Farmers Review Africa July/Aug 2016

Volume 2. Issue 4. July - August 2016 F A R ME R S

RE VI E W AF RI CA

I S S UE

4

Can we feed 10 billion people on organic farming alone?

-p12 t Please visi te si b e w the

FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

PRECISION FARMING - THE WAY TO GO FOR AFRICA .p26

rica

farmersrevie.cowmaf

12 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT ROBUSTA FARMING. p40

WHEN THE TIME IS RIPE . p44

Contents 04 Contents 05 Editors note 06 New seed facility 07 China to open markets to Zim produce

7

08 Rwanda launches portal 10 Agric - the case of Kenya 12 Can we feed 10 billion people?

13 Support to farmers reaps benet 14 Stainless steel 18 Dairy avours & ingredients 22 Partnership to advance connectivity 23 Pioneer hybrid corn seed scheme

13

25 Mobilising investment & nance 26 Precision farming 29 UN urges La Nina preparedness 30 Partnership - 30 years & counting 32 13m cows, one app 34 Solar powered pumps 37 SKF appoints new distributor

23

38 Canola production in SA 40 12 things about robusta coffee 42 Why pulses are the eco-friendly option 47 Mold management 48 Hydroponic fodder 50 Livestock key to rural agric 54 Earthworm farming

32

58 OdorCure 60 Gallery - Farmers Review Africa 62 Events 64 Advertisers index

July - August 2016

[4]

FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

Editors note

Volume 2. Issue 4. July - August 2016 F A R ME R S

RE VI E W AF RI CA

I S S UE

4

Can we feed 10 billion people on organic farming alone?

-p12 a

farmersreviewafric .com

REVIEW AFRICA

PRECISION FARMING - THE WAY TO GO FOR AFRICA. p26

Agriculture is a cornerstone of life in Africa, whether our exposure

Please visit the website

FARMERS

to it is merely picking up some sweet corn at the farmers market or

WHEN THE TIME IS RIPE . p44

12 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT ROBUSTA FARMING. p40

spending long days in the field. It is work that is essential to

Front cover : Joshua Okundi Courtesy of www.jeffreymwalcott.com

sustaining us as a continent, and the farmer's dedication can be easily overlooked. It is hard, honest and often thankless work.

The sun is shining through the leaving clouds; and this time of the

Executive Editor

year is especially special since we are in the releasing our July/

Lee Daniels lee.daniels@farmersreviewafrica.com

August issue.

In our issue we look at Pioneer is growing its hybrid corn seed scheme further into Africa. We also tackle how livestock production

Writers

can be a key to communal agricultural activity and a sustainable

Bertha M. Maxin Fourie

source of rural livelihood if smallholder farmers focus on improving the health and management of their animals.

Subscriptions, News & Press Releases

Solar water pumps are a cost-effective and dependable method for providing water in situations where water resources are spread

Victor N. sales@farmersreviewafrica.com Russou Billiard russoub@farmersreviewafrica.com +27 11 044 8985

farmers in need.

Graphic Design & Layout

and we look at the digital technology that allows the newly wealthy

over long distances; power lines are few or non-existent; or fuel and maintenance costs are considerable. Futurepump Ltd solve this problem by selling robust, portable, solar pumps to those Technology in the agricultural industry is also gaining momentum

Que Gibson gibson.q@farmersreviewafrica.com

in the country's rapidly expanding cities to invest in cattle.

Precision agriculture — the future — has arrived and is here to stay.

Published by

These high-tech solutions will improve crop yields, giving you as a

Mailing Times Media +27 11 044 8986 sales@farmersreviewafrica.com

grain handler more products to store and manage, and to buy, sell and trade Through economic and technical co-operation agreements signed between Zimbabwe and China in December 2015, Zimbabwe will

FARMERS

soon receive around US$6 billion for its national housing delivery and agriculture programmes from China.

REVIEW AFRICA

The food web, food trucks, organics and genetics, big agriculture, small farms. Food is everywhere. It pervades every aspect of our lives.

More than ever before, Farmers Review Africa is presenting a diversity of perspectives to help us all see food in new ways. And to make utterly clear how embedded food is in the fate of this planet we all love F A R ME R S

RE VI E W AF RI CA

I S S UE

Bertha M.

Volume 2. Issue 3. May - June 2016

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Volume 1.

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les people Over 100 sa take part in The future of automatic ining Case IH Tra milking comes to th Africa Camp in Sou -p12 Africa

-p26 Please visit the website

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wafrica farmersrevie.com

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HOW CAMEROON’S STOLEN WOOD REACHES INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. p9

FARMERS ADOPT MOBILE PHONES TO BOOST HARVEST. p12

se visit Plea site ica the web

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TO COUNTRYNG FIRST ZAMBIA A SMART FARMI E E. p7 CREAT CENTR TRAINING

FARMING A ARE IN KENY ESS. p52 REFUGEES TO SUCC WAY THEIR

BANK -WORLD ORT N. p6 NEW AGRA T TO SUPP MATIO AGREEMENED TRANSFOR FARMING-L

IMPACT OF GENETIC PROGRESS ON THE PROFITS OF DAIRY FARMERS. p36

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NEWTECHSHEDS LIGHTONTHEFUT URE OFFOOD

Mailing Times Media (Pty) Ltd makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the contents of its publications, but no warranty is made as to such accuracy and no responsibility will be borne by the publisher for the consequences of actions based on information so published. Further, opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by Mailing Times Media (Pty) Ltd

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TRANSF ORMING HELPS AFRICA. AGRICULTURE pp44

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WHY IS NOW THE RIGHT INVEST IN MPUMALANGA TIME TO AGRICULTURAL PROVINCE’S SECTOR. pp48

TRADITIONAL NUTRITIOUS DROUGHT TOLERA CROPS BACK? NT, pp29

[5]

FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

July - August 2016

News

New seed storage facility to bolster maize R&D A seed storage cold room facility to

“It is important to have a facility

function like large-scale refrigerators

support maize research and improve

that will help breeding programmes

and preserve seeds by maintaining

livelihood of African smallholders has

to produce and store large quantities

low temperatures, thereby impeding

been launched.

of valuable seeds with no loss in

environmental or biotic factors such

quality,” says Kropff. “This cold

as pathogens and insects from

Bill and Melinda Gates foundation

room will help improve effectiveness

affecting seed viability for long

and implemented by International

and efficiency of our breeding work

periods.

Maize and Wheat Improvement

in Kenya and Africa.”

“For research work, seeds need to be

The US$100,000 project funded by

Center (CIMMYT) and Kenya

Eliud Kireger, director-general of

stored between six months and ten

Agricultural and Livestock Research

KALRO, says that agriculture is the

years for future use,” says Kireger.

Organization (KALRO) was launched

backbone of Kenya's economy and

”This requires high level of

last month (7 July) in Kenya.

needs a strong seed system to

preservation and safety to enable

“It is important to have a facility that

enable breeders develop and

breeders to work with more diverse

will help breeding programmes to

disseminate improved seed varieties

materials, develop new maize

produce and store large quantities of

for farming and improved

germplasm, and store this effectively

livelihoods.

for further use,” .

valuable seeds with no loss in quality.”

Martin Kropff, director-general of

“This new facility will boost the

Akomian Fortuné Azihou, a lecturer

maize breeding work done by both

at the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences

Mexico-headquartered CIMMYT, said

KALRO and CIMMYT at the Kiboko

at Benin-based University of Abomey-

at the launch that diseases, insect-

station, Makueni county in Kenya,

Calavi, tells SciDev.Net the facility is

pests and climatic stresses including

which serves as a major hub for

important for the entire Africa that

drought, and low soil fertility are

maize breeding in Africa and

depends on maize as a staple food.

reducing maize production, thus

expedite movement of improved

negatively impacting on the

maize germplasm to national

livelihood of maize smallholders in

partners and seed companies across

improve maize varieties on the

Africa.

Africa and beyond,” he adds.

continent for better nutrition and food

Kireger explains that cold rooms

July - August 2016

[6]

FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

But Azihou calls on farmers and researchers to work together to

security in Africa.

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

Market Information News

China to open its markets to Zimbabwean farm produce Through economic and technical coo p e ra t i o n a g r e e m e n t s s i g n e d between Zimbabwe and China in December 2015, Zimbabwe will soon receive around US$6 billion for its national housing delivery and agriculture programmes from China.

US$4 billion will go to farming and the remainder to housing provision, and The Sunday Mail understands Government is ďŹ nalising the modalities of both projects.

Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Dr Obert Mpofu, who was in China last week to discuss the deals, said the funding and subsequent development would spur economic turnaround and create employment on a large scale. www.farmersreviewafrica.com

China, he said, had agreed to open its markets to farm produce from Zimbabwe in a deal that would change the fortunes of rural households.

"We have prioritised agriculture and housing as the most critical projects for economic development. So, we went there to engage the Chinese and if these projects are approved, we are likely to get a substantive amount of money which will turn around the economy. " We m e t w i t h o u r C h i n e s e counterparts in agriculture and commerce; we also met the VicePresident of China and there seems to be goodwill on the part of the Chinese who are also interested in horticulture, beef, citrus fruits and organic products. These products [7]

FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

can be supplied to Chinese markets within a day thus we have also engaged them to open their markets for trade in agriculture," Dr Mpofu said.

"Agriculture in Zimbabwe employs 67 percent of the population, which is about 4.2 million people in the production and manufacturing sector.

Thus investing in the sector will help in creating more jobs in the country.'’

July - August 2016

News

Rwanda launches online portal for agri-produce trade The Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources has announced the launch of a new online portal aimed at reducing the cost of importing and exporting agricultural produce.

State minister for agriculture Tony Nsanganira said that the new portal is a 'double win' for importers and exporters of plants/plants materials, animals/animal products and agrichemicals in Rwanda. The portal will allow them to speed up the process of acquiring import and export permits.

Speaking about the new portal Nsanganira said, “ICT is no longer an option but a necessity for economic development. We can hardly do without it. We rely on the ICTs for almost all our daily activities,

July - August 2016

including communications, transport, and businesses, just to mention these few.”

The project has been funded by the ministry through a direct project funding of US$150,000 from TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) a regional trade facilitation institution, Nsanganira told reporters.

“The linkages within the system will enhance inter-government agency coordination with the aim of improving service delivery and good governance in Rwanda,” said RALIS director general Beatrice Uwumukiza.

Uwumukiza explained that the management information system has been integrated with the Rwanda electronic single window,

[8]

FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

which allowed information sharing between Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) and the Ministry of Agriculture.

It will also be integrated with financial systems such as the national payment gateway and banking systems, further reducing transaction and administrative costs.

The trade portal comprises of two interlinked platforms. The front-end login portal caters to Rwanda agriculture livestock inspection and certification services (RALIS) stakeholders and allows them to a c c e s s s e r v i c e s ra n g i n g f r o m information on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements, international and Rwanda trade regulations. The second platform is a management information system to be used by RALIS management and staff to process requests for services.

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

Country Focus

Agriculture - The case of Kenya Agriculture remains the most

grow cash crops.

ownership. European-owned

important economic activity in Kenya,

From independence in 1963 to the oil

agriculture remains generally large-

although less than 8% of the land is

crisis in 1973, the agricultural sector

scale and almost entirely commercial.

used for crop and feed production.

expanded by undergoing two basic

After the 1973 oil crisis, agricultural

Less than 20% of the land is suitable

changes: first, widespread

growth slowed as less untapped land

for cultivation, of which only 12% is

acceptance of private ownership

became available. Government

classified as high potential (adequate

(replacing tribal ownership) and cash

involvement in marketing coupled with

rainfall) agricultural land and about

crop farming; second, the success of

inefficient trade and exchange rate

8% is medium potential land. The rest

intensive nationwide efforts to expand

policies discouraged production during

of the land is arid or semiarid. About

and upgrade the production of African

the 1970s. Coffee production booms in

80% of the work force engages in

smallholders. Before World War II

the late 1970s and in 1986 have in the

agriculture or food processing.

