Agriculture May 2023 Edition

AGRICULTURE

f ooD secUri T y Do we have our priorities straight?

BrinGinG home T he Bacon

How the pork industry is driving change for the better

The T ricky s TaT e of T ransformaT ion Will better policies help?

inside: counting farmers | Tech that’s driving efficiencies | can sa still afford to eat? | rUraL yoUTh choose The farminG inDUsTry

Pig farmer, Modisaotsile Kenny Mocwiri

published by Picasso Headline,

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EDITORIAL

Editor: Lindi Botha

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Take nothing for granted

south Africa has one of the most diverse agricultural sectors and certainly some of the best farmers in the world. They continue to produce a steady amount of food despite crumbling national infrastructure, a harsh climate, rampant crime and rapidly rising input costs. Although we are proud to be a net exporter of food, the country is by no means food secure, since around 11 per cent of the population still goes to bed hungry every day. While the importance of a thriving agricultural industry that can produce affordable food is not lost on farmers, I wonder how high a priority the farming sector is for the rest of the population, specifically those who make the decisions that can boost or bust food production.

In this issue of Agriculture we look at gaps in the sector that need to be addressed to ensure stable food production continues, and

show examples of enterprises making great strides in addressing challenges within the sector. Reading through this edition, it is clear that South Africa’s agricultural sector is resilient but not bulletproof. We take it for granted that we are able to produce an abundance of food and be a net exporter in a country that is considered arid. The fact that we don’t have to rely on imports and the whims of global markets for a plate of food is severely understated.

Those in the seats of power need to take a closer look at the remarkable work happening in agriculture, seek out the gaps where greater strides can be made, and create an environment that is conducive to increased production, transformation and inclusion of all farmers – emerging, small and large.

Lindi Botha Editor

FROM MANURE TO BIOGAS

Turn to page 19 to read about how a pig farm has started a biogas system that produces almost 150 kilowatts (or 15 hours of power) a day.

3 FROM The ediTOR

Don’t underestimate the importance of

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Copyright: No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the publisher. the publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material. Agriculture is published by picasso headline. the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of picasso headline. All advertisements/advertorials have been paid for and therefore do not carry any endorsement by the publisher.

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WE ARE LAND

www.husqvarna.com/za

LAND CARE

TELEMATICS SOLUTIONS FOR SUCCESS IN AGRICULTURE

Agricultural businesses are increasingly investing in telematics solutions to optimise fleet management and improve operations

Agriculture extends beyond farming and crop production, it also includes other operational considerations such as asset management and business pro tability.

As the size and sophistication of today’s farms and commercial agribusinesses increase, agricultural professionals are turning to telematics solutions that provide eet optimisation tools to improve ef ciency, safety, pro tability and day-to-day operations.

Many farmers and commercial agribusinesses were early adopters of telematics technology. Today, telematics technology is readily available to farmers challenged with managing their expanding lines of agricultural machinery and equipment, whether in the eld, the farm shop or anywhere else. Fleet management solutions provide a new set of eyes, offering farmers both short- and long-term bene ts.

A CLIENT-CENTRIC BUSINESS

MiX Telematics develops and implements connected fleet and mobile asset management solutions for customers across the globe. We focus our energy on creating hardware and software that is specific to our customers’ requirements and aim to build long-term partnerships.

As a global SaaS provider of connected eet management solutions, MiX Telematics has introduced an affordable asset tracking and driver management solution suitable for small- to medium-sized agribusinesses.

MiX Essential Solutions is designed for eets with varying assets and can monitor assets and equipment no matter the size of equipment or how the equipment is being used. A tractor working in the eld can be monitored throughout the day just as easily

as a eet of produce trucks delivering to warehouses in various locations.

In the agricultural industry, preventing equipment and vehicle breakdowns is always a top priority, particularly during busy times such as harvest season. Implementing a telematics solution allows for monitoring farm machinery and road vehicles, allowing farmers to collect data for analysis to improve the ef ciency of vehicle and equipment use and mitigate the theft thereof. In addition, it plays an essential role in maintaining machines and equipment, ensuring that they are always functional and in optimal condition.

The data is easy-to-understand and allows you to see what your assets and drivers are doing at any given time via the online web platform and mobile app.

Fleet owners can view reports for everything, from where a vehicle or asset is, how a driver is driving that vehicle, how much it has been used and even get camera footage from our AI-powered, stand-alone dashcam solution. Reports are also available for driver scoring, maintenance intervals, fuel usage and cost analysis breakdowns.

The commercial fleet solutions are built around a web-based software platform and mobile applications, supported by in-vehicle hardware and peripheral accessories. On-demand software services enhance vehicle performance and improve driver safety, fleet security, efficiency, sustainability, and compliance.

At the core of the suite of solutions is the MiX Fleet Manager Essential online platform, comprising a sophisticated onboard computer that collects and transmits valuable vehicle and driver data. Driving events such as harsh braking, speeding, harsh cornering, and impact events are recorded, giving eet owners insight into data regarding where a vehicle is, how a driver is operating that vehicle and how much it has been used – all factors that directly impact asset wear-andtear and costs.

Part of the suite of solutions is MiX Essential Asset Tracking, an automatic, electronic registry of assets, their statuses and whereabouts so that they can be located or tracked on a map in real-time, improving the control, visibility, and productivity of assets. This solution is suitable for nonvehicle assets, whether mobile or xed, with or without a power source. It offers all the bene ts of a fully integrated eet management solution to monitor and protect assets as they move between worksites.

Agribusiness operations with eets can now also implement AI dashcam technology to visually monitor drivers.

The MiX Vision AI Stand-alone Dashcam solution provides camera footage with basic telematics data accessible via the online

platform without the need to install additional hardware. The AI-powered dashcam is enabled with Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) giving the driver real-time coaching feedback on the trip, and the ability to review performance after the trip.

The in-cab and road-facing cameras help prevent collisions, alert drivers to risky driving behaviour and save on insurance costs from wrongful claims against drivers with the power of video footage available of incidents.

Additional bene ts of implementing the Essential Solutions include fuel monitoring of agricultural machinery, which provides opportunities for detecting fuel overconsumption and mitigating fuel theft. GPS tracking of assets provides information on the location of vehicles, movement direction and route. Machinery misuse and inappropriate usage for private purposes can be monitored. The ability to add alerts for scheduled maintenance and repairs helps maintain the condition of equipment and vehicles and prevents breakdowns during peak seasons. Your entire operational data is stored on a single SaaS platform that securely and reliably helps you to run a more ef cient and productive agribusiness.

MiX Telematics puts the ability to make datainformed decisions in real-time into the palm of your hands, helping you to keep vehicles and equipment well maintained and drivers on track and safe from preventable accidents.

“The light eet solution provides the perfect balance of functionality and usability that is ideal for small businesses that may not have a full-time eet manager and require multiple employees to utilise the online platform,’’ says MiX Telematics Africa Fleet Sales Director

Henry Smith. “Users can view live tracking, various dashboards and reports, including vehicle utilisation, driver scoring, fuel usage and cost analysis breakdowns via the web and mobile app. This easy-to-understand telematics data provides actionable intelligence for informed decision-making –saving time and money,” Smith concludes.

Businesses that want to improve the productivity of their eets cannot afford not to invest in a functional and cost-effective eet management solution, especially one compatible with a range of services, addons, and accessories. Partnering with an experienced telematics partner that offers solutions that can be tailored to your growing business needs ensures that your eet is not just busy, but also productive, which directly contributes to your bottom line.

No matter how big or small your eet is, the vehicles or assets you own, we have the expertise to solve your unique challenges and upgrade your eet operations using state-of-the-art data collection methods and intelligent reporting.

Contact MiX Telematics today to nd out how our always-on solutions can help you achieve tangible results in your agribusiness.

