‘Go after what you want’ – lessons from a young spinach farmer
Gauteng-based Gugulethu Mahlangu says volunteering for experienced vegetable farmers gave her the confidence to launch her own successful career in farming.
read more >>
Half the World to Face Severe Water Stress by 2030
The report, entitled Policy Options for Decoupling Economic Growth from Water Use and Water Pollution, finds that as the global population rises, increased urbanization, climate change and a shift in how food is consumed are likely to dramatically increase future demand for water. Under current trends, demand for water will exceed supply by 40 per cent in…
read more >>
SA agribusiness confidence shoots to six-year high
The latest results from the quarterly Agribusiness Confidence Index are a reflection of the general sense of optimism in the farming sector following a year of favourable production conditions for grain producers in the summer and winter rainfall regions.
read more >>
Building vineyard biodiversity to combat climate emergency
“Climate change is such a big issue, more extreme events are happening more regularly,” says Stuart Proud, viticulturalist and winemaker at Thousand Candles Winery, in Australia’s Yarra Valley. “After the recent summer of bushfires in Australia, I hope people realise how bad things could get.”
read more >>
Solution to water shortages: Reuse of sewage for groundwater fed irrigation
At the same time, wastewater treatment plants discharge large volumes of water that diminish the quality of the limited freshwater resources.
read more >>
Nature-friendly farming reduces costs for potato farmer
Managing plant health and strict water monitoring have paved the way to success for AL 3 Boerdery in Dendron, Limpopo. CT van der Merwe spoke to Lindi Botha about the production practices that keep his farming business profitable.
read more >>
World’s biggest drip irrigation project in India
Built at INR 3.81 billion (USD $ 52 million), the project will provide irrigation services to 24,000 hectares (60,000 acres) of drought-hit Hungund in the Ramthal Marola area.
read more >>
New irrigation systems: making do with less
With dwindling water supplies and a greater emphasis on efficient use of resources, irrigation technology is evolving to make do with less. While the initial capital costs of the latest equipment and software may be high, its increased efficiency, higher yield and reduced water usage cannot be beaten. Lindi Botha spoke to experts about the latest advances in irrigation.
read more >>
R100m Covid-19 grant funding set aside for smallholder farmers
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has set aside R100m for a Covid-19 grant scheme, which has been made available through Land Bank to smallholder farmers who have loans to pay, and experience financial distress resulting from the impact of Covid-19 and related interventions, such as the effects of the protracted Lockdown regulations, on their businesses.
read more >>
Latest research: Macadamias need less water than you think!
With a looming water crisis and an expanding macadamia industry, the obvious question arises: where will the water for the new orchards come from? A recent groundbreaking study shows that farmers have been grossly over-irrigating and that dryland macadamias in high-rainfall areas actually provide better yields. Lindi Botha spoke to Theunis and Armand Smit, specialists in irrigation and optimal water usage.
read more >>