( 1 9 3 9 – 4 5 ) e n d e d , a g r i c u l t u ra l

past temporarily helped the economy in

Farming in Kenya is typically carried

development occurred almost

its struggle away from deficit spending

out by small producers who usually

exclusively in the "White Highlands,"

and monetary expansion. Although the

cultivate no more than two hectares

an area of some 31,000 sq km

expansion of agricultural export crops

(about five acres) using limited

(12,000 sq mi) allocated to immigrant

has been the most important factor in

technology. These small farms,

white settlers and plantation

stimulating economic development,

operated by about three million

companies. Since independence, as

much agricultural activity is also

farming families, account for 75% of

part of a land consolidation and

directed toward providing food for

total production. Although there are

resettlement policy, the Kenya

d o m e s t i c c o n s u m p t i o n . Ke nya ' s

still important European-owned

government, with financial aid from

agriculture is sufficiently diversified to

coffee, tea, and sisal plantations, an

the United Kingdom, has gradually

produce nearly all of the nation's basic

increasing number of peasant farmers

transferred large areas to African

foodstuffs. To some extent, Kenya also

July - August 2016

[10]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

Market Country Information Focus the third leading agricultural export, following tea and coffee. Fresh produce accounted for about 30% of horticutural exports, and included green beans, onions, cabbages, snow peas, avocados, mangoes, and passion fruit. Flowers exported include roses, carnations, statice, astromeria, and lilies.

Kenya is the world's largest producer and exporter of pyrethrum, a flower

Agriculture in Kenya

that contains a substance used in pesticides. The pyrethrum extract, known as pyrethrin, is derived from the flower's petals. A drop in production during the mid-1990s was due to increasing production costs, disease damage, and slow payment by the parastatal Pyrethrum Board of Kenya.

helps feed neighboring countries.

Coffee is Kenya's third leading foreign

Kenya is Africa's leading tea producer,

exchange earner, after tourism and

and was fourth in the world in 1999,

tea. In 2001, coffee earnings totaled

behind India, China, and Sri Lanka.

$91.8 million. Production in 2001/02

Black tea is Kenya's leading

amounted to 52,140 tons. Similar to

agricultural foreign exchange earner.

the tea sector, coffee is produced on

Production in 1999 reached 220,000

many small farms and a few large

tons. Tea exports were valued at

estates. All coffee is marketed

$404.1 million in 2001, or nearly 18%

through the parastatal Coffee Board of

of total exports. The tea industry is

Ke nya . T h e s u s p e n s i o n o f t h e

divided between small farms and large

economic provisions of the

estates. The small-scale sector, with

International Coffee Agreement in

more than 260,000 farmers, is

July 1989 disrupted markets

controlled by the parastatal Kenya Tea

temporarily, driving coffee prices to

Development Authority. The estates,

historical lows.

consisting of 60–75 private

Kenyan horticulture has become

companies, operate on their own.

prominent in recent years, and is now

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

[11]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

The growing demand for "organic" and "natural" pesticides has increased international demand for pyrethrin, despite the existence of synthetic chemical substitutes. Kenya also produces sisal, tobacco, and bixa annatto (a natural food coloring agent) for export.

Other important crops in 1999 were sugarcane, 5,200,000 tons; corn, 2,110,000 tons; wheat, 135,000 tons; rice, 40,000 tons; and cotton, 5,000 tons. Smallholders grow most of the corn and also produce significant quantities of potatoes, beans, peas, sorghum, sweet potatoes, cassava, bananas, and oilseeds.

July - August 2016

Market Information the quality of their land.

Organic farming can help to both feed the world and preserve wildland. In a study published this year, researchers modeled 500 food production scenarios to see if we can feed an estimated world population of 9.6 billion people in 2050 without expanding the area of farmland we already use. They found that enough food could be produced with lower-yielding organic farming, if people become vegetarians or eat a more plant-based diet with lower meat consumption. The existing farmland can feed that many people if they are all

Can we feed 10 billion people on organic farming alone?

In 1971, then US Secretary of

With organic agriculture,

Agriculture Earl Butz uttered these

vegan, a 94% success rate if they are vegetarian, 39% with a completely organic diet, and 15% with the Western-style diet based on meat.

Realistically, we can't expect everyone to forgo meat. Organic isn't the only sustainable option to conventional farming either. Other viable types of farming exist, such as integrated farming where you blend organic with

environmental costs tend to be lower

conventional practices or grass-fed

unsympathetic words: “Before we go

and the benefits greater. Biodiversity

livestock systems.

back to organic agriculture in this

loss, environmental degradation and

Scaling up organic agriculture with

country, somebody must decide which

severe impacts on ecosystem services

appropriate public policies and private

50 million Americans we are going to

– which refer to nature's support of

investment is an important step for

let starve or go hungry.” Since then,

wildlife habitat, crop pollination, soil

global food and ecosystem security.

critics have continued to argue that

health and other benefits – have not

The challenge facing policymakers is to

organic agriculture is inefficient,

only accompanied conventional

develop government policies that

requiring more land than conventional

farming systems, but have often

support conventional farmers

agriculture to yield the same amount

extended well beyond the boundaries

converting to organic systems. For the

of food. Proponents have countered

of their fields, such as fertilizer runoff

private business sector, investing in

that increasing research could reduce

into rivers.

organics offers a lot of entrepreneurial

the yield gap, and organic agriculture

Overall, organic farms tend to have

opportunities and is an area of budding

generates environmental, health and

better soil quality and reduce soil

growth that will likely continue for years

socioeconomic benefits that can't be

erosion compared to their

to come.

found with conventional farming.

conventional counterparts. Organic

In a time of increasing population

Organic agriculture occupies only 1%

agriculture generally creates less soil

growth, climate change and

of global agricultural land, making it a

and water pollution and lower

environmental degradation, we need

relatively untapped resource for one of

greenhouse gas emissions, and is

agricultural systems that come with a

the greatest challenges facing

more energy efficient. Organic

more balanced portfolio of

humanity: producing enough food for

agriculture is also associated with

sustainability benefits. Organic farming

a population that could reach 10 billion

g r e a t e r b i o d i ve r s i ty o f p l a n t s ,

is one of the healthiest and strongest

by 2050, without the extensive

animals, insects and microbes as well

sectors in agriculture today and will

deforestation and harm to the wider

as genetic diversity.

continue to grow and play a larger part

environment.

Despite lower yields, organic

in feeding the world. It produces

In addition, organic farming delivers

agriculture is more profitable (by

adequate yields and better unites

equally or more nutritious foods that

22–35%) for farmers because

human health, environment and

contain less or no pesticide residues,

consumers are willing to pay more.

socioeconomic objectives than

and provide greater social benefits

These higher prices essentially

conventional farming.

than their conventional counterparts.

compensate farmers for preserving

July - August 2016

[12]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

Market Information

Food industry’s support to African farmers reaps benefits For the past five years, Farm Africa's

But once the Olympic-sized pool had

ground, they're free to start using the

Food for Good campaign has been

been dug and the 90 beehives built,

honey and wax to build up their own

working to bring the food industry

what happened next? Were these

incomes. And female fish farmers have

together to help build a brighter future

projects really going to build long-

benefitted too – the chairwoman of one

for African farmers. And a recent

term prosperity, or just short-term

farming group told The Grocer that her

report by The Grocer shows that this

publicity?

fish income had enabled her to send her

kind of support really can make a

Two years later, The Grocer reports

grandson to school.

difference to farmers' lives.

that both businesses are flourishing.

Farm Africa's CEO, Nicolas Mounard,

In 2013, a group of 14 senior women

That first fishpond has made enough

welcomed the progress made.

from the UK food industry travelled out

money to fund six more, and the

'Beekeeping in the Nou Forest in

to eastern Africa to help a Kenyan

original 90 beehives have grown to

Tanzania and fish farming in Kenya are

community dig their very first fish

become 165.

two great success stories. And they are

pond. They returned to Africa in 2015,

This has been particularly important

examples of how food businesses have

to help build beehives for a village on

for local women in Tanzania, who were

the power to lift smallholder farmers

the outskirts of the Nou Forest in

previously prohibited by local custom

out of poverty, while conserving the

Tanzania.

from climbing trees to access hanging

environment for generations to come.'

beehives. But with beehives on the www.farmersreviewafrica.com

[13]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

July - August 2016

Stainless steel:

A sustainable material for dairy farming Dairying has been an agricultural

consumer, milk comes into contact

fall into one of the following three

practice since people first started

with the walls of the equipment in

categories:

domesticating animals. Milk and dairy

which it is being processed or

products are a vital part of the diet for

transported. The final product must

Chemical, bacteriological and

many people. They contain most of the

reach the consumer meticulously

organoleptic neutrality with regard

basic elements necessary for children

clean and free from all germs. It is for

to the food product.

to grow and are an important part of

this reason that the dairy industry has

People are more aware than ever of the

the human diet.

employed stainless steel for more

impact of the materials used to

The progress in dairy science and

than sixty years. The compact and

manufacture and transport food.

technology has increased the level of

smooth surface of stainless steel

Certain materials are widely distrusted

hygiene required during the

prevents bacterial contamination and

because of problems with pollution,

manufacture of dairy products in order

facilitates cleaning and disinfection.

to preserve their nutrients. The modern dairy industry requires the use

allergies and the volume of technical, scientific and medical information

Why Stainless Steel?

available.

of cleanable, corrosion-resistant

The development of stainless steel in

A number of studies have found that

stainless steel equipment to meet the

the food industry is explained by the

stainless has no adverse effects on

needs of milk product consumers

fact that it corresponds exactly to the

human health, despite its wide and

everywhere.

requirements expected of materials in

lengthy use in fields such as food,

On its journey from the farm to the

contact with food. The requirements

health and human hygiene. Stainless

July - August 2016

[14]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

steel is a stable homogeneous alloy

chloride content and temperature.

composed principally of iron,

The corrosion resistance of stainless

manufactured in the Netherlands and

chromium (13 to 30%) and nickel (0 to

steel is very important when it is being

produced from 100% polished stainless

25%).

cleaned or disinfected.

steel.

When a piece of stainless steel

For more than 70 years, Mueller has

Cleaning and disinfection

equipment is being cleaned in place,

been a reliable, global partner for both

the rest. Mueller milk cooling tanks are

Cleaning involves the elimination of

only products that are highly alkaline

milk producers and the dairy

both visible and invisible

or acid should be used to obtain

processing industry. Especially in

contamination that adheres to the

perfect hygienic conditions. Stainless

upcoming dairy markets, the company

surface of a material. However,

steels' exceptional resistance to

is active in supporting local milk

cleaning does not necessarily destroy

corrosion of has enabled the dairy

processors, farmer groups,

the micro-organisms that are present

industry to develop widely and rapidly.

governmental and non-governmental

on the material. Full bacteriological

Stainless behaves quite neutrally and

organizations to optimize the cold

cleanliness is obtained only after

does not alter the taste of fresh milk.

storage chains for dairy products.

surfaces are disinfected. Disinfection

Other factors also contribute towards

Mueller is part of several Dairy

aims to reduce the microbial

making stainless steel the preferred

Development Programs.

population on a surface to a level that

material for the entire food processing

Over the years, Mueller has been

is compatible with satisfactory hygiene

industry. These include its mechanical

involved in the development of several

practice and prevents contamination

characteristics, expansion coefficient,

raw milk cooling solutions, such as Milk

of the food.

thermal conductivity and ease of use.

Collection Centers, the Solar Cooler and

The sustainability of stainless is a

the Biogas Milk Chiller.