For more information: +27 11 654 8000 eetsa@mixtelematics.com www.mixtelematics.com/za

Telematics technology is readily available to farmers challenged with managing their expanding lines of agricultural machinery and equipment.

The MiX Vision AI Stand-alone Dashcam provides camera footage with basic telematics data.

MiX Fleet Manager Essential: Your entire operational data is stored on a single SaaS platform that securely and reliably helps you to run a more efficient and productive agribusiness.

INTERNATIONAL SEED INDUSTRY TO CONVERGE IN CAPE TOWN

The South African National Seed Organization will host the International Seed Federation’s World Congress from 5 to 7 June 2023 at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town. By DR LUKESHNI CHETTY, general manager, South African National Seed Organization

The global climate and production challenges facing the agricultural sector require new and innovative ways to address global food demands. On the African continent, the challenge is not only to increase food production to meet the growing demand for food, but also ensure the sensible use of resources for sustainable production and food security.

As the seed industry, we recognise that food systems should be equitable, inclusive and environmentally friendly, however, we also acknowledge that we are faced with an enormous challenge to produce suf cient safe and nutritious food. The seed sector is a critical partner in the food value chain. Seed forms the foundation of food production and is a vital starting point for crop production. Without quality seed there will be no harvest. Quality seed is, however, not only needed for food production, but also land restoration, rehabilitation, reclamation and conservation.

As the representative body of the seed industry in South Africa, the South African National Seed Organization (SANSOR) has served the needs of the South African seed industry for more than three decades. The seed industry has always been proud of the role SANSOR plays in the South African and global seed industry.

As the seed industry, we recognise that food systems should be equitable, inclusive, and environmentally friendly, but we also acknowledge that we are faced with an enormous challenge to produce suf cient, safe and nutritious food. For those reasons, SANSOR wanted to bring the International Seed Federation (ISF) World Seed Congress to South Africa and the African continent. It will be the rst time in 22 years that this particular congress will be held on the African continent.

With the theme “Shared roots – Greater heights”, the ISF World Seed Congress offers the perfect opportunity to connect with colleagues, farmers and other partners in the global seed sector. With more than 900 international and local seed industry specialists attending, this forum is creating a unique opportunity to discuss and harmonise policy matters to facilitate and negotiate seed trade in Africa and the rest of the world and ensure farmers have access to safe and high-quality seed.

The congress has been bringing together people in the seed industry since 1924. It is truly a agship event that brings together the principal architects and decision-makers of the global seed industry.

BIG BENEFITS TO BE HAD

The seed industry in Africa will particularly bene t from this gathering of seed role players. Seed companies and farmers can use this congress to gain access to improved seed varieties that can support the efforts to combat food insecurity, climate challenges and an increase in pests and diseases.

In Africa, co-ordination between international players in the seed industry, authorities and the private sector is needed to tackle these challenges. It is all about seed and technology choices. These important topics will be discussed at the congress to ensure we continue ful lling our responsibility of empowering farmers, especially smallholder farmers, in Africa. We look forward to seeing how we can create a vibrant and sustainable seed sector in Africa that recognises the diversity of all actors in the value chain to provide solutions.

A PLATFORM FOR KNOWLEDGE-SHARING

The ISF World Congress, to be held in Cape Town in June, aims to share knowledge and best practices, stimulate strategic thinking and deliberations and accelerate the adoption of common positions on seed matters.

Topics under discussion at the congress will include plant breeding innovations, seed trade, access to seed, farmers’ seed systems, the supply chain, intellectual property protection and the youth in agriculture. New features at the congress include a luncheon for women in leadership and an opportunity for the next generation of seed specialists to connect with each other and current role players. Day rates are available.

LISTEN TO THE Q&A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE WORLD CONGRESS

VISIT THE CONGRESS WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO

Scan this QR code to go directly to the SANSOR website.

For more information:

012 472 9500

policy@sansor.co.za

www.sansor.org

Dr Lukeshni Chetty

Farming stats: the numbers don’t add up

There is a long-standing debate about the real number of commercial farms in South Africa, largely caused by the way official statistics on farm numbers are gathered. The last comprehensive agricultural census was done in 1993, while the agricultural censuses in 2007 and 2017 used only the farm businesses on the Statistics South Africa business register as the sample frame. The agricultural survey by Statistics South Africa in the intervening years also relied only on the business register as the basis for the survey.

The data illustrates that we do not have a comprehensive picture of the size and structure of South African commercial agriculture. The latest agricultural censuses were restricted to farm businesses registered to pay VAT, despite pleas from academia for a comprehensive census, largely because of a lack of funding. In essence, we do not know anything about the tens of thousands of farm business that have a turnover of less than R1-million.

Building a picture

We expanded the findings from the censuses with numbers from the 2011 Population Census and the 2016 Community Survey.

Data from the 2011 Population Census shows that 2 879 638 households out of South Africa’s total population, or 19.9 per cent of all households, are active in agriculture. The census report on agricultural households established that only 2 per cent of these households reported an annual income derived from agriculture above R307 000. This translates into 57 592 households that can be considered as commercial farmers, with agriculture as the main or only source of household income.

This refutes the common belief that the number of commercial farms in South Africa is declining. There are also another 349 000 households with agricultural income between R38 000 and R307 000, probably part-time farmers with this income serving as an additional revenue source.

The 2017 Agricultural Census report shows that 40 122 commercial farmers, almost all small family-based operations, produce more than 80 per cent of the total value of agricultural output.

Small-scale giants

One can therefore assume that around 214 800 farming households (black and white) who practise some form of commercial farming were excluded from the Agricultural Census.

Commercial farming in South Africa therefore consists largely of small-scale family-based operations with almost 90 per cent of all VAT-registered commercial farming businesses classified as micro- or small-scale enterprises, responsible for only 23 per cent of total farm income but 37 per cent of all farm employment.

The 2 610 large farms (with a turnover on average above R22.5-million per annum) were responsible for 67 per cent of farm income and employed more than half the agricultural labour force of 757 000 farm workers in 2017.

The facts presented here should enable more nuanced interpretation of South Africa’s farm structure. Not all white commercial farm operations are “large-scale” and not all black farmers are “small-scale”, “subsistence” or “emerging”, and most farm operations can be classified as micro or small in scale.

As Table 2 shows, there are 242 221 commercial farming households in South Africa, of which only 43 891 (18 per cent) are white commercial farmers.

If we consider only the agricultural households with agriculture as their main source of income surveyed in the 2016 Community Survey, we end up with a total of 132 700 households, of whom 93 000 (70 per cent) are black farmers.

Clearly our official data misses a lot of information on the many farmers outside the VAT-paying farmers. How we are able to make policies and design programmes for these farmers when they are not even counted in the sector remains a mystery.

PROF JOHANN KIRSTEN, director of the Bureau for Economic Research, says that the lack of accurate statistics in agriculture is leading to incorrect assumptions about the industry

Not all white commercial farm operations are “large-scale” and not all black farmers are “small-scale”, “subsistence” or “emerging”, and most farm operations can be classified as micro or small in scale.

Table 1: Farm structure in South Africa, 2017

Are we one faileD crop away from starvation?

With increasingly adverse weather, are we one storm or drought away from food insecurity?

LINDI BOTHA investigates how stable the food supply in South Africa really is

Empty fresh produce shelves greeted consumers in the United Kingdom in February, after a perfect storm of adverse weather and the huge jump in energy costs led to shortages of items like tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.

The question many are asking is whether they might face a similar fate as the United Kingdom, especially since the challenges are global. While high food prices are increasingly an issue, the February shortages highlighted an even greater concern: a complete absence of food due to farmers choosing not to produce amid high input costs. Just how far away are South African consumers from empty food shelves?

