equivalent cartons.
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New pumpkin variety set to make inroads into high-end market
The demand for convenient meals and easy-to-prepare vegetables is opening up marketing opportunities for the Hokkaido pumpkin, a newcomer to South Africa. Small, and with an edible peel, the variety holds much promise for expanding cucurbit cultivation. Lindi Botha spoke to Francois Steyn about farming the Hokkaido.
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Technological improvements in precision crop irrigation
With the threat of water scarcity and the challenge of feeding a growing population, it is essential that crop irrigation is optimised.
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Global citrus market holds strong despite Covid crisis
According to IndexBox latest report, the production of major types of citrus fruits, except that of lemons and limes, grew in 2020 thanks to good weather conditions in most producing regions. Citrus fruit exports and demand indicated gains in all the categories considered.
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Agriculture input cost pressures mount as fuel price increases further
Fuel is the lifeblood of the agriculture value chain with all processes from farm to fork heavily reliant on its availability at the right time and at an affordable price.
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Chillies: a hot crop if you know what you’re doing
Diversifying with chillies has enabled Klein Karoo stone fruit farmer JD van Deventer to increase cash flow, use orchard space more efficiently, and mitigate the climate- and market-related risks associated with fruit production. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel.
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Freshwater Is Disappearing. Can Technology Save Us?
Global climate change and the exponential increase in population has led to water scarcity and recent headline-grabbing water shortages in major urban centers like Capetown and Sao Paulo.
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Irrigated wheat: Conservation farming improves water usage and yield
South Africa’s water scarcity and the necessity to import well over one million tons of wheat annually mean that the country’s winter wheat growers increasingly have to optimise their water-use efficiencies. KwaZulu-Natal farmer Egon Zunckel spoke to Lloyd Phillips about his family’s own efforts to achieve higher wheat yield from less water.
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SA’s first aquaponics social enterprise to promote climate-smart food production
Global humanitarian development organisation, Inmed Partnerships for Children, has launched its first Inmed Aquaponics Social Enterprise (Inmed ASE) in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng.
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Copious rain with too little storage means too little future gain- South Africa
A crippling backlog in infrastructure development and a lack of progress in building new dams and water catchment areas will negate this soon.
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