Durability and Corrosion

good sales argument. A milk-cooling

Resistance

tank is used for many years. The bulk

Milk Collection Centers

Chromium, a component of stainless

handling of milk is the process of

In Uganda, Mueller takes part in a dairy

steel, forms a protective oxide

cooling and storing farm-produced

value chain project that aims at

compound on the surface of the metal.

milk in refrigerated stainless steel

strengthening the technical skills and

Known as a passive film, this layer

tanks prior to collection and

commercial negotiating capacity of

slows and even prevents corrosion.

transportation to the processing plant

dairy cooperatives. Together with

If the surface of the metal is damaged,

by tank trucks.

It has a number of

distributor Inndigo, as well as other

the passive film reconstitutes

advantages over the old-fashioned

local partners, Mueller has set up about

spontaneously at room temperature

system of milk churns.

through the reaction of the chromium with water and oxygen. The stability of

Testimonial from Mueller

the passive layer is the determining factor that ensures stainless steels

100 Milk Collection Centers, where milk is centrally collected, cooled and stored under conditioned circumstances.

With the collection centers, a new cold

Raw Milk Cooling Solutions for

chain is being realized, cost-effective

resist corrosion. Stability can be

Upcoming Dairy Markets

and energy-efficient, increasing the

affected by the nature of the corrosive

The Mueller milk cooling tank is at the

price farmers are getting. In addition,

environment.

core of the company's extensive range

the dairy cooperatives will experience

This includes the oxidising power of

of dairy products. Manufacturing

less spoilage and better milk quality as

the material that comes into contact

quality, finish and cooling efficiency

milk is chilled in 3-4 hours rather than

with the stainless, its acidity level,

ensures that Mueller stands out from

the usual 10 hours. The collection

Milk churns in solar cooler

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

[15]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

July - August 2016

centers play an important role in the

cows) were not able to deliver and sell

on developing the 10 liter Biogas Milk

transition period from small scale

their evening milk. Due to a lack of

Chiller. This chiller provides off-grid

individual household farmer (< 5

knowledge of post-harvest practices,

biogas-powered milk cooling on-farm,

cows) towards a commercial dairy

combined with poor infrastructure and

allowing smallholder farmers without

family farmer (> 30 cows) equipped

no storage facilities, there is at least

access to electricity to store, deliver

with its own milk cooling tank solution.

40% waste in the fresh-produce

and sell their milk. With this cooling

Mueller has a wide experience in

supply chains in developing countries.

solution, milk spoilage is eliminated

setting up collection points in Asia,

Cold storage chains for dairy products

and the income of small-scale dairy

Africa and Eastern Europe. Always

in rural areas would have a

farmers is increased.

cooperating with local distributors,

tremendously positive effect on the

The Biogas Milk Chiller can be seen at

government

and/or

non-

income generated by smallholder

the African Dairy Conference and

governmental organizations. The

farmers.

Exhibition this year and will be

company can also provide technical

Together with its partners and local

implemented in Kenya, Tanzania, and

assistance, location evaluation and

Ethiopian entrepreneurs, Mueller

Zambia by the end of 2016. Later,

identiďŹ cation and collection point set

developed the Solar Cooler: an off-

expansion to Rwanda will follow. In July

up.

grid milk cooler for churns that runs

2016, the Biogas Milk Chiller was

on solar power. The ďŹ rst prototype

awarded with a prize. The cooling

Solar Cooler

was installed in December 2012.

system was one of the 400 (!) entries

In 2011, Mueller was asked to

Recently, the company launched the

for the OpenIDEO Amplify Challenge

participate in a partnership with the

ďŹ nal version, which will be shown at

'How might we improve the livelihoods

BoP Innovation Center and LEI

the AfDa in Rwanda.

of small-scale farmers by reducing food

Wageningen University. The goal was

waste and spoilage'. Winning the award

to come up with a milk cooling solution

Biogas Cooler

means that SimGas, the main

for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia,

In 2013, Simgas, the BoP Innovation

contractor, will receive extra money to

where small scale farmers (1 or 2

Centre, SNV and Mueller collaborated

optimize the cooler.

Market Information

Dairy flavours and ingredients Milk's organoleptic properties

classes continue to develop a taste for

ZUEGG COM – Creating market leaders in Food & Beverage

combined with its healthy halo make

fruit yogurts, Africa's yogurt

dairy products a desirable ingredient in

producers need to keep pace with this

Zuegg Com, a northern Italian firm with

all types of foods. Formulators seeking

increase in demand by investing in

a mission to help Africa's food &

dairy flavour profiles not only

new technologies, R&D and establish

beverage companies realise their true

formulate with the “real” thing in order

new relationships within the global

potential, has found a solution to this

to make claims such as “made with

supply chain. Only such investments

problem by creating a type of fruit

cheddar cheese” or “contains real

will allow them to benefit from the

preparation that does not require a

milk,” they will often include dairy

strong growth of demand for quality

cooled supply chain and can be stored

ingredients designed to provide a

fruit yogurts in their home markets.

at room temperature. Zuegg Com's

boost of dairy top notes. Sometimes

Unfortunately for many yogurt

fruit preparation is easy to use as it

such dairy flavours are even used in

producers the issues of handling the

simply needs to be mixed with the white

applications where dairy is not a

fruit preparations that are required

yogurt in order to create a high quality

characterizing flavour, but without the

when creating fruit yogurts are too

fruit yogurt with real fruit content. This

dairy ingredient, the overall flavour

complex and they are unable to

major breakthrough finally allows

does not taste complete.

benefit from their customer base's

African yogurt producers to supply their

The ingredients likely would not be

demand, leaving the market to foreign

local customers with a real range of

consumed alone, as their concentrated

imports.

fruit yogurts and benefit from their

sensory profile may be overwhelming.

Complications arise mostly from the

home market's strong growth.

When used in food products, they

fact that a key requirement for

Lukas Zuegg of Zuegg Com has told

deliver either very distinguishable

handling the fruit preparation is

Fa r m e r s Re v i e w A f r i c a t h a t h i s

flavor profiles, such as buttery, creamy

missing in local markets – a cooled

company is already receiving very

and cheesy, or provide subtle dairy

supply chain. This cooled supply chain

strong interest from the entire

notes, including astringency, moldy or

is what keeps the fruit preparation

continent and is looking forward to

pungent.

from spoiling during transport,

helping African yogurt producers, from

Dairy-derived flavours are as varied as

storage and production at the factory.

small farmers' collectives to large

their applications. They may be

Furthermore, as fruit processors are

corporations, to benefit from the strong

liquids, powders, pastes or slurries.

used to sell large volumes, they will

growth in their markets and create real

Sometimes they appear on ingredient

not satisfy many producers

local value by using this new fruit

statements as “flavour,” while other

'requirements for smaller volumes to

p r e p a ra t i o n . M r. Z u e g g w i l l b e

times the flavouring may include dried

test the market. This poses a major

presenting this new product, together

whole dairy products, such as yogurt,

problem for many African yogurt

with the company's other products for

and may be labelled on ingredient

producers, especially smaller

the food and beverage sector at this

statements as “yogurt powder.”

producers like farmer's collectives and

year's African Dairy Conference and

In 2015, African fruit yogurt

they are forced to continue making

Exhibition, which will take place in Kigali at the end of August.

consumption has reached record levels

flavoured yogurt by using only

- and 2016 is likely to surpass this

flavours and food colouring but no real

again. As Africa's urbanising middle

fruit.

July - August 2016

[18]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

CD 996 - ZA du Champ Pourceau 21380 Messigny et Vantoux - France + 33 3 80 48 60 16 contact@ecolacteo.com www.ecolacteo.com

Market Information

Partnership to advance connectivity for farmers In an effort to provide rural farming

house an already successful business

and therefore require efďŹ cient

communities with world-class

providing their services in Gauteng,

telecommunication technology, which

communications systems, AgriSA and

Mpumalanga, Northwest, KwaZulu-

AliSom can provide. One of these

AliSom Communications, a Vodacom

Natal, and Limpopo. This includes a

technologies is the VSAT (very small

national partner, has signed an

number of Vodacom shop franchises

aperture terminal), which is based on a

agreement that will bring cellular and

and corporate divisions in these

satellite system and, therefore, works

internet services closer to farming

provinces. They are also able to assist

best in cases where more traditional

communities and agribusinesses.

farming communities from other

methods of communication are

AliSom will assist the farming

provinces. AliSom is one of Vodacom's

problematic, due to difďŹ cult access.

community with a personal touch by

national partners and is, therefore,

Through this technology, farming

providing direct access to these

able to offer a wide variety of

communities can gain access to the

services so that they will not need to go

Vodacom products such as mobile,

internet and telephone services.

through a call center to resolve a

data and ďŹ xed-line facilities, including

The company believes that agriculture

query, acquire new services or

detailed business solutions, cell phone

is a critical sector to stimulate economic

upgrading on existing packages.

packages, and internet connectivity.

and rural development and in signing

AliSom will be able to assist the

One of Agri SA's aims is to improve

this agreement the company will also

farming community with leading edge

communication infrastructure to the

contribute to the Agri Securitas Trust

technology in the cellular, data and

farming community with leading edge

Fund to improve the safety of the

internet space. The company was

technology. Farming entities must use

farming community.

established in 2009 as the entity to

technology to sustain their businesses

July - August 2016

[22]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

Market Information

Pioneer is growing its hybrid corn seed scheme further into Africa Dupont's Pioneer unit hopes to expand its hybrid corn

financing for farmers.

seed partnership with African governments and aid

"We have to work very closely with governments," he

groups, to Tanzania, after setting up programmes for

said. "It's programmes like Amsap for example, that are

farmers to use its seed in Ethiopia and Zambia.

proof points" for the use of hybrid seed.

In Ethiopia in 2013, Pioneer, the biggest supplier of

Dupont, through its Pioneer and Pannar units, is trying to

hybrid corn seeds in Africa, partnered with the

expand its seed business in Africa, where there are about

government and the US Agency for International

35-million hectares of land under corn with an average

Development, and there are now 300,000ha growing

yield of less than two tonnes per hectare, he said. That

corn using the seed.

was less than third of the average productivity of US corn

In February, the programme was rolled out in Zambia

farms.

and the company hopes to complete talks with Tanzania

"We have had conversation(s) in Ghana about the same

this year and launch the programme next year, Prabdeep

deal," Bajwa said. The governments are becoming more

Bajwa, the African regional business director for Pioneer,

receptive."

said in an interview in Bloomberg's Johannesburg office

While genetically modified corn seed is used in SA, it is

last Friday. The programme includes training and

not permitted elsewhere on the continent, boosting the potential for hybrid seed, Bajwa said.

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

[23]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

July - August 2016

Market Information

Endress+Hauser provides increased quality with inline measurements Reduce production down time, off-spec product and time-consuming manual sampling in food plants with inline instrumentation Food plant managers are faced with many challenges today. Depending on the product being made, they may have to meet the requirements of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), European Union (EU), and an alphabet soup of other agencies and regulations. These regulations specify proper ingredients, chemical and biological hazards, procedures and sanitary conditions.

Food plant managers also have to meet the expectations of consumers for proper taste and texture. On top of the obvious food safety and product quality challenges, a plant manager also needs to address operational issues and goals such as product loss reductions and the need to reduce operating and maintenance costs.

C u r r e n t l y, f o o d p l a n t s r e l y o n l a b o ra t o r y a n a l y s i s o f s a m p l e s collected manually to ensure product quality at various points in a process.

Lab technicians periodically grab a sample, hurry back to the lab for a quick analysis, and communicate the result to plant personnel. Operators and maintenance personnel then make adjustments and corrections to try to improve control of the process.

The challenge with relying on lab analyses is that it's not done in real time. It is also time-consuming and labour intensive and the possibility for manual errors exits. If it takes 30 minutes to grab a sample and analyse July - August 2016

it, then the result represents where the process was 30 minutes ago. The result could be a spoiled batch. If the measurement had been done inline, a sudden deviation would be detected, allowing for instant corrective action that could save the batch.