Factors of concern

Stable food production depends on myriad factors, from input costs and availability to weather, value chain infrastructure and politics. Mandla Mpofu, managing director of agriculture at Omnia, states that while geopolitical, economic and environmental factors affect the food chain, logistics, infrastructure (including power and other utilities) and geopolitical instability are the most concerning. “The industry relies heavily on ef cient movement of goods and services, without which we are vulnerable to supply-chain disruptions if business does not suitably plan around ongoing ux.”

Looking at inputs, the share of production costs attributed to fertiliser is around 20–35 per cent, according to Mpofu. Since 70 per cent of fertiliser is imported, the exchange rate is signi cant and has led to substantial cost increases over the past few months.

Another factor set to impact the cost and availability of food in future is climate change, where hedging against risk will add substantial costs for food production in a climate where a good harvest is not a given. At the extreme end of the spectrum, farmers could exit the industry completely as conditions become unconducive to farming.

Managing risk

Resilience and risk management play a key role in ensuring that should farmers lose their crop, they can still plant another without losing their farms. Hedging this kind of risk means farmers not only have to have insurance in place, but enough of a buffer in their bank accounts to see them through devastating events. This comes at a substantial additional cost.

Lof e Brandt, head of sales enablement at Absa AgriBusiness, notes that the use of multi-peril policies has declined over time, due to price and low demand. “However, larger farmers who have access to scale are in a better position to afford the formal risk-management products available in the market. They are also usually better positioned to make use of the other risk-mitigation strategies.”

That said, Brandt believes that there is limited risk to food security from adverse weather. “Production systems in South Africa are well developed, and history has shown that even during times of drought, food availability is not a big issue. Farm-management practices have also evolved over time, putting many farmers in a position to produce and withstand drier years better.”

Infrastructural issues

Looking at necessary infrastructure in the value chains, a lack of maintenance at South Africa’s national fresh produce markets has been highlighted as a threat to food security. Since the markets offers a crucial mechanism to distribute fresh produce and set fair prices, their optimal functioning keeps farmers in business.

Jaco Oosthuizen, CEO of the RSA Group, notes that in several

THREATS TO FOOD SECURITY IN SOUTH AFRICA

• Only 3 per cent of South Africa’s land being truly fertile land, compared to India’s 53 per cent

• Rising input costs and dependence on external factors that farmers cannot control, such as the oil price and the exchange rate

• Looming water scarcity and increasing loss of soil

• Lack of subsidies and extension support

• High murder rate and increasing tenure insecurity

• Predicted negative long-term climate changes

Source: World Wildlife Fund

regions the infrastructure crisis reached a tipping point last year. “If action isn’t taken very soon, a system collapse is possible, although it’s important to remember that private facilities are emerging in many areas to pick up the slack.”

Oosthuizen says that the impact of this is signi cant in terms of costs to the consumer.

“Players across the value chain are being forced to take extra measures to mitigate market failures and ensure product quality. Reinvestment by government in the supporting ecosystem is the crucial food security pillar around which all others take shape. If the revenues government received from the markets were reinvested in the system, producers would remain competitive and have a good incentive to keep producing, which would maximise value for consumers.”

“Reinvestment by government in the supporting ecosystem is the crucial food security pillar around which all others take shape.” – Jaco Oosthuizen

Jaco Oosthuizen

Mandla Mpofu

Supermarkets in the UK had little fresh produce to sell earlier this year when farmers stopped producing amid high input costs.

Government’s role in the cost-of-living crisis

DENENE ERASMUS investigates what is driving South Africa’s high food prices

Food price hikes in South Africa have outpaced headline consumer inflation for more than a year, and even as global food price increases are slowing down, local prices continue to rise.

The most recent inflation data published by Statistics South Africa shows that food inflation continued to increase in February, reaching a level of 13.6 per cent year-on-year.

Meanwhile, the global food price index compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has been on the decline for the past 11 months.

In terms of rands and cents, the cost of a basic food basket for four people, as defined by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group, increased by almost 12 per cent over the past year to just short of R5 000.

Mervyn Abrahams, the group’s programme co-ordinator, says that while the prices of some products included in the basket, such as sunflower oil, have decreased from record highs seen at the start of 2022 – when global commodity prices reacted strongly to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (the countries are important exporters of cereals and sunflower oil) – prices for other staple products have stayed consistently high. “The price of maize meal has increased by 26 per cent over the past year and even cheaper cuts of chicken are now getting more expensive.”

Against the grain

Grain prices are decreasing globally, but Marlene Louw, senior agricultural economist at Absa, says that South Africa is not necessarily going to benefit since the weakening of the rand has eroded any gains. Furthermore, the high prices still seen in the local market for maize are due to the lingering effect of the November and December price levels. “There is a roughly four-month delay between a decrease in commodity prices and

FRESH PRODUCE ITEMS WITH HIGH YEAR-ON-YEAR INFLATION

• More than 30 per cent: Onions, peppers

• Between 20 and 30 per cent: Spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, pumpkin, carrots, potatoes, apples and pineapples

• Between 10 and 20 per cent: Lettuce, broccoli, beetroot, mushrooms, sweet potatoes

Source: Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy

the effect of this on retail food prices,” Louw explains. She adds that local food prices will remain “sticky” for the rest of the year as farmers, food manufacturers and processors, and retailers continue to grapple with the effects of load shedding on their operations. “We expect to see less output from farmers and lower processing volumes at places such as abattoirs. The lower volumes combined with higher costs caused by having to rely on more expensive sources of electricity, such as diesel-fuelled generators, will continue to place upward pressure on food prices.”

War and price

The risk posed to South Africa by the war between Russia and Ukraine is not only on the food import side, but also on exports. Agribusiness consultant Dr John Purchase explains that the South African government’s stance on Russia could jeopardise trade relations with regions such as Europe and the United States.

“This could prove disastrous for exporters. Both the Unites States and the European Union, which represent

important markets for agricultural exports from South Africa, have already indicated that they ‘take a dim view’ of South Africa’s position on Russia,” says Purchase, who previously served as CEO of the Agricultural Business Chamber.

South Africa abstained from a vote condemning Russia for the war in Ukraine in the United Nations General Assembly. Instead, in recent months, government has opted to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

Purchase notes that authorities in South Africa now also face a diplomatic dilemma: the country will host the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) bloc later this year, which might be attended by Russian president Vladimir Putin. “However, the International Criminal Court (ICC), to which South Africa is a member, has issued a warrant of arrest for Putin, for committing war crimes. As a member of the ICC, South Africa is obliged to act on the warrant if Putin sets foot on South African soil, but the government seems disinclined to arrest a sitting head of state while in the country.”

Concern among exporters is growing that government’s diplomatic stance on Russia will hurt our country. Purchase adds that the African Growth and Opportunity Act, through which South Africa’s products can obtain tariff free access to the United State, is up for review later this year. “Already there are indications that South Africa will be relegated from the agreement [because of its stance on Russia].”

“The Unites States and the European Union, which represent important markets for agricultural exports from South Africa, have already indicated that they ‘take a dim view’ of South Africa’s position on Russia.”

– Dr John Purchase

Dr John Purchase

Mervyn Abrahams

Marlene Louw

Food prices have risen sharply globally and South Africa is no exception. The price of peppers has increased by more than 30 per cent since March last year.

Farmers understand how vital it is to take care of equipment. When something goes wrong, it not only means downtime for repairs and missed deadlines, but can also impact operator safety and affect the duration of the working life of the (often expensive) item. Keeping up with smaller maintenance tasks means you’ll be less likely to have to x major issues. Use this handy checklist to keep your tools and equipment in perfect working order.

1. CHECK, CHECK, CHECK

Carefully inspect equipment before it is needed to ensure it will be ready for use. Then, check it is in proper working order before packing away again. Strange noises, uneven movement, loose pieces and other signs of damage should be spotted and attended to immediately.