Taking samples from the process for analysis in the plant's lab is the tried-andtrue method for ensuring quality control.

It's also expensive and not a real-time measurement

[24]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

Instrumentation can be used for online quality control to enable immediate corrective actions, and supplement or replace laboratory testing.

Inline analysers are nowadays available for many of the common measurements being performed in labs. Using inline analysers helps management deal with many issues.

For example, the amount of disinfectant used on a hydro cooker for canned food needs to be closely controlled to ensure food safety, as overdosing can cause corrosion and waste of chemicals, while too little can compromise food safety.

Inline analysers can also help cut expenses, helping save on huge amounts on chemical costs. By measuring phase separation between the product, water and CIP detergent in the line, operators were able to determine when the prerinse and CIP are complete, instead of relying on timing and lab measurements. This translates into savings on chemical costs, reduced energy and water usage, increased equipment availability for processing and higher quality.

Some online instrumentation also have the added beneďŹ t of multiple measurements, like a Coriolis ďŹ&#x201A;owmeter. Endress+Hausers' Promass I is the only Coriolis ďŹ&#x201A;owmeter that can measure in-line viscosity for control

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

Market Information purposes. It can measure a number of parameters simultaneously, often eliminating the need for multiple instruments.

The viscosity option provides continuous measurement to minimise off-spec product between lab measurements.

The Promass I's highly accurate measurement of mass flow and density (up to 0.05% on mass flow and 0.0005g/ cm3 for density) makes it ideal for many process control applications. The flowmeter's density function can also be used to measure Brix and Plato for example, to ensure quality of batches.

Viscosity measurement with a Coriolis flowmeter

Of course Inline analysers are nothing new. Many of these measurements have been available for several years and used for traditional process control. What's new today is increased

reliability, along with new features and capabilities: Improved Reliability: Experiences in the industry with analysers have been mixed. Trying to apply equipment designed for use in the lab directly in a process usually led to disappointments. Wash-down, high temperatures, aggressive cleaning chemicals and other environmental factors often resulted in equipment failures and maintenance nightmares.

These problems have been rectified by designing analysers and other inline instrumentation from the ground up for use on the plant floor and in the field.

Simplified Calibration: With the expansion of digital sensor technology, the lab can now take responsibility for calibration of quality-related measurements. For example, to calibrate a pH sensor in the past, calibration equipment had to be brought into the plant. Today, this calibration can be done in the lab in a controlled environment, and the precalibrated sensors can be easily placed in operation. Endress+Hauser Memosens® technology make this possible for pH, DO, conductivity, turbidity, chlorine and many other parameters.

Hygienic design: One of the limiting factors for inline

quality monitoring has been the lack of instruments meeting hygienic design requirements and resistant to thermal processing and CIP chemicals. Today, most instruments meet with EHEDG or 3-A sanitary standards and are designed for use in the food industry.

An example is pH measurement, which most people associate with glass sensors—a big problem in food processing as glass sensors can break and end up as foreign objects in the final product. Now there are reliable non-glass pH sensors that meet food processing requirements.

Modern inline process analysers and instruments will provide you with increased product quality, more plant availability, reduced production losses and off-spec product. Moving from offline to inline measurement means a reduction in resource costs, consistency of product quality and availability of real-time information, which results in increased quality and greater throughput.

For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/29d3QDl Enquiries: Natlee Chetty Industry Manager: Food & Beverage Endress+Hauser (Pty) Ltd Tel: (011) 262 8000

Mobilising investment and finance for Africa's agri sector investable option for investors and

participate in a number of interactive panel

Wesgro and the Western Cape Department

financiers. Agriculture has been identified

discussions as well as in the “Investment

of Agriculture brings the African Agri

The African Agri-Council in partnership with

as a long-term opportunity to increase

Discovery Matchmaking” sessions where

Investment Indaba (AAII), to Cape Town,

investors' allocation to real assets and

project owners and directors looking for

South Africa 28 – 30 November 2016.

The Indaba is a key meeting place for

the agribusiness value chain need to be

investors will get the opportunity to pitch a

ready to take advantage of the

robust panel of investors - a highlight of the

investment in Africa's agricultural and agroprocessing sectors attracting over 600 international investors, bankers, governments, farmers, project owners.

This unique mix of decision makers from across the African agri value-chain provides a convenient platform for effective deal making “As the world looks to Africa as a solution to global food security concerns, the continents' agri sector is fast becoming the panacea of the investment world especially with the recent decline in commodity investment returns. The agriculture sector is yielding exceptionally exciting opportunities and pipelines. Food security is now being translated into an

disruption.”says Ben Leyka, Executive

Indaba.

Director of the African Agri Council who

Some of the heavyweight finance and

organises the event.

investment companies already on board

Delegates will have the opportunity to

include Acorn Private Equity, Thebe

hear from 40 world class Agri experts

Investment Corporation, JIC Holdings,

such as Dr.John Purchase the CEO of

Octopus Investments, FNB to name a few.

Agricultural Business Chamber; Dr. Yemi

“We are building a platform where delegates

Akinbamijo the Executive Director of

can do more to accelerate investment into

Ghana's Forum for Agricultural Research

t h i s

s e c t o r,”

s a y s

L e y k a .

in Africa; Mohsin Cajee the Investment

The African Agri Investment Indaba is a

Principal of Old Mutual Private Equity,

must attend for any organisation and

Old Mutual Investment Group and Stefan

investor involved or interested in the African

Sakoschek the Regional Director of EU

agri sector, whether seasoned or new

Chamber of Commerce and Industry in

entrant. Delegates can expect a number of

Southern Africa and many more.

opportunities to network with and learn from

In addition, attendees will get to

industry heavyweights and pioneers to transform new ideas into action.

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

[25]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

July - August 2016

Market Information

Precision farmingthe way to go for Africa

July - August 2016

It is not wise and sustainable to

farming solutions for Africa: the next

continue practising conventional

driver for African agriculture” on 13 July

a g r i c u l t u ra l m e t h o d s , s u c h a s

2016, recommended farmers to use soil

ploughing and loosening the soil

management techniques such as

before planting as it puts stress on

conservation agriculture to increase

land resources and is worsened by

productivity as that reduces soil

effects of climate change, says global

disturbance, permanent soil cover and

agricultural experts who convened in

crop rotation.

Brussels, Belgium, last week.

One of the critical aspects of precision

The meeting brought together

farming is to make technology available

participants from the ACP-EU

to small-scale producers and help them

(Caribbean and Pacific countries and

to manage their farms more efficiently.

the European Union) technical centre

Precision agriculture (PA) or satellite

for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation

farming or site specific crop

(CTA), the European Commission, the

management (SSCM) is a farming

EU Presidency, the ACP Group,

management concept based on

Concord, and other partners on key

observing, measuring and responding

issues and challenges for rural

to inter- and intra-field variability in

development in the context of EU-ACP

crops.

cooperation.

African farmers, machinery company

The participants, who attended the

representatives with field experience as

meeting titled “Affordable smart

well as experts from international

[26]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

Market Information institutions committed in enhancing

impact of globalisation on small-scale

sustainable farming systems in Africa

producers, opportunities and

also attended the meeting, which

challenges posed by biofuels.

focussed on how affordable and smart

But technological developments have

technology solutions are gaining

transformed the agricultural

ground among African growers; what

landscape in Africa with smart farming

changes and benefits IT tools can bring

tools, which have increased the

to farming communities in Africa and

quality and quantity of agricultural

successful public-private partnerships

production and made farms more

t h a t a r e h e l p i n g i n a d va n c i n g

“intelligent”.

agricultural strategies in the ACP

Speaking at the event, Jean-Pierre

countries.

Halkin, Head of Unit, Rural

For more than 10 000 years, farmers

Development, Food & Nutrition

have cultivated crops using trial and

Security, Europeaid and the European

error, received wisdom and how the

Commission, said that the session was

soil feels when they rub it between

important because rural development

their fingers and it is only until recently

is important in the European Union

that mechanisation revolutionised the

development policy.

countryside with machinery and

He added that food security was also

Eyecrop device

replaced horses with tractors.

an important factor on the EU

Josef Kienzle, Agricultural Engineer

A new farming revolution triggered by

development agenda, which is why

Plant Production and Protection

the adoption of staggering new

they have decided to have

Division Food and Agriculture

technologies, such as satellites, high-

cooperation with emerging economies

Organization of the United Nations, said

precision positioning systems, smart

and offer assistance to Africa.

that there were mechanisation myths

sensors and a range of IT applications

“Farmers need to have access to new

about conservation agriculture, in that

combined with high-tech engineering

technology and to innovative

it creates rural unemployment; leads to

have emerged.

approaches,” he emphasised, saying

monoculture and industrial farming; it

Furthermore, the participants also

that one of the EU's objectives is

is only for large-scale farmers; it does

discussed issues on smart-farming,

sustainable agriculture as it provides

not conserve natural resources and is

such as trends and new opportunities

long-term solutions.

not climate-smart.

benefiting small-holders, the future of

According to Halkin, more than 70

In contrast, Kienzle said that

precision farming for farmers in Africa,

percent of jobs in Africa are in

conservation agriculture increases

financing African agriculture and

agriculture and it is therefore

productivity, timeliness and incomes;

agribusiness development and

important to use that potential to

reduces drudgery; enables improved

upscaling agribusiness successes in

generate jobs “so that the children of

resource use efficiency; provides

Africa.

today's farmers have an opportunity

employment opportunities and new

There is a growing number of

for a brighter future”.

skills development and has the

challenges, which have impacted on

He stressed the importance of the EU

potential to reverse migration; and

the agricultural and rural sector of the

to assist farmers' organisations in

provides opportunities for rural

ACP countries, including climate

Africa so that they can enhance policy

entrepreneurial activities and business

change, migration, low interest and

dialogue with their governments and

models, among others.

funding of the agriculture sector and

the private sector.

low priority to rural development,

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

[27]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

July - August 2016

Market Information

UN urges La Niña

preparedness in Africa More than 60mn people have been affected by El Niño

number of people affected by the combined impacts of

and many more are highly vulnerable to La Niña's likely

the El Niño/La Niña could top 100mn.

knock-on effect, a meeting of UN agencies at the FAO

Participants at the meeting noted that almost US$4bn is

headquarters revealed.

required to meet the humanitarian demands of El Niño-

In wake of the devastating effects of El Niño, United

affected countries and that almost 80 per cent of this is

Nations leaders called for combined efforts by

for food security and agricultural needs.

governments and the international community to prevent

The meeting announced that the FAO, IFAD and WFP are

human suffering, strengthen resilience and safeguard

redoubling efforts to mitigate the negative impacts and

livelihoods.

capitalise on positive opportunities of a likely La Niña

More than 60mn people worldwide, about 40mn in East

phenomenon by acting decisively to prepare for above-

and Southern Africa alone, are projected to be food

average rainfall in some areas and potential drought

insecure due to the impact of the El Niño climate event.

conditions in others.

The Horn of Africa and Southern Africa have been hit the

Participants noted that in southern Africa a three-month

hardest in the continent.

'window of opportunity' exists before the 2016/17

The heads of the three Rome-based UN agencies, FAO,

planting season begins and that adequate interventions,

IFAD and WFP, urged greater preparedness to deal with

including agricultural input distributions are urgently

the possible occurrence later this year of a La Niña

needed to avoid the dependence of millions of rural

climate event, which could lead to above average rainfall

families on humanitarian assistance programmes well

and flooding in areas affected by El Niño-related drought.

into 2018.

The UN estimates that without the necessary action, the www.farmersreviewafrica.com

[29]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

July - August 2016

Business Profile Eureka Construction owner Koos Theunissen and Raymon

SEW-EURODRIVE and Eureka Construction partnership - 36 years and counting For more than three decades, milling industries across

Theunissen says all of Eureka Construction's motors are

Africa have relied on dependable equipment manufactured

supplied by SEW-EURODRIVE. “We have received excellent

by Eureka Construction, which has been making use of

service from SEW-EURODRIVE since day one with regard to

SEW-EURODRIVE motors since being established in 1980.

delivery times and aftersales support.