2.

PERSONALISED CHECKLISTS

Create a checklist for each piece of equipment, and work through this before using. Correct procedures for inspection, cleaning and repair will help protect your equipment. This is especially important when the machinery or equipment is used by multiple users as it helps avoid the “blame game” when something is found to be broken or damaged.

3.

KEEP IT CLEAN

Keeping equipment clean will help protect it. A high-powered blower such as the STIHL BR 700 will quickly blow away dust and grit from machine parts, lawnmowers, engines and workshop floors, among others. A STIHL high-pressure cleaner with its many attachments is also useful, particularly, if used with specialised STIHL cleaning products designed for different surfaces.

TAKING CARE OF FARMING TOOLS IS CRITICAL

10 tips for taking care of your farming tools. By

AUDAINE MOONSAMY, STIHL Sales Coordinator

4. KEEP IT SHARP

When using equipment with blades, it’s important to keep the blades sharp so they cut faster, more accurately and ef ciently. Blunt tools may break when used, so regular sharpening is important. While sharpening, you can check for cracks.

5. LUBRICATE MOVING PARTS

Ensuring there is minimal friction on moving parts will reduce wear and tear and increase productivity. STIHL produces a wide range of specialist oils and lubricants to keep machines and tools operating smoothly and ef ciently.

6. STORE SAFELY

It is essential to store tools and equipment safely and protect them from the elements. A storeroom, shed, or similar covered (and lockable) area is ideal. Keeping equipment covered and dry will preserve your investment and keep equipment running better for much longer.

7. PROTECT

YOUR PAPERWORK AND KEEP A RECORD

Have an organised system for keeping your paperwork safe. File documents such as receipts, owner’s manuals, dealership information, warranties and service records. Keep and record invoices of all repairs and maintenance work, whether you perform it yourself or require the services of a professional. It is useful to have a chart or checklist to note when routine maintenance and servicing are due.

8. TRAIN YOUR STAFF

To ensure your staff’s safety and protect your equipment, it is vital to undertake on-site training to ensure that your tools and machines are used properly.

9. AVOID “BOER-MAAK-‘N-PLAN”

It may be tempting, when faced with a trip to town to get parts or a missed servicing deadine, to attempt larger repairs yourself. Or perhaps you have a great idea about how to adapt a piece of equipment to suit your purposes. This might have worked in the past, but today’s machinery often features internal computers and highly specialised parts that can be damaged easily by your attempts to “maak ‘n plan” . Also, these do-it-yourself modi cations could void any warranties you may have and are not recommended by manufacturers and dealers. Ask your dealer rst before you get started!

10. INVEST IN A TRUSTED BRAND

It may also be tempting to buy the cheapest option, but that is often false economy. By investing in a trusted global brand name such as STIHL, you have the assurance that you are buying the best and are supported by a nationwide network of expert dealers that will provide pre-purchase advice according to your speci c needs and after-sales service once you have bought from them.

TOOLS BUILT SPECIFICALLY FOR FARMERS

extreme conditions

STIHL’s Farmers’ Range of tools will make the tough task of farming a little easier. The models are robust, powerful and simple to operate and maintain. And, for total convenience and exibility, these models share spares such as lters, among others. This means that even in remote rural locations, these machines can be serviced by one person without fuss or extended periods of downtime.

“STIHL Farmers’ Range tools are designed for work on any farm, large or small,” says Werner Nuss, export and business development manager at STIHL SA. “These durable 40cc and 1.55kW machines are economical to operate and are also well-priced.”

FUSS-FREE CUTTING AND DRILLING

The FS 230 brushcutter is new to South Africa. Lightweight yet powerful, this machine is what every property owner needs to make

light work of cutting and trimming tasks – it is ideal for clearing rebreaks and smaller areas of grass on plots and smallholdings. It features a cost-effective 40cc 1.55kW two-stroke engine and comes standard with a 305mm grass-cutting blade. The quickloading Autocut C26-2 nylon mowing head delivers impressive savings on nylon line. Fencing and pitting for planting are made easy with the STIHL BT 230 one-man auger. This 40cc machine uses two-stroke, making it cost-effective to operate. It can conquer the hardest, most compacted soil, drilling 30cm holes with ease. It is lightweight for easy handling, and the engine unit is protected on all sides by a sturdy support frame to withstand the demands of a rough in- eld working environment. Thanks to the use of market-standard components, a wide range of auger bits can be tted.

EASY WATER PUMPING, DIGGING AND PLOUGHING

With the WP 230 water pump, STIHL has addressed the essential need to access water for watering elds and livestock. This machine delivers a high vertical and horizontal pumping capacity of up to 250 l/min = 15 m3/h at up to 8m ow height and 27m pumping height. The standard lter cage protects the tool against intake of large particles and the high-quality clamps allow for easy hose assembly. The foam lter can be serviced quickly.

STIHL tools are known for their inherent quality, long working life and innovative design features that have been developed to deal with specific tasks.

Also developed for emerging farmers, the BC 230 cultivator with strong 250mm rotating long-life cultivator blades makes digging and ploughing easy. This machine has an ergonomic handle for maximum comfort during long periods of work and to protect the machine from dirt when laying the tool on the ground. The handles fold up for space-savvy storage.

ECONOMICAL AND EFFECTIVE CROP SPRAYING

The STIHL SG 230 portable petrol sprayer effectively applies herbicides and pesticides. In addition to its fuel-ef cient two-stroke engine, it is economical to use – there is very little waste of expensive chemicals as the 30m hose offers extended reach and more precise application. It delivers larger volumes with a controlled ow rate for high-volume spraying.

TOP-NOTCH PERFORMANCE AND SERVICE

Like any specialised item, STIHL products are only available at expert STIHL dealers countrywide, who offer guidance and top-notch after-sales service to STIHL customers. STIHL tools are known for their inherent quality, long working life and innovative design features that have been developed to deal with speci c tasks. With the STIHL Farmers’ Range, the agricultural sector now has tools speci cally developed to provide affordable, reliable mechanisation for multiple farming tasks.

FIND

For more information: www.stihl.co.za

Farming is tough, and in Africa, it is especially tough so you need tools designed for these

INNOVATION DRIVES GROWTH

DR THANDI CHIAPPERO

Programme Manager: One Health Consumer Assurance shares

why SAPPO has invested in an innovative animal movement app

USING THE APP STEP 1: REGISTRATION

Register as a user on the World of Pork

Visit www.worldofpork.com and register as a user or click on the following link: World of Pork Registration

Register your business

After registering as a user, navigate to My Business, then to Register New Business. Complete the registration form and submit the registration. The World of Pork team will review your application and notify you once your registration has been accepted. Alternatively, please contact info@worldofpork.com should you require assistance.

STEP 2: RECORDING A MOVEMENT

• SAPPO’s Consumer Assurance team and the World of Pork administration team can view all movement data.

• All captured data will be treated as highly confidential.

RECORDING MOVEMENTS

Before you can record a movement, you must be registered as a user and linked to a pig-producing business. Please follow the steps (detailed in the box alongside) applicable to your situation.

The South African Pork Producers Organisation (SAPPO) has introduced its Animal Movement App, a tool enabling South African pig producers to record the movements of pigs between their World of Pork-registered units to other producers and to abattoirs. SAPPO invested in this tool to strengthen its members’ ability to provide an assurance to consumers, stakeholders and trade partners that South African pork products are safe to eat, have been produced in an ethical manner, and are traceable throughout the value chain. Recording animal movements enables:

• backward and forward tracing during a disease outbreak, which enables faster resolution;

• validation of compartmentalised pigs to move to export abattoirs;

• validation that Pork 360-certi ed pigs move to Pork 360-certi ed abattoirs; and

• assistance in facilitating animal movements within South Africa and in protecting current pork exports, valued at R400-million, to countries in Southern Africa, Asia and Europe, and potentially fostering new trade relationships in the future.

WHO HAS ACCESS TO THIS DATA?

Access to movement data can be categorised as follows:

• Any user linked to the producer’s business can access movement data sent from the business.

• Any user linked to the destination business can access movement data received by the business.

Producers and members of their team can record movements between production units to other producers and to abattoirs registered on the World of Pork platform.

Sign into your World of Pork account

Sign in using the same email and password that you used to register on the World of Pork.

Create a new movement

Once signed into your World of Pork account, select the Animal Movement menu, then select Record a Movement. Select Create New Movement and complete basic movement information in Step 1. Select Next.

Optional

Upload movement documents in Step 2. Select Add in Step 3. Complete at least the Required and Product Type sections when creating a batch. At least one batch needs to be added to a movement. Select one of the following:

• Submit at the bottom of the page to

fi nalise the movement.

• Save Draft to fi nalise and submit the movement at a later stage.

• Exit Movement to clear all captured data and cancel the movement.

• If neither you nor your business are registered on the World of Pork platform, please complete steps 1 and 2.

• If you are already registered and linked to an existing producer business, please complete step 2.

• If you are registered, but not linked to your business, please contact the World of Pork team at info@worldofpork.com for assistance.

NEED ASSISTANCE?

For any questions on the application, or if you need any assistance with the SAPPO Animal Movement App, please send an email to  thandi@sappo.org or  info@worldofpork.com  or call 012 100 3035.

Scan this QR code to go directly to the SAPPO website.

For more information: 012 100 3035 info@worldofpork.com www.sappo.org

Dr Thandi Chiappero

LUCAS LEDWABA talks to three farmers about what drives their passion and commitment to seeing their sector change lives

Farming is not a glamorous occupation, says pig farmer Modisaotsile Kenny Mocwiri. “It takes a lot of hard work and commitment, but what you really need is passion. If your aim is just to make money, then maybe farming is not for you. Yes, there is money in farming, but it’s much more than that.”

Never have truer words been spoken. The realities of the challenges farmers face have deterred many a youth from opting for gumboots rather than a suit. However, as pig farmers Mocwiri, Johan van der Walt from Limpopo and Michael Fysh from Gauteng

“We are more than just guys who produce bacon and chops”

Modisaotsile Kenny Mocwiri left the financial services industry to farm pigs.

“If your aim is just to make money, then maybe farming is not for you.” –Modisaotsile Kenny Mocwiri

believe, if farming is in your heart, success will follow. These farmers are an example of a new wave of protein producers who are creating jobs and reducing negative impacts on the environment.

While Mocwiri is today an award-winning pork producer in Lichtenburg in the North West province, he started farming after learning the finer points of the business on the internet. “I grew up in a village, and decided after staying in Pretoria during my studies that, as an introvert, I needed my own private space, while also wanting to be close to my father. I wanted to grow personally and not work for somebody else,” he says of his decision to join the family cattle farm after graduating in financial management studies. Mocwiri’s dream is to grow his business so that he can create more jobs in the area, where unemployment and poverty levels are high. Currently his farm produces on average 100 pigs a month, which puts him in the small-scale producer category, but his aim is to grow and play in the big league of largescale commercial pig farmers.

ABOUT SAPPO

The South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) enables and facilitates a sustainable and profitable pork value chain by providing strategic direction, rendering specialised services, and supporting people development.

SAPPO represents close to 700 producers and closely interacts with input suppliers, abattoirs, processors, and retailers in the pork value chain. These relationships enable SAPPO to coordinate industry interventions, and collaboratively manage risks in the pork value chain. SAPPO also liaises with various agricultural stakeholders, including the South African government, international organisations, and the larger livestock industry.

SAPPO actively positions itself as an innovator and leader in agriculture. Over the years, SAPPO’s industry interventions have yielded a significant impact. As the global landscape changes, SAPPO is constantly looking for new ways to unlock value for the South African pork industry.

The organisation is recognised by the South African Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and key agricultural role players as the representative industry organisation for pork producers.

Keeping it in the family

Fysh and Van der Walt are true examples of the apple not falling far from the tree. Both their fathers were pig farmers and they followed in their footsteps to carry on the family tradition.

Van der Walt runs a commercial pig farm in the Settlers area in southeastern Limpopo. “My dad was a farmer and sort of an environmentalist, and that’s where I think I got the passion for farming,” says Van der Walt, who graduated from the University of Pretoria’s school of agriculture.

His family were initially crop farmers but later ventured into pig farming. “My dad and my mother both started with pigs on the farm to increase cash flow, since crop farming only provides an income once a year.” Later, together with his brother, they joined the family’s pig farming business and helped to grow it.

Van der Walt has found an innovative and environmentally friendly way to dispose of the carcasses of pigs that die on the farm. He runs what environmentalists call a “vulture restaurant”, a fenced-off area where nature’s clean-up army gathers to feast on dead pigs that would otherwise have gone to waste. Due to the highly corrosive stomach acid in a vulture’s stomach, they are able to digest food that could otherwise be harmful to other animals.

Van der Walt reveals there were no vulture colonies in the area prior to the establishment of the restaurant. “We fenced off a piece of land of about 70 square metres, put water within the fenced area as well as the pig carcasses and just hoped that the vultures would come. It took a considerable while, coupled with a lot of patience, but then indeed one day, they arrived,” he says with pride.

The restaurant provides immense value to South Africa’s wildlife, as vulture populations are dwindling due to poisoning. With safe and consistent access to food at the pig farm, the vulture populations can flourish while researchers have easy access to the birds.

“We fenced off a piece of land of about 70 square metres, put water WITHIN THE fenced area as well as the pig CARCASSES AND just hoped that the vultures would come.” – Johan van der Walt

THE SAPPO ACADEMY

To cater for various training and development needs, the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) has launched an online training academy called the SAPPO Academy.

The platform offers basic principles of pig production courses, consisting of 11 modules. Modules may be individually purchased or purchased as a group at a discounted rate.

Each module consists of a video, downloadable notes, and an assessment to be completed online. A certificate of attendance can automatically be downloaded upon completion of the assessment.

The course can be accessed by registering at:

https://www.sappoacademy.com/ sappoacademylanding

For more information, please contact the SAPPO office at 012 100 3035 or admin@sappo.org

Johan van der Walt

From manure to motor Fysh, who runs a pig farm in Honingnestkranz near Pretoria, also chose the farming life having graduating with an unrelated degree –in information technology. When his father’s health failed around 2003, Fysh decided to come help out at the farm and never left. His approach is to tread lightly on the earth, and has established a system that turns pig manure into biogas, a welcome intervention in the age of constant load shedding. “Some years ago, we decided we wanted to do something useful with our waste.

We embarked on quite a long journey, with some bumps in the road, but the result is that we have a biogas system that produces about 150 kilowatts (kW), or 15 hours of power, a day.”

Manure is collected and put into a biodigester that facilitates a biological process to produce bacteria. The biodigester consists of a plastic-lined and covered reservoir, which Fysh describes as something like a covered swimming pool. “The bacteria eat whatever nutrients are left in the feed over a period of time, releasing a by-product called biogas, which is methane rich. We then put that through a process to remove various elements like water, and once that is complete, we put it into a modified petrol motor to generate power.” He adds that the system can achieve a potential 250kW.

Fysh’s passion, however, remains pig farming. His farm employs up to 40 full-time staff, who tend to an average 13 000 pigs present on the property at any given time. “I think pig farming is as good as any other farming. You do need to be very careful, however, to do your research and understand the challenges before you leap into it. But if you are passionate, I believe you can make it work.”

WHAT REALLY GOES DOWN ON A PIG FARM?