Free State-based Eureka Construction has a team of 25

“SEW-EURODRIVE also boasts a far greater variety of

employees, specialising in the manufacture of milling

products of the highest internationally-recognised quality.

equipment, including conveyors, elevators, chain

As a result, we make regular purchases with SEW-

conveyors for the wheat and maize industries, and

EURODRIVE, the most recent being an order for 23 various

specialised conveyors and cake breakers for the palm oil

SEW geared motors,” he continues.

industry.

According to Theunissen, steel availability is a challenge in

Eureka Construction owner Koos Theunissen notes that the

the industry that leads to delays. “The economic slowdown

company's wide product range is exported to high-profile

in South Africa is also a challenge. Despite these

clients in countries such as Lesotho, Zambia, the

challenges, we continue to perform strongly, and will

Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria and

continue to partner with SEW-EURODRIVE for the

Senegal. “Our clients include Afgri, Bokomo, Resulta,

foreseeable future,” he concludes.

Sasko, Premier and Tiger Brands,” he elaborates.

Conveyors and cake breakers for the palm oil industry

July - August 2016

SEW-EURODRIVE boasts a greater variety of products internationally reco...

[30]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

Free State-based Eureka Construction

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

Ideas & Innovation

13m cows, one app: the city slickers selling cattle via 'crowd-farming' From the windows of the slick office,

thinking.”

hectares of farmland. About 10% of

Ntuthuko Shezi sees the gleaming

His idea was a simple one, stemming

them have already been bought, by

tower blocks and upmarket malls of

from the fact that it is almost

investors all over South Africa but

the new business district of

impossible for any single investor to

also further afield in Europe and the

Johannesburg. But his thoughts are

buy, care for and earn money from

US.

further afield: on a farm 250 miles

cattle. Pasture, a farm, the requisite

The investor buys a cow for about

(400km) away by the banks of Blood

skills and the means to have the

10,500 rand (£550). They then pay a

river in the verdant hills of rural

animal slaughtered and the meat sold

monthly fee of 225 rand for its

KwaZulu-Natal.

are all required.

upkeep plus a small insurance fee.

Shezi is the founder and chief

But there are a lot of South Africans

The cows are sold already in calf, or

executive of Livestock Wealth, a South

who, like Shezi, remember how their

pregnant, and will produce a calf a

African startup that uses digital

parents or grandparents owned cows

year on average. These are sold to an

technology to allow the newly wealthy

and would want to themselves, both

abattoir when seven months old.

in the country's rapidly expanding

for sentimental reasons and sound

Depending on the market price of

cities to invest in a traditional

financial ones. Shezi believes he has

beef, the investor should be in profit

commodity: cattle.

found a way to allow them to do so.

after about two years.

“It was very rural where I grew up. I

“I'm calling it 'crowd-farming',” says

The cows have a life expectancy of

fetched water from a river,” Shezi says.

the former strategy consultant and

about eight years, when they are

“My grandparents owned a couple of

serial entrepreneur. “It would have

sold for meat. Shezi says he will

cows. Cattle were also like a walking

been impossible 20 years ago.”

replace them on their death. The

bank. The cows were the bedrock of

Last year Shezi launched his company

cows can be sold at any time, and

the family's finances. And that got me

with a herd of 800 cows on 2,500

there is even insurance.

July - August 2016

[32]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

But there is more to Livestock Wealth than profitable returns. The company tries to give the customer a direct connection with the animal, and the experience of farming. The website and a mobile app enable an investor to “manage” a cow remotely and share recent pictures, weight and pregnancy status on social media. Investors get new data on their cow uploaded at least once a month.

“We are offering something much more than an ordinary investment,” Shezi says. “The market is people who understand the value and pride of owning cattle. We are using SMS, emails, our own app on a daily basis to tell about the state of the grazing, how much rain we are getting, how their

traditionally been a measure of

with significant surplus income, as well

cow is feeling, how their calf is doing.

prosperity – and power. For millions of

as many with more modest assets who

You are far away but emotionally

people cattle still remain the most

are looking for a safe investment. The

there.”

valuable possession and primary

key to Livestock Wealth in terms of

There are 13m head of cattle in South

economic asset. Globally the market

marketing are “the nostalgic but

Africa. Half remain on poor land, often

for meat, particularly beef, has been

entrepreneurial, urbanised new South

communally held, and are managed in

driven by increased demand from

African middle class”.

small herds by people who are

China, and other developing

“The whole project came out of my

otherwise very poor. The rest are

countries. South Africans are eating

personal frustration in trying to invest

found on commercial farms, which

more beef, too.

in the stock market, and pick shares,”

often lie on the best pastures, as a

The South African economy is

says Shezi. “I was thinking: 'What is a

result of colonial land grabs and the

flagging, with negative growth in

simple, easy way to grow my own

apartheid system.

recent months. Unemployment is

money?'. My thinking always came

Across Africa, owning cattle has

high, but there are also lots of people

back to the cow.”

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

[33]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

July - August 2016

Ideas & Innovation

Solar powered pumps reduce irrigation costs Water has been a critical lifeline for

can survive and produce enough to

pump is often the best option for

farmers as a day without proper

feed them.

reducing cost and labor.

irrigation can damage crop quality and

Small farm productivity can be

yields.

doubled through making available

Affordable Solar Powered Pumps

There are several methods for

irrigation water which does not rely on

for Poor Farmers

pumping water in remote areas, such

engine pumps (UN FAO), this is by

Companies, such as Futurepump Ltd

as windmills, gas/diesel pumps, and

decoupling volumes of irrigation water

solve this problem by selling robust,

ram pumps. But most of these options

pumped from volumes of gasoline or

portable, solar pumps to those farmers

are either too expensive to install, or

diesel fuel consumed.

in need.

for fuel and maintenance, or require

Solar water pumps are a cost-

A solar pump encourages smart

speciďŹ c site conditions to operate.

effective and dependable method for

farming practices and makes the most

Smallholder farmers have been

providing water in situations where

use of the water available in a

affected by drought for many years,

water resources are spread over long

sustainable way. The FAO states that

something which is only going to

distances; power lines are few or non-

improved water management through

increase with climate change. The

existent; or fuel and maintenance

sustainable irrigation and small, low-lift

challenge we face is that water is often

costs are considerable.

pumps holds the key to producing

in the wrong quantities or quality in the

Solar pumps can work for most

enough food to alleviate food

wrong place and at the wrong time!

locations and are at full capacity when

shortages.

These farmers often struggle to meet

needed most: during warm, sunny

In many places, farmers are using

the cost demand of petrol for irrigation

days. In temperate regions, they can

expensive and inefďŹ cient petrol pumps

pumps or have to spend hours

be used year-roundâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;which can be

to irrigate their plots. These pumps

performing backbreaking manual

particularly helpful for potable water,

have a high extraction rate of water,

irrigation to ensure that their crops,

animal grazing, and other farming

some pumping over 300 L per minute!

which for many are their livelihood,

operations. For many sites, a solar

The SF1 solar pump from Futurepump

July - August 2016

[34]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

Ideas & Innovation

mitigates this problem with a more sustainable flowrate of around 30 L per hour in full sunshine. As the energy supply is free, the pump can be used all day at this lower rate. This allows the water source to recharge and encourages better resource management. The lower flow rate also aids efficient water application as, unlike a petrol pump, it is compatible with drip irrigation and sprinklers which are known to be twice, if not

Joshua Okundi demonstrating his solar pump

three times, more efficient at getting

manual irrigating and reducing this

value enabling asset; smallholder

water to the crop than traditional flood

burden increases time available for

farmers who would have previously

or furrow irrigation.

other domestic duties and study.

been unable to irrigate are able to

The SF1 solar pump has no fuel costs,

Farmer, Joshua Okundi, explains that

become business men and women with

is robust and requires little

he uses the income from his farm to

productive farms – a solar pump can be

maintenance. It is also autonomous,

pay school fees for his children which

life changing.

allowing users to productively work on

can be as much as 150,000 KES a

Irrigation for small-scale applications.

their farm whilst simultaneously

year.

With the recent reduction in the cost of

irrigating. Each of these increases

It has widely been reported that

PV modules, solar irrigation is fast

income, reduces monetary outgoings

'smallholders can feed the world'

becoming cost-effective. Solar pumps

and increases time available to those

(IFAD, 2011), but only if they have

are available that can move the larger

usually irrigating. It is often women

access to suitable technologies and

volumes of water needed for irrigation.

and children who undertake the task of

opportunities. The solar pump is a

I.T.S. Pumps & Seals –We keep you flowing All farm products have needs. Effective

items include rice, wheat, maize and

systems need to be implemented in

assist you and your requirements for a

even bananas. Without a good water

new pumps or mechanical seals.

order to ensure the successful growth

pump in these areas, the plants can

Should you have an existing pump or

of the produce items. Since many farm

rot and fail to yield amounts needed in

seal that you would like to replace.

fields are located in locations that have

order to make your efforts worthless.

The company has an extensive stock of

drastic changes in weather conditions,

I.T.S Pump & Seals not only supplies

mechanical seals including single and

it's important to have a good water

the appropriate water pump, but will

double cartridge seals and gland

pump in order to be sure that you and

also make sure that the implemented

packings, electric motors, pumps and

your products will be able to weather

system is successful. We will help you

spares. They also repair all types of

the storm.

oversee the operation, providing

pumps and electrical equipment in our

Water pumps are needed for irrigation

ongoing support, maintenance and

fully equipped workshop.

consulting services.

I.T.S main focus is on the Industrial and

and drainage systems as they are used for water management. Depending on

I.T.S. Pumps & Seals was established

A g r i c u l t u ra l m a r ke t . We s u p p l y

your individual needs, the water pump

in July 2009.

Mechanical Seals as well as Pumps, to

The company provide

will either remove large amounts from

world class products, excellent service

the Eastern Cape region, for CRI Pumps

the field or will make sure that large

and professionalism.

(Pty) Ltd, Rapid Allweiler Pumps (Pty)

amounts of water stay in the field for

With great experience in the pumps

Ltd and Seoca. Our other main

products that require it. Some of these

and seals industry, they are able to

suppliers are KSB Pumps, SPP Pumps, Inoxpa, Pentax, Ebara , and Vertix.

Business Profile

SKF South Africa appoints new authorised industrial distributor, enhances service delivery to customers SKF South Africa proudly announces

ensures close proximity to our

the appointment Bolt & Engineering

customer base. “This facilitates

locations through-out South Africa and

Distributors Group as an Authorised

effective planning and stock

the full SKF products and service

SKF Industrial Distributor.

management, while enhancing the

portfolio will be available to industrial

c o m p a n y o p e ra t e s f r o m e l e v e n

With this latest agreement SKF now

ability to service customers and end

customers in the respective branch

has 60 Industrial Authorised

users in the shortest possible time.

areas.

Distributors with an overall total of 169

This partnership with our customers

In closing, Theunissen advises

distributors located throughout

reduce asset down time, while

customers and end users to source SKF

Southern Africa. Alongside SKF's

maintaining the best possible

products through SKF authorised

Industrial Authorised Distributors,

p r o d u c t i o n l e ve l s , u p t i m e a n d

distributors only to safeguard product

Lubrication, Agricultural and Vehicle

customer performance and ultimately

authenticity. “Our customers can buy

Service Market Distributors also form

reduce total cost of ownership to our

with confidence from any one of our

part of SKF's comprehensive

customers.”

Authorised distributors, rest assured in

Authorised Distributor network.

The Bolt & Engineering Distributors

the knowledge that the products they

SKF Distribution Development

Group (B.E.D.), established in 1983,

purchase are of world-class quality.”