An innovative documentary series reveals the real character behind some of South Africa’s pork producers. Born out of a need to inform the consumers about pig farmers and cultivation practices, the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) launched a video series called SAPPO Selekt: Satisfy Your Curiosity to provide an understanding of the agricultural sector and help consumers better understand where their food comes from.

Christian Zimelka, SAPPO’s head of consumer education, explains that following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the organisation was forced to hold its annual general meeting online, an event that also drew pork producer organisations from countries around the world. These were invited to share their challenges and plans on farming in the future. “What emerged was that everyone was facing a similar problem: the disconnect between farmers and consumers. Most consumers don’t really know where their food comes from – who grows and produces it. They don’t know their personal stories, their passions or how they aid the environment.”

Zimelka adds that consumers’ views about farming and farmers are often shaped by skewed, negative reporting in the media. This is why SAPPO decided to dig deeper, to understand the personal narrative of each farmer and why they do what they do, then present the information to the public so that they could see first-hand how farms are run.

PORK FACTS

• SAPPO represents around 550 pork producers in South Africa.

• Small-scale producers form an integral part of South Africa’s pork industry. The total number of pigs kept in informal herds in 2021 was estimated at 893 000.

• The sector supports thousands of livelihoods and provides affordable protein to consumers in rural areas.

• The asset value of the informal herd equates to approximately R1.24 billion.

Source: Agri Handbook for South Africa

The videos have been hugely popular and have sparked a greater debate around better informing the public about what really happens on farms. To see where your pork chops come from, view the online video documentary series at sappo.org/selekt

“We THEN PUT OUR biogas through a process to remove various elements like water, and once that is complete, we put it into a modified petrol motor to generate power.” – Michael Fysh

At the vulture restaurant, these endangered birds can feast on pig carcasses provided by farmer Johan van der Walt.

Michael Fysh turns pig manure into valuable biogas.

e-Commerce to the rescue for SMALL-SCALE farmers

LEDWABA

Roy Nohari runs a sugar cane and vegetable farm in Tongaat, some 40km north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. For as long as he can remember, the fresh produce market has always served as a central point of conducting business for both small- and large-scale commercial farmers.

“We are able to display our produce and over time establish a list of customers, who then contact us directly over the phone,” says Nohari. “But we still meet them at the market because it is the easiest and most central point for everyone.”

This all changed in 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic altered how people conducted business of all kinds. A 2020 paper by the World Trade Organization, “COVID-19 and agriculture: A story of resilience”, noted the direct impact of lockdowns: “Measures to curb the virus included policies that both facilitated and restricted agriculture trade. Agricultural trade flows changed significantly, due notably to a sudden change in consumption patterns triggered by the measures put in place.”

Connecting through e-commerce

During September 2020, when the whole world was still in the midst of containing the pandemic, South African businessman Louis De Kock established Nile.ag, a business-to-business e-commerce platform that connects farmers directly to commercial buyers of fresh produce.

De Kock grew up on a farm in the Northern Cape and worked for Amazon Fresh in the United States, with the responsibility of growing the Amazon grocery platform. His farming background stood him in good stead during this period, he says. “We were very fortunate that during COVID, people became more sensitised to the idea of trading online. As a result, the business grew much faster than we could have ever anticipated. We have grown every single month since the launch and the momentum has continued post the pandemic.”

Nile.ag now facilitates sales of more than 20 000 tonnes of fresh produce every month, a number that continues to grow daily.

Nohari highlights some critical factors that remain major concerns for farmers with regard to the migration to e-commerce and online technology. He argues that while e-commerce and online social media apps might benefit large-scale commercial farmers, smaller producers might find it difficult to mitigate the cost of doing deliveries if they were to rely on these platforms. “Imagine delivering 1kg of green beans to somebody who’s 10km or even 4km away. What is the price going to be for that 1kg? What will the fuel cost be?”

De Kock points out that Nile has developed an extensive network of more than 30 freight

owners across southern Africa to enable farmers to connect, regardless of their location or logistical means. “If we know that there are smallholder farmers, we allow them to piggyback on larger ones. We are aware that small-scale farmers don’t always have logistical means to transport their produce in an economically viable manner.”

Fair trade

Another benefit of doing business online is that since there are no people or agents involved in the trading process, the inherent biases of person-to-person trading are reduced. De Kock says that, for example, a small producer farmer might have good quality produce but because they are small or from a certain background, they could be given a reduced price if the bias is not removed. “On the Nile platform, the transactions are more objective because the quality and pricing are apparent to all who are involved, and there are no intermediaries. The buyer doesn’t need an agent to make a determination, regardless of whether it’s from a small- or large-scale farmer. The unbiased nature of an online platform can create a safe space for smaller farmers to transact in a fairer manner.”

The fourth industrial revolution is slowly leading farmers to new pastures, writes LUCAS

“The buyer doesn’t need an agent to make a determination, regardless of whether it’s from a small- or large-scale farmer.” – Louis de Kock

Small-scale farmers are often located in remote areas far away from cities, increasing the cost of transporting their produce.

High-tech agri apps

How technology is driving change within the agriculture sector.

By HANLIE DU PLESSIS

“The pace of change has never been this fast, yet it will never be this slow again.” These words spoken by Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau at the 2018 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos continue to ring true. Agriculture is experiencing tremendous change throughout its value chain. The obligation to feed a growing population and produce more with less falls squarely on the shoulders of this sector, an obligation that can’t be met without embracing the change that has come with the fourth industrial revolution.

Self-driving tractors, drones, satellites and apps are already part of a farmer’s world, bringing with them a renewed interest from a younger generation of farmers. As Grain SA CEO Dr Pieter Taljaard notes: “We have seen a massive increase in the number of young farmers attending our congress this year. Some 25 per cent of all attendees were 35 or younger.”

Cultivating skills

This data- and technology-driven sphere requires special skills and knowledge.

Marianne van der Laarse, CEO of Agrijob and AgriCAREERConnect, explains: “Each part of the value chain is experiencing its own challenges in acquiring appropriate skills.

Not only does the industry require agricultural science skills, but graduates also have to upskill to comply with the demand for skills in advanced technologies, from seed to plate. In addition to the specialised agricultural skills required, knowledge of computer programming and artificial intelligence is a necessity throughout the value chain.”

With this increase in the demand for data scientists, software engineers, and developers who can create sector-specific tools and technologies, are South Africa’s training institutions geared to facilitate this new generation of agri-programmers?

Dr Jan Greyling, head of Stellenbosch University’s AgroInformatics Department, is positive that tertiary institutions are proactively addressing the demand for data scientists in the country.

“Many universities and colleges have introduced programmes and courses in data science, agriculture and information technology,” says Greyling. “For example, our AgroInformatics Initiative aims to enable and

advance data-intensive research and innovation in food, agriculture and natural resources. As the global population approaches 10 billion by 2050, deep expertise in natural systems and data science will be crucial for ensuring food security.”

The wrong kind of silo

While research and development of technology for commercial agriculture is progressing quickly, producers still experience gaps, leading to agricultural management solutions that do not meet all the requirements. Producers often have to use multiple systems ending up with siloed information that is difficult to consolidate.

Edrean Ernst, director of Allesbeste farm in Tzaneen, Limpopo, found himself in such a position. “We had to cherry-pick systems to address all our data requirements, resulting in a fragmented management system that meant it was difficult to make integrated business decisions.” He addressed the problem by developing a tailor-made platform on which existing systems could be integrated to provide a single source of truth for easier operations. Although the majority of food is produced by big commercial farmers who have cutting-edge technologies, small-scale and subsistence farmers who cannot afford the same technologies are not being left out. Three young entrepreneurs, Karidas Tshintsholo, Matthew Piper and Jackson Dyora, founded Khula four years ago to provide small-scale farmers with technology they can afford and a marketplace to grow their business.

“Our aim was to have a real impact on the lives of rural people,” says Tshintsholo. “Smallholder farmers have to cope with a lot of challenges, including access to inputs, marketing, selling and the transporting of their produce. Khula is a platform that aims to address all of these issues, providing farmers with access and liquidity.”

The platform is an ecosystem comprising three products: the inputs app that allows farmers to access inputs and services globally; the fresh produce marketplace where farmers can sell produce directly to local and international buyers; and the funder dashboard where institutional investors can connect with farmers. Together, these offer innovative and affordable technology designed to specifically address the needs of smallholder farmers.

With each technological improvement, the next innovation will follow faster. The agricultural data science field is blooming with opportunities; we are only limited by our imaginations

Karidas Tshintsholo

Phone apps for farmers are developing quickly but much room still exists to provide all the tools they need for optimal production.

A Growing Appetite for Technology

Feeding a sub-Saharan population that will exceed 2.5 billion by the year 2050 will demand a significant increase in food production. In fact, farms large and small will need to increase their production by around 70% between now and then!

The only way to maximize progress and mitigate future food poverty is for the agricultural industry to embrace technologies designed to forecast weather patterns, automate machinery, maximise land usage, minimise wastage, provide actionable data, and drive more efficient farm-to-fork channels.

Because one fact is unassailable: If we’re to keep up with tomorrow’s population growth, the time to act is today.

For more information on SYSPRO ERP for farm management, scan this QR Code or call 461 1000.

TOWARDS MORE EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE FARMING

By 2050, the global population will exceed nine billion. To feed all these people, the world’s farmers will need to dramatically increase production – by around 69 per cent between 2010 and 2050, according to a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN report on global agricultural. To get this right, farmers – from smaller-scale farmers to sizeable agricultural businesses – are embracing smart farming techniques and technologies to help them optimise production, anticipate demand, mitigate threats and adapt quickly to changing market conditions. All this brings a new level of intelligence into farming operations, making more sustainable and ef cient farming possible.

According to research from McKinsey & Co, if connectivity is implemented successfully across the agricultural industry, the sector could contribute an additional $500-billion in value to global gross domestic product by 2030. This would alleviate much of the pressure on farmers. But even in more digitally advanced economies, the percentage of farmers using connected equipment is low. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, these numbers plummet further when you look at farms in countries where network coverage is low and the high cost of connectivity remains prohibitive.

LEVERAGING QUALITY DATA TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY

On the data side of things, there is incredible potential for farmers to collect more data and then leverage this information to improve everything from the amount of water they use to irrigate their crops to how much they charge for their products when they sell them down the supply chain if retailers don’t dictate the price.

But data quality is key. Across the tech industry, the cautionary adage: “garbage in, garbage out”, is widely used to showcase that quality of the output is determined by the quality of the input. In the agricultural industry, digital farming can optimise complex farming operations, but only if the data fed into these systems is accurate, clean and up to date. Poor data renders good technology tools unreliable, and manufacturing industries have already realised that clean data is required to feed forecasts of demand versus supply and what will sell.

When agricultural enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are fed the right data – for example, information on long-term market and global trends in food consumption and preferences, and shorter-term help in where the best purchasers of crop and meat produce are – they deliver customised reports and dashboards featuring data-based insights,

so farmers have all the information they need to make the best decisions.

In addition, predictive analytics can forecast trends such as the growing super-health trend, providing insights on how to differentiate processes, products and distribution to feed lucrative markets effectively. ERP solutions can also be used to understand and anticipate how to redistribute or recycle quantities of potential food waste, such as offcuts and near-use date, to needy and starving markets fast.

TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS

Currently, cropland expansion serves as one of the main strategies to boost agricultural production in countries worldwide. But this expansion is also a major driver of biodiversity decline. With the right tools in place, farmers needn’t expand their footprint. Tools such as internet of things devices arming machine learning with terabytes of raw data to drive arti cial intelligence distil clear and reliable insights to farmers to derisk their “gut feel” and support data-led decision-making.

Farmers can implement measures to ensure that their processes are as ef cient as possible. In action, GPS-equipped tractors could be used to better monitor and manage the usage of farming equipment and, thus, reduce energy consumption. Sensors can be tted to silos to trigger automated reordering when stock reaches a certain level, reducing inventory costs. In addition, livestock can be tted with trackers to curb disease outbreaks, while trackers tted to crops will improve observation and care.

If the industry is to drive progress and maximise its potential in the future, now is the time to act. Just as farming feeds the local and global population, so data will feed the technology that drives effective, lower-waste farm-to-consumer channels. The switch to technology is crucial to avoid future food poverty.

Scan this QR code to go directly to the Syspro website.

For more information:

011 461 1000

Info@syspro.com

za.syspro.com

DOUG HUNTER, business development and ecosystem manager

at SYSPRO Africa, discusses how technology is helping make food production more efficient and sustainable

Rural youth make working the land fashionable

Black youth deep in rural areas of Port Shepstone, in the South Coast region of KwaZulu-Natal, are making agriculture fashionable, and in the process contributing towards food security and growing the rural economy in the job-starved region.

While many young people in KwaZulu-Natal dream of leaving their rural villages for greener pastures and making it big in industrialised cities such as Durban and Johannesburg, a new crop of youth is realising the value of staying put and working the land. With an unemployment rate that stands at 36 per cent in the region, increased productivity and employment opportunities in agriculture have made the sector more attractive to youth.

The turnabout has been helped by the Siyavuna Abalimi Development Centre, a nonprofit organisation empowering small-scale farmers through skills and enterprise development. Its Activating Youth In Agriculture programme assists experienced farmers in

Siyavuna Abalimi continues to seek innovative ways to make the agricultural value chain more attractive to the youth through their annual internship programme.

By BUSI MBOYISA

transferring their skills and knowledge to youth through systematic and structured mentorship. Participants spend two days a week in the field with supervisors and mentors.

“We have trained about 2 000 farmers, both male and female,” says Oxolo Mofokeng, executive director of the centre. “Our project has developed agri-hubs in different community areas.

Through the support of the Social Employment Fund, we employ 1 000 participants, mostly youth, to grow, harvest and sell vegetables to local businesses and bigger markets. We also encourage them to start their own gardens at homes through training and skills development, and guide them through the process of starting their own businesses.”

Mofokeng was recognised by the Mail & Guardian last year as one of South Africa’s 200 Young South Africans for her contribution to youth empowerment on the South Coast. The centre has been helping farmers and gardeners grow food, and develop techniques and skills to boost their production for 14 years already. What makes Siyavuna Abalimi’s model successful is that, with every project they venture into, the organisation first conducts a value chain

feasibility study to research the market and find gaps to fill. They currently grow and produce diversified crops including aloe vera, dried vegetables, paprika and amaranth.

Food on the table

Slindile Nxumalo, 28, a young woman from Gcilima, is one of the farmers who have gone on to start their own farming business after receiving training through the centre. She is part of a group of pioneering young farmers in the village who grow bulbine, a plant that produces a jelly-like juice that soothes burns, rashes, blisters, insect bites, cracked lips, acne, cold sores and mouth ulcers.

In addition, Nxumalo is now adept at organic vegetable farming. “Coming from an impoverished background, I have been able to improve my living conditions and support my two babies,” she says.

Using the skills she acquired from the project, Nxumalo has also started her own garden at home, growing vegetables which she plans to sell to locals.

Another programme participant, Khanyisani Danca, adds that she is overjoyed at the skills development she receives. “We are able to do something better with our lives and put food on the table for our families.”

Bearing fruit

Mofokeng notes that through funding from the Industrial Development Corporation, the centre has received infrastructural support and a monthly stipend for a year to help farmers grow their own produce, and do pricing, financials and reports. It also helps them establish their own businesses and compete in bigger markets.