Manager, Anton Theunissen, explains

is a leading supplier of engineering

With over 100 year of knowledge and

that the recent expansion of the

related products to the construction

experience in rotating technology, SKF,

company's distributor network not

and mining industries. The Group's

together with its vast distributor

only allows its customers improved

national footprint spans Gauteng,

network, is perfectly positioned to offer

access to SKF product and services,

North West Province, Free State,

customers not merely a commodity sell

but that the strategic selection of SKF

Platinum Province, Western Cape,

but a holistic engineering solution for

Authorised Industrial Distributors

Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The

complete peace of mind.

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

[37]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

July - August 2016

Cropping

Canola production in South Africa Farmer's Review Africa speaks to Rick

The crop has been earmarked as a

an increase in disease discovered while

Horbury, Technical Advisor at Bayer's

development crop for South Africa, as

farming the crop and as a result, up to

Crop Science Division from Australia

the country remains a net importer of

half a ton of canola crop has been lost.

and Dirk Uys, Head of Marketing at

plant oils and oil cake, to the tune of

The type of diseases prevalent in both

Bayer Crop Science in South Africa

70% per annum. While canola crop in

countries include sclerotinia, blackleg,

about the challenges affecting Canola production and how South Africa can advance canola production.

South Africa's canola production has increased significantly over the past two decades, and the area planted has risen over the years and currently stands at 70 000ha, with canola production increasing to 93 000 tons during the 2015/16 season, states Dirk Uys. Canola across the world is a summer crop while in South Africa itis a winter crop, mainly grown in the Western Cape. It is produced in cool weather conditions, and the optimum temperature for growth and production is 21˚c. Temperatures o

below 10 c can results in progressively poorer germination and emergence.

The lower temperatures impair protein production needed for germination and early seedling development.

H o w e ve r, g l o b a l l y t h e w e a t h e r patterns have had a negative impact on canola crop production.

July - August 2016

Australia is produced in Western

seedling blight, white leaf blister, downy

Australia, mainly for export to Asia

mildew, all contributing to reductions in

especially the Chinese market, there

the potential yield. It is therefore critical

are a lot of similarities between the

to be pro-active in finding solutions with

two countries and more lessons can

proper management strategies to

be shared by the two countries in

overcome the diseases affecting the

order to best understand the crop,

canola crop. Australia has developed a

explains Horbury.

canola protection plan which can aid

The economics of production of canola

South Africa in developing its own

is a major concern to all producers

canola protection.

across the globe, and the challenges

In addition, it is important to continue

affecting canola production are similar

the promotion of reasonable rotations

for both countries, therefore it is key

for canola fields. Canola offers great

for producers to better understand the

benefits as a rotation crop especially

crop in order to make better

with wheat, as it has the ability to

management decisions, further

increase the yields of subsequent cereal

explains Horbury.

crops. Additional benefits of a crop

Some of the key constraints that

rotation systems includes the reduction

impact the canola yield production,

in disease, more effective weed control,

include low growing season

improved root system, planters and

precipitation, variety availability,

harvesters that are used more

optimum plant density, fertility as well

effectively as well as better distribution

as the disease and insects, and all

of the financial risk.

these need to be solved, including the

All in all, following the recommended

correct planting date, and weed

one-in-three to four year canola rotation

control programme.

can provide better yields with reduced

According to Horbury, there has been

risk for all crops in the rotation.

[38]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

Cropping

12 Things you didn’t know about robusta coffee farming in Africa Robusta is a coffee variety that is

record in the nation's robusta coffee

Uganda.

production history.

mostly used in instant coffee and a filler for blends. It is mostly grown in Africa alongside Arabica beans.

According to recent reports, Robusta

It's named after a Belgian firm It draws its name from Robusta, the trade name of a Belgium horticultural

Top foreign exchange earner for Uganda

coffee beans, whose production in

firm that marketed the coffee species

Robusta and Arabica coffee are the

Africa had declined significantly over

after its discovery in the early period

leading exports for Uganda. In 2015,

the last few decades due to pests,

of the 20th Century.

the nation exported 285.3 million kilogrammes.

diseases and civil war in some producing countries, is slowly making

It was initially known as Coffea

a comeback.

Laurentii

Accounts for 40 percent of Africa's

Below are some things you probably

The coffee beans were initially known

annual coffee production

didn't know about Robusta coffee

as 'Coffea laurentii' in honor of Emil

Robusta accounts for about 40 percent

farming in Africa.

Laurent, the Frenchman who

of total coffee production in Africa

discovered the crop growing wildly in

annually. In 2015, Uganda and Ivory

Robusta coffee was discovered in

Belgium Congo. It changed to 'Coffea

Coast produced about 7 million bags of

robusta' after the Belgium firm started

robusta coffee. Other countries that

marketing it.

produce the coffee variety include

discovered growing wildly in Republic

Uganda is Africa's's biggest

Brazzaville.

of Congo (former Belgium Congo) in

producer of Robusta coffee

Africa Robusta and Arabica varieties were

South Sudan, Ethiopia and Congo

first discovered in Africa. Robusta was

1898. In ancient times, it was also

Uganda is the biggest producer of the

Robusta coffee was South Sudan's

chewed by the Buganda tribe in

crop in Africa. It produced 4.8 million

first ever non-oil export

bags in the 2015-16 season, which is a July - August 2016

[40]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

In 2015, Nespresso, a global coffee www.farmersreviewafrica.com

Cropping giant started sourcing for robusta beans from South Sudan.

This was the ďŹ rst time in the nation's history and marked her ďŹ rst non-oil export.

Pests, diseases and civil war hurt Robusta coffee production In the 1990s and early 2000s, robusta production was ravaged by pests, diseases and civil war in major producing nations. These were Uganda, South Sudan, Congo and Ivory Coast.

The devastation in Uganda Towards the end of 2001, about 50 percent of robusta coffee in Uganda had been wiped out by Coffee Wilt Disease (CWD), a fungal infection. It started in 1993 and destroyed more than 12 million trees in the central and western regions of the East African nation.

Robusta coffee ripe & ready for harvest

It's considered inferior to Arabica beans Robusta is mainly used to blends and in instant coffee because it is widely considered to have a lower quality in taste to Arabica.

It has more caffeine than Arabica Robusta has higher concentrations of caffeine than Arabica, a stimulant found in coffee. It is also highly acidic.

It used to grow naturally Before it discovery, Robusta coffee trees used to grow naturally in the equatorial forests of Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Congo and West Africa regions.

Cropping

Green beans: why pulses are the eco-friendly option for

feeding - and saving -

the world We all know the score: current trends

40% of the original protein.

consumption and embrace other

predict there will be 9.7 billion

Consequently, livestock farming

sources of protein.

mouths to feed by 2050. Producing

requires huge amounts of water and

enough food without using more

land for grazing and feed production,

Pulses are a healthy alternative

land, exacerbating climate change or

taking up an estimated 70% of all

Enter the pulses: beans, peas and

putting more pressure on water, soil

agricultural land and 27% of the

lentils. Although generally cheaper

and energy reserves will be

human water footprint. Much of this

than meat, these are rich sources of

challenging.

land is becoming steadily degraded

protein and also come with essential

In the past, food security researchers

through overgrazing and erosion,

micronutrients including iron, zinc,

have focused on production with less

prompting farmers to expand into

magnesium and folate. As low GI

attention paid to consumer demand

new areas; 70% of cleared forest in

(glycaemic index) foods, they release

and how food is ultimately used in

the Amazon, for instance, is now

their energy slowly over time,

meals. However as developing

pastureland. Livestock production is

preventing surges in blood glucose.

nations aspire towards the “Western

also one of the greatest contributors

Naturally gluten-free, they are also

diet”, demand for meat and animal

to greenhouse gas emissions,

ideal for the rising numbers of those

products is rapidly climbing.

including 65% of man-made nitrous

with coeliac disease.

This is bad news for the planet. Meat

oxide emissions (which have a global

Besides being rich in goodness, pulses

is a luxury item and comes at a huge

warming potential 296 times greater

are also low in many undesirables

environmental cost. Shuttling crops

than CO ).

including cholesterol, fat and sodium,

through animals to make protein is

Nevertheless, millions of people in

which all contribute to heart and

highly inefficient: in US beef, just 5%

developing countries still suffer from

blood issues. In fact, pulses seem to

of the original protein survives the

protein malnutrition. The burden,

actively protect against these

journey from animal feed to meat on

therefore, must fall on people in

maladies. Numerous studies confirm

the plate. Even milk, which has the

richer nations to reduce their meat

legume-rich diets can decrease

best conversion efficiency, has just July - August 2016

[42]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

Cropping cholesterol levels and when 50g of

nations could thus be an easy way to

ingredients that provide all the

lentils were added to the diet of

boost global protein production.

benefits of eating whole pulses. These

diabetic patients, their fasting blood

Nevertheless, pulses face traditional

already include pasta, crackers,

sugar levels significantly decreased.

barriers in the West, including the

batters, flours and egg/meat-

Meanwhile, populations with the

need for overnight soaking,

replacement products.

greatest lentil consumption also have

unappealing tastes and potential

Even so, we should all consider how

the lowest rates of breast, prostate

flatulence from a high-fibre diet. To

much meat we really need. A more

and colorectal cancer. This may be

overcome these, ingredient

plant-based diet is a winning strategy

partly due to the high fibre content of

manufacturers have developed

for our wallets, our health and the

pulses: increasingly, a high-fibre diet

pulses into new functional

environment.

is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer. Fibre content may also explain the satiating effect of pulses: for example, incorporating lentils into energy-equivalent meals causes greater fullness and leads to a lower calorie consumption later in the day.

Green beans Just as they are good for us, beans, lentils and peas are also good for the environment. As they work with bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into useful ammonia or nitrates, legumes actually improve soil fertility and reduce dependence on energy-intensive fertilisers.

Pulses are also highly water-efficient; for each gram of protein, the average global water footprint of pulses is only 34% that of pork and 17% that of beef. Meanwhile, the carbon footprint of pulses is less than half that of winter wheat and on average 48 times lower than the equivalent weight of British beef cattle.

Despite all this, the potential of pulses is largely unrecognised.

Currently demand is dominated by India and Pakistan, however poor yields mean the two countries import more than 20% of global pulse production. Even big exporters like Australia and Canada remain inefficient, achieving barely half the yield per acre found in Croatia. This “yield gap” exists because these countries typically grow pulses as animal feed or to break up crop rotations. Optimising pulse harvests in both developing and developed

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

[43]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

July - August 2016

Cropping

When the time is ripe: Harvesting Today, one of the main global

commodities and production areas

Types of Containers

challenges is how to ensure food

and seasons. As a product moves in

Plastic field bins and totes are preferred

security for a world growing population

the postharvest chain, PHLs may

to wooden containers since plastic

whilst ensuring long-term sustainable

occur from a number of causes, such

surfaces are easier to clean and

development. According to the FAO,

as

sanitize. Wooden containers or field

improper

handling

or

food production will need to grow by

biodeterioration by microorganisms,

totes are almost impossible to sanitize

70% to feed world population which

insects, rodents or birds.

since they have a porous surface. Wood

will reach 9 billion by 2050.

Harvesting equipment may include a

or metal fasteners such as nails may

Obviously, one of the major ways of

wide range of different instruments

accidentally be introduced into

strengthening food security is by

and containers. During harvest look

produce. Before reusing cardboard field

reducing these losses. Along the

for ways to reduce contaminating

bins, they should be visually inspected

renewed focus on investment in

produce. Harvest tools, bins,

for cleanliness, and lined with a clean

agriculture that began in 2008, there is

harvesters, and the environment are

plastic bag that is intended for food to

an increasing interest in effective

all potential sources of contamination.

prevent the risk of cross contamination.

(PHL) reduction

Best Practices for Use of Produce

can leach into food; therefore, do not

intervention for Post-Harvest Losses

Trash bags often contain chemicals that

Harvesting is the act of removing a

Containers

use as a food container during

crop from where it was growing and

Equipment and containers used by

harvesting, transporting, or marketing.

moving it to a more secure location for

growers to harvest and market

processing, consumption, or storage.

produce need to be kept clean. This

Harvest Containers and Tools

The crop type and expected harvest

requires diligence in care and

Keep it clean. There is no good reason

volume will determine the harvesting

maintenance to prevent foodborne

for putting clean produce in a dirty

method that is to be used. Certain

illness and keep high quality products.

container that might introduce a

crops are harvested by hand, while

Equipment and containers used for

pathogen.

others are harvested either manually

harvesting, transporting, and

or mechanically. Hand harvesting

displaying produce can pose a risk for

usually provides a better quality

contamination of food if not properly

product than mechanical harvesting.

cleaned, sanitized, and maintained

Postharvest losses vary greatly among

July - August 2016

Ÿ

Choose containers that can be cleaned, such as plastic.

Ÿ

Clean containers and tools between uses so they do not serve as a source of pathogens

[44]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

Cropping

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

Ÿ

that can spread from crop to crop.

Use your harvest containers and tools only for produce.

Never use them for storing chemicals or as trash containers. Use separate containers for collecting culls during grading and packing.

Inspect reusable containers before harvest to make sure they are in good repair and free of splinters, nails, or other embedded objects.

Food-contact totes, bins, and other harvest containers that cannot be repaired or adequately cleaned should be thrown away.

During the off-season, best practices are to store foodcontact harvest containers indoors off the floor in a clean, dry place. If containers must be stored outside, clean and sanitize them before using them the next year.

Keep pallets clean. Consider switching to plastic pallets, which are easier to clean.

Develop standard operating procedures for sanitizing picking containers and harvest equipment.

Packaging decision could spell success or failure in the agriculture sector-MPACT Selecting the correct packaging is a fundamental decision for players in beleaguered agriculture sector.

www.farmersreviewafrica.com

Suppliers to local and international markets depend heavily on the durability of their chosen packaging to protect their produce on the journey from field to shelf..

Bruce Strong, CEO of leading paper and packaging company Mpact, says that innovation in the design and science behind packaging yields significant benefits in terms of cost savings, efficiency, brand equity and recognition. Mpact is the largest provider of corrugated and plastic packaging solutions to the South African agricultural sector.

Innovative packaging solutions are the result of a number of important considerations regarding durability, weight, size and type of materials used. Packaging, whether corrugated or plastic, must be robust enough to protect the produce through to the retailer and ultimately, the consumer, to ensure that farmers get the best price for their goods.

Packaging also needs to have vertical strength when stacked to withstand up to 1 500 kilograms on the bottom layer. This is where the science behind packaging becomes critical; it needs to be robust enough for stacking and light enough to remain economical.

Transport is a large cost for the agriculture sector and through innovation in light-weighting, Mpact is able to achieve cost reductions for their customers.

In Mpact's Plastics division, the use of plastic jumbo bins instead of the traditional wooden bins has shown

[45]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

significant financial benefits in the agriculture industry. A study conducted for a fruit farm in the Grabouw-Elgin area in the Western Cape revealed total cost savings of R138.69 per bin per annum when switching from traditional wooden bins to Mpact's Jumbo Bins, with a payback period of three years..

Plastic bins weigh 45% less than wooden bins, which enables quicker and safer handling and stacking.

Bins can be vertically stacked up to eight units high because of a positive interlocking mechanism, which is safer than wooden bin and also means that more produce can be transported.

Furthermore, the inbuilt ventilation reduces cooling time and saves energy, and a clean, non-porous surface provides a hygienic, bacteria-free environment.

Ultimately this means that the produce arrives at its destination in a better condition when compared to wooden bins.

Mpact Plastic Containers manufactures a range of plastic containers used in the harvesting and processing of fruit and vegetables, while Mpact Corrugated manufactures and sells a comprehensive range of printed and unprinted converted corrugated products, including board, which we use to manufacture corrugated packaging, corrugated boxes, diecut cases, folded glued cases, trays and point-of-sale displays. All packaging is custom-made to specific customer needs and can be printed as required on site.

July - August 2016

Cropping Photograph: Radka Borutova

Mold management: One step forward in successful mycotoxin management The quality of wheat and barley is

reductions in production performance

Mold growth and resultant production

being threatened before farmers start

and increases in health problems from

of storage mycotoxins can be

harvesting crops in July due to the

moldy feed are often moderate. For

prevented by keeping the temperature

heavy rains experienced in Europe in

example, a 5% to 10% drop in

and moisture content in silos low whilst

the past month.

performance may be typical with mold

aerating the grain regularly. In case

Some areas of France, the European

infestation, whereas mycotoxin

ideal storage conditions cannot be

Union's largest wheat grower, had as

contamination leads to greater losses

guaranteed, the use of mold inhibitor is

much as 10 inches (25 centimeters) of

in production, even when mold is not

highly recommended. Mold inhibitor

rain in May, which is more than three

readily apparent.

can be used for application in raw

times the normal amount for the

More problems with mycotic abortions

material (whole grain) or finished feed

month. Excess rain, especially close to

and respiratory disorders may result

which is already a mixture of different

harvest time, can reduce the quality of

when a considerable amount of moldy

raw ingredients. NUTRIAD developed

the grain or make crops more

feed is used. This may happen due to a

mold inhibitor with two different

susceptible to fungal diseases that

high content of mold and mold spores

applications; the dry form (MOLD-NIL®

may affect yields.

in the air or in the ingested feed.

Dry) and liquid form (MOLD-NIL ®

Moldy or musty feed does not always

Farmer's lung is a disease, which may

Liquid). These can be used by anyone

contain dangerous mold poisons or

affect humans in an environment

who deals with raw materials or

mycotoxins. However, the presence of

which is heavily infested by molds.

finished feed such as raw material

large quantities of mold may adversely

The placenta of aborted fetuses

importers, feed mills, integrators, and

affect production and health.

should be examined for distinct signs

farmers. It is highly recommended to

Digestibility of the ration may be

present in most mycotic abortions.

apply effective mold inhibitor and

sufficiently decreased to reduce the

Sometimes mold spores are counted

mycotoxin deactivator which offer an

energy content for ruminants by 5%.

on moldy feeds to obtain an indication

opportunity to significantly improve

Moldy feed is also less palatable and

of the extent of molding and the

animal health, performance,

may lower the intake of energy, dry

relative risk of feeding them. Notable

productivity, and profit impaired by

matter, and critical nutrients. This may

heating in feed is an indication that

molds and mycotoxins.

considerably reduce milk production,

molds and bacterial growth, as well as

growth or weight gains, and depress

nutrient losses may be occurring.

Author:

resistance to metabolic and infectious

Heating also depresses feed intake

Radka Borutova,

diseases.

and makes animals more susceptible

Nutriad International,

If mycotoxins are not present, the

to digestive problems.

Belgium

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[47]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

July - August 2016

Livestock

Hydroponic Fodder — Is it a viable op on for feeding sheep, goats and other livestock?

The hydroponic fodder system is a

Advantages of hydroponics

conventional farming while still

temperature and humidity controlled

fodder

supplying high quality stock feed. It

growing room that is specifically

Our patented fodder system does not

takes between 800ml to 1 liters of

designed to sprout grains that are very

use electricity. Additionally, we use

water to produce one kilogram of

nutritious. A selection of grains are put

locally available materials to control

fodder as compared with 80 – 90 litres

into photo-chemically treated trays

the temperature and humidity of the

of water to grow a kilogram of green

without soil and sprayed with nutrient

room. By the use of our patented

grass.

rich water solution at predetermined

photo-chemically treated trays, we

intervals.

are able to supply an array of

Marginal land use

The temperature and humidity inside

hydroponic fodder systems which can

This type of fodder production provides

the hydroponic fodder system are

work under high outside temperature

huge ecological and economical

controlled using only a hydro-net and a

and still not develop fungus and other

advantages For example research

hydro-cloth, to ensure higher growth

pathogens. Due to our revolutionizing

shows that fodder grown in a 9m x 6m

and the best nutritional value possible.

photo-chemically treating trays, our

shed can feed (supplement) daily, the

There is no electricity usage

fodder systems are four times

same amount of cattle that graze on

whatsoever.

cheaper since there is no need of

1200 acres of pasture.

After only 7 days, the fodder is

electricity to cool the system. A truly

removed from the tray and can be fed

unique and innovative system!

Constant food supply

Water usage

production are guaranteed a

to the animal. The animal eats everything (i.e. roots, leaves and nuts)

Farmers using this type of fodder

therefore, the hydroponic fodder

The hydroponic system requires a

consistent supply of quality fodder

system is waste-free, 100%

fraction of the water usage of

365 days of the year irrespective of

sustainable and cost-effective.

July - August 2016

rain or sunshine.

[48]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

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Reduced labour requirement This process of growing cattle fodder requires minimal man-hours per day.

Depending on the size of the shed in use, research has shown that as little as 1 hour per day is needed to maintain and produce hydroponic fodder.

Cost effective A system measuring 4m by 3m by 3 m high can produce 170 kg of hydroponics fodder dairy this amount of fodder can feed 14 heads of cattle at a cost of Kshs 1,050.

Nutritional value Hydroponic effective, feed,

fodder

is

particularly

which

a

highly

nutritious

produces maximum

protein, energy and is very rich in vitamins such as B-carotene, trace elements ,hormones, growth factors and enzymes.

Livestock

Livestock output key to rural agriculture activity LIVESTOCK production can be a key to

power, serve as an indication of one's

food produced in terms of inputs such as

communal agricultural activity and a

wealth status and provision of meat

land and water). With animal protein set

sustainable source of rural livelihood if

and hides as terminal products.

to remain part of the food supply, we

smallholder farmers focus on improving

With improved breeding and

must pursue sustainable intensification

the health and management of their

cultivation, ruminant animals can yield

and figure out how to keep livestock in

animals.

food that is better for people and the

ways that work best for individuals,

The most prominent constraint in small-

planet.

communities and the planet.

scale livestock farming includes disease

When animals are fed a low quality

Mismanagement and poor welfare

and pest control and the quantity and

rations and are not protected from

render animals particularly susceptible

quality of feed offered to the animals.

disease, genetic traits for survival are

to parasites and disease. Many young

Smallholder farmers often experience

more important than those for

animals die of disease before they can

problems of shortage of feed, water and

production. With an increase in

lactate, reach slaughter weight or

livestock diseases during the dry winter

nutrition and health, large gains are

reproduce. This lowers yields, increases

season.

made in productivity. Improvements in

environmental impacts and decreases

With little or no savings, these

production traits only become

farmers' ability to select the best

communal farmers are often confronted

important once certain conditions in

breeding stock. With education and

by shortage of drugs and lack of

health and nutrition are met and

some financial aid, farmers could

transport among other resources that

production levels reached

improve husbandry, and more animals

paralyses extension support delivery.

Crop and livestock farming

would survive to become productive.

In a nutshell, cattle management

complement each other. Half the

More can and must be done to encourage

systems and production among

world's food comes from farms that

farmers to realize the advantages of

smallholder farmers are casual and

raise both. Animals pull ploughs and

livestock adapted to local areas. Cutting-

needs strengthening.

carts, and their manure fertilizes crops,

edge genomics could guide selective

Growing and selling livestock enables

which supply post-harvest residues to

breeding to boost production of animals

the poor rural families (in particular

livestock. But efforts to maximize yields

that are already adapted to their

women) to enter the cash economy. In

of milk and meat can disrupt finely

climates and resistant to local diseases.

this way, livestock production provides

balanced systems.

A primary constraint on increasing the

increased stability in income for the

The quest for 'intensification' in

productivity of livestock is the acute

family without disrupting other food

livestock farming has thundered ahead

shortage of feed during the dry season

producing activities.

with little regard for sustainability and

and the poor quality of what feed is

overall efficiency (the net amount of

available. Making good-quality hay could

Communal cattle fulfil multiple roles

provide supplementary feed for calves

that include milk, manure, draught

July - August 2016

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Livestock and young smallstock during the dry

choice of feed, resulting in poor body

quality of livestock as they burn energy

season and ease feed shortages, in

condition, low weight gains and a

travelling,” said Mr Mwandifura

particular for poor households.

higher predisposition to endoparasites

In some cases water points are limited,

Many animals receive maintenance or

during the dry season.

compelling large numbers of animals to

below maintenance levels of nutrition

The crop residue or stovers have low

stampede them and therefore, leading to

resulting in low levels of production.

nutritional value — six percent protein

high chances of spreading diseases.

Increasing the quantity of feed by

— if fed as they are.

Many young animals die of disease

reducing the number of animals does

Since these farmers lack money, they

before they can lactate, reach slaughter

not provide a solution as the nutritional

can still improve of the quality and

weight or reproduce.

value of the available feed is low. The

digestibility of the stovers through a

Mismanagement and poor welfare

addition of a small amount of higher

three-week fermentation period using

render animals susceptible to parasites

quality feed can have a large effect on

a urea-water solution.

and diseases.

production in this situation. In the case

The crude protein content of stovers

Diseases account for high animal

of milk production, the use of cattle with

and straws increases when treated with

mortality and management must

a small body size would result in

urea. There is also increased dry matter

improve to contain transmissible

reduced maintenance requirements of

intake, live weight gain and milk

diseases.

the animal, thus enabling more efficient

production from urea-treated stovers

Makoni District veterinary officer, Dr

use of available feed for milk

compared to untreated material that

Edwin Kupahwana, said animal

production.

our small-scale farmers are

husbandry can be improved through

accustomed to.

dosing and multivitamin supplements.

Case study-Manicaland, Zimbabwe

The stover enrichment process involves

Dr Kupahwana said dosing is done to

A survey by The Manica Post in

a dug trench which is inserted with a

reduce the worm burden and poor feed

Manicaland shows that rural farmers

plastic lining. The stovers are cut into

utilisation. Farmers can use medicines

were doing nothing to improve the

small equal pieces.

like Albex, Closavet and Runox.

health and management of their

The farmer mixes a kilogramme of

Multivitamins reverse vitamins

livestock this winter.

urea, which contains 46 percent

deficiency and improve feed conversion.

Most communal farmers in Manicaland

nitrogen, with 10 litres of water. The

They remedy poor feed utilisation and

have indigenous breeds. They prefer

solution is sprinkled uniformly to treat

poor body condition. Medicines include

them because of their superior genetic

16 to 20kg of straw.

Vitol and Multivite.

traits that include high fertility, high

Then the straw is put into the trench

“Farmers need to adhere to the usual

tolerance to diseases, heat and low feed

and covered with plastic, and the edges

dipping every two weeks until November

requirement.

sealed with soil for 25 days under the

and then from November to March it will

These animals are reared through

temperature of 20-30ºC.

be weekly. Farmers need to guard

herding during the day before penning

The farmer can open the trench from

against tick-borne diseases, blackleg,

at night.This winter, following crop

one end and take out the amount of

fowl coryza, mange and eye infections in

harvesting, these animals are let loose

feed required, and put it out until the

the winter,” said Dr Kupahwana.

to feed on crop residues.

next day before putting it in the feeding

For tick-borne diseases, gallsickess and

This method contrasts sharply with the

rake.

h e a r t w a t e r, f a r m e r s c a n u s e

commercial production system where

The cattle like it and will consume more

Oxytetracylines e.g Terramycin, Fivox.

livestock are kept in paddocks where

treated stover than they will regularly

On redwater, diminazene can be used.

grazing is controlled and improved

untreated straw.

Dr Kupahwana said blackleg was easy to

forage species are sometimes

Livestock specialist, Mr John

prevent than to cure. Penicillin or

introduced.

Mwandifura, said closely related food

oxyteracycline antibiotics often fail to

The dry crop residues (mashanga) are

shortage is the unavailability of water in

cure it.

bereft of nutrients and their intake by

communal areas.

Enroflox, bremamed or ESB3 can be

animals is low which often limit

“In some areas, water may be available

used on Fowl coryza, while weekly

production.

but is of insufficient quality to support

dipping with amitraz dips such as

Smallholder farmers argue that they

healthy growth and performance as

tickbuster or injection invermectin e.g

lack money for supplementary

animals have to walk distances per day

brenanectin can be used on Mange.

commercial feeds or improved legume

to access it,” said Mr Mwandifura.

Eye infections can be treated using eye

fodder. This results in low intake of poor

“This can be addressed by sinking more

and wound powder or eye drops or

quality feed, which resultantly limits

boreholes. Animals should not travel for

antibiotic injection.

livestock productivity.

long distances either to access water or

This injection should be administered by

Since feeding is restricted, the cattle,

dip tanks as it adversely affects the

competent person.

donkeys, goats and sheep have little

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[51]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

July - August 2016

Soils & Pastures

Earthworms as indication of soil health

Earthworm farming When most people hear about earthworm farming, they immediately think about making compost with earthworms. In fact, making compost with earthworms is about two processes with two different goals in mind. On the one hand one you could compare earthworm farming with cattle farming. This process is also called vermiculture. You want to grow your earthworm "herd" and maintain it at a certain number. On the other hand, the reason why you multiply your earthworms is to get to a point where the earthworms turn a speciďŹ c amount of waste into compost. When you reach the desired point, the focus shifts towards compost making, processing and marketing, also known as vermicomposting. Although the two July - August 2016

goals (vermiculture and vermi compost) have the same results, i.e. in both instances you will have both earthworms and compost to sell to consumers. If you sell too many earthworms in the initial multiplying stage, it will take longer to get to a point where you can say that you have a commercial size vermiculture and vermicomposting business.

Although vermiculture and composting is a very rewarding business to be in and vermicompost is an amazing fertilizer and vermicompost make plants grow so much better, I realised that the way in which I did vermiculture, it wasn't sustainable. I had to pick up truck loads of cow manure per day, drive it [54]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

to my farm, take three months to turn the manure into compost and then I had to spread it in my orchards.

Although the manure was for free, the whole process cost too much in manpower and transport.

Once I realised this, I took a different aproach. My focus shifted once again.

This time from earthworm farming to farming with earthworms. In Teaming with microbes by Lewis and Lowenfels I read that soil that went through a earthworms gut had 7 times more P, 10 times more K, 5 times more N, 3 times more Mg, 1.5 times more Ca. The book further showed that on one hectare of healthy soils the resident earthworms could create as much as 30 tons vermicastings per year, Looking at the vermiculture and â&#x20AC;&#x201C;composting process www.farmersreviewafrica.com

Soils & Pastures where I had to truck in 60 ton manure to get 30 ton vermicompost, my mind was made up. I only had to feed the earthworms in the soil and keep them happy and they will produce compost where the plants needs it most, i.e. at root level.

How do you keep your soil's earthworms happy? It is by farming with them and not against them. I stopped every practice that might harm the earthworm popultion on my farm. I stopped tilling between my trees. I stopped using herbicides and pesticides. Instead of killing the weeds I started mowing or mulching them. In

three years time I can say that I don't use any chemical fertilisers anymore.

In a year or two's time, the nitrogen ďŹ xing plants in my system will also make applying extra N redundent. The easiest way to start farming with earthworms is by adopting C o n s e r va t i o n A g r i c u l t u r e ( C A ) Principles.With CA principles you minimize soil disturbance, armour the soil (covered it with mulch), have a living root system inside the soil all year around (cover crop) focusing on biodiversity and introducing animals in the system.

I don't want to say that farming with

earthworms is superior to earthworm farming. I still have a vermiculture and â&#x20AC;&#x201C;composting system going on my farm.

What I want to say is that one has to determine what your needs are. If you want to reduce on-farm waste, vermicomposting is the way to do it. If you need to truck in manure and other organic waste to make compost to fertilise your crops, I suggest going the CA route and start farming with earthworms. The rewards in both cases are much more than the money you make or save. The rewards also extends to the local environment, community and healthy lifestyle.

By Erdwurmboer

Eisenia Fetida (Red wigglers) in vermiculture & compost system

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[55]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

July - August 2016

OdorCure (Pty) Ltd is associated with Odour control group, which has been in operation since 1996 and is based throughout South Africa. OdorCure specializes in the treatment of malodors that occur in Agriculture, commercial, industrial and municipal environments. Our main business is based on products and services derived from Canadian companies i.e.

ECOLO WORLDWIDE, MEGA-LAB and SUPER-F Inc. These companies are represented by distributors in all the major industrialized countries.

Locally, our industrial customer base includes AFGRI Farms, Eskort, Interwaste Holdings, Sasol, Natref, Enviroserv Waste management, Ekurhuleni municipalities, Tshwane wastewater and Eskom to name a few.

Modern intensive animal farming can create an alarming intensity of odors at both the farm and at the processing facility, as well as waste material that must be collected, stored and treated in some manner. OdorCure products

are used to improve animal comfort, and potentially improve growth rates.

OdorCure can improve the wastewater and manure qualities, while reducing the ammonia within the barn.

Obnoxious odors are treated to improve air quality leaving the farm or food processing facility.

OdorCure helps farmers be better neighbors.

Odour is often a by-product of the decomposition of organic (living) matter.

When living cells die, they attract bacteria, which break down the dead tissue so it can be "recycled." This natural process, known as decomposition, produces unpleasant smelling gases as an interim by-product.

Ecolo airSolution quickly reacts with odour-causing molecules, converting them into inoffensive end products.

How OdorCure controls airborne offensive odours OdorCure products are centered around special formulations of essential oils from plant extracts, each custom-blended to neutralize a

specific type of odor.

OdorCure dispensers atomize these essential oils and distribute them into the air in carefully measured concentrations.

Minute airborne particles of the blended oils trigger and accelerate the natural reactions which occur as matter biodegrades.

In essence, OdorCure airSolutions facilitate nature's own processes responsible for transforming odorous gasses into harmless smell free end products.

Areas to consider odour control · · · · · · · ·

Rendering Plants Effluent treatment plant Boilers Manure facilities Sludge lagoons Waste areas Offal plant Compost yards

For additional information please contact us at: sales@odorcure.com or colin@odorcure.com

w

Gallery FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

@ events

July - August 2016

[60]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

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[61]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

July - August 2016

Events African Agri Investment Indaba (AAII) Date: 28-Nov-16 to 30-Nov-16 Loca on: Cape Town / South Africa Agra Innovate West Africa Date: 23-Nov-16 to 25-Nov-16 Loca on: Lagos / Nigeria Agri Mega Week Date: 14-Sep-16 to 17-Sep-16 Loca on: Cape Town / South Africa AGRIKEXPO 2016 Date: 26-Sep-16 to 28-Sep-16 Loca on: Abuja / Nigeria 2nd AIFA Conference Agriculture Investment & Funds Africa Date: 27- Oct-16 to 28- Oct-16 Loca on: Johannesburg / South Africa

Advertisers index 02 TORMAC PUMPS 09 AMERICAN COOLAIR 14 MUELLER 17 GEA 19 DELAVAL 20 GEA 21 ECO LACTEO 24 ENDRESS+HAUSER 28 GYROLAG 31 SAWPA 33 CAREFREE ENZYMES 35 I.T.S. 39 DADVET

July - August 2016

41 WATEX 46 MPACT 49 JABECO 49 FOUR LAKES 52 SPECTROMETER TECHNOLOGIES 53 NILFISK 55 SIMA 56 CLEAR ASSET 57 CONTINENTAL 58 MTN 59 SIPA 63 BAGTECH 64 UNISA

[62]FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA

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