Despite being adversely impacted by the destructive floods that wreaked havoc on the province last year, Mofokeng says the centre was able to bounce back and continue with its mission at various sites in the region. Siyavuna Abalimi continues to seek innovative ways to make the agricultural value chain more attractive to the youth through their annual internship programme, where they take in 10 agriculture graduates from different universities to offer them skills training. Some of their beneficiaries are now permanently employed by government and by different commodities in the agricultural sector.

Nxumalo’s hard work and determination is bearing fruit – she is now a technical advisor for the project. “Currently, I act as a bridge connecting the elderly and the youth. I enjoy working as a technical advisor who liaises with mentors and their proteges. I have a dream that, once I acquire land which is big enough, I will be a self-sustaining farmer,” she concludes.

Slindile Nxumalo

Oxolo Mofokeng

Fresh vegetables ready for market.

Building on the positive gains of transformation

South Africa has made progress in transforming the agricultural sector, but concerted effort is needed to make real change.

By Malapane Tha M aga , agricultural economist at

the African Farmers Association of South Africa

Since the dawn of democracy, South Africa has made concerted efforts to transform the agricultural sector through the introduction of myriad agricultural economic policy reforms. However, far more can be achieved if the South African agricultural sector can build on the positive gains made in the past 29 years. There are also serious lessons to be learned, too.

The sector continues to reflect the duality of successful white commercial farmers, who contribute more than 90 per cent of agricultural output, and struggling emerging black farmers, who contribute less than 10 per cent. The picture becomes even worse when you move along the value chain, which tends to be concentrated among a few large firms. The oligopolistic characteristic of agricultural value chains tends to be the same as you move from one commodity to another, and comparable conclusions can be made about the financial sector. This leads to market failures that must be corrected through various government interventions.

SeedS that never grow

If there is one area that South African agricultural sector has excelled in, sadly, it is spending towards the development of new policy programmes without actually implementing anything. Programmes are changed with every shift in political administration, before they can even reach maturity.

For example, in 2015, to enable a transparent land reform programme, then-Minister of Land Reform and Rural

Development Gugile Nkwinti introduced the District Land Reform Committees in the 44 districts of the country. Committee members were trained to identify farms suitable for acquisition by government, with target of acquiring 20 per cent of strategic agricultural farming land in the country by 2030.

They were tasked with identifying and interviewing potential candidates for farm allocation, advising the minister on the strategic support needs of identified farms and candidates, and resolving land rights conflicts. All these gains were put on hold by Nkwinti’s successor, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. Since then, the land reform programme has been handled internally and less progress has been made towards the 20 per cent target.

the Power to chooSe

On another front, government continues to support different segments of emerging farmers through the various programmes. These forms of support are highly appreciated, as they are needed to help grow this category of farmers towards commercialisation. However, there seems to be a lack of strategy to accommodate more farmers who are yet to be supported towards commercialisation, especially those who have acquired their own land privately.

Complaints from farmers regarding farmer support are mainly due the reach, delayed delivery of inputs, quality of procured inputs and inflated input prices due to inefficient supply chain procurement mechanisms. There is, however, a successful system used by the Free State Department of Agriculture that empowers

farmers by giving them the power to choose their own suppliers, allowing them to source quotations from three different suppliers. This is worth replicating throughout the country, as it empowers farmers and ensures that there is value for money spent.

There are also impactful contributions made through the Agricultural Industry Trusts whereby 20 per cent of the bodies’ budget is allocated towards transformation work. There were 11 Agricultural Industry Trusts worth R2.4-billion as of 2021. In 2020, about R76.6-million was channelled through transformation-related projects to empower mainly black farmers.

What is positive about initiatives driven by Agricultural Industry Trusts is that they put more emphasis on the quality of farmer training rather than chasing numbers. It would be worthwhile to have the trusts follow a public-private-partnership approach and work hand-in-hand with government on initiatives related to the Agricultural and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP), to avoid duplication of responsibilities, while also learning from each other’s experiences and leveraging resources. These efforts could be easily managed through the commodity round tables as proposed in the AAMP.

Lastly, it would be worthwhile appreciating that if you cannot measure, you cannot manage. There is a serious need to publish regularly the number of black farmers supported by both the development finance institutions and commercial banks annually, to track their contribution towards inclusive growth as articulated in the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. Institutions like Statistics South Africa and the National Agricultural Marketing Council need to work together to publish transformation data regularly and enable government to track agricultural transformation in South Africa.

Programmes are changed with every shift in political administration, before they can even reach maturity.

Malapane Thamaga

Politics is getting in the way of food security

Government’s short-sighted attitude towards agriculture is hurting the sector, writes PRINCE

MASHELE

It is only very recently that the public has come to terms with the implications of electricity shortages for us all. In many parts of our country, people are beginning to understand the link between load shedding and water shortages. Even in big cities, taps are now running dry. What is conspicuous by its absence in the public domain is a focus on the impact of load shedding on food security, even though we all can see that our wallets can no longer ll the same food basket they could not long ago.

We have now reached a point where millions of us cannot afford to buy something as basic as food, yet we hear nothing from government in the form of interventions to assist farmers with rising production input costs. If we look deeper into the problem, we see that South Africa’s history and political economy of food production in South Africa have complicated the matter.

A complicated history

Before 1994, the government provided subsidies and technical support (such as research and marketing) to farmers. The support goes back to the creation of the Land Bank in 1912, the establishment of the Farmers Assistance Board in 1925, and a whole range of agricultural support programmes introduced by the apartheid government.

The irony is that the black politicians who met to discontinue agricultural subsidies ate food produced by the same white farmers they decided no longer to support.

The problem is that farmland (especially for commercial purposes) and agricultural subsidies were given only to white farmers, with black people systematically prevented from participating in commercial farming. Black people’s exclusion from land was institutionalised through the Land Act of 1913.

It is South Africa’s long history of racial discrimination in farming that has shaped the attitudes of the ANC-led government that has been in power since 1994. When they ascended to state power, one of the rst things ANC politicians did was to discontinue support for white farmers. The irony is that the black politicians who met to discontinue agricultural subsidies ate food produced by the same white farmers they decided no longer to support.

Indeed, white farmers produced food not only for white people but also for millions of black South Africans. Thus, punishing them also meant making food more expensive for everyone. ANC politicians do not feel the pain since they pay themselves handsome governmental salaries.

Prince Mashele

Land unreformed

Since 1994, the ANC has been trumpeting a new land-reform programme that was meant to redistribute land to black people and provide support to new black farmers. The summary of a very long and complicated story is that the programme has been a disaster.

The ag-bearer of this disaster is the Mala Mala Game Reserve in Mpumalanga. The government bought 65 000 hectares of commercially lucrative game farming land attached to the Kruger National Park in 2014, and handed it to surrounding poor black communities in the name of land restitution.

This is the most expensive of all restitution transactions in South Africa since 1994, costing the state R939 360 000. Go to the rural villages surrounding Mala Mala today and you will nd the so-called bene ciaries as poor as they were before the transaction took place. The whole scheme has descended into factional in ghtings involving thugs and corrupt ANCconnected pseudo-activists.

Most black people who live in different parts of South Africa know of a failed land-restoration scheme near to where they are. At every agricultural industry gathering, there is no shortage of black farmers who are as frustrated as their white counterparts by ANC corruption and lack of government support. Instead of correcting the wrongs of history in agriculture, the ANC has made life dif cult for all farmers today – black and white. These dif culties are felt by all of us ordinary South Africans when we visit our nearest grocery store.

Policies are never evaluated on the basis of their good intentions; they are assessed on outcomes. The question must be: Has the ANC government’s intention to redistribute land to black people and provide support to emerging black farmers produced results? The answer is that nearly 30 years since the ANC came to power, most of South Africa’s fertile commercial land is still in the hands of white people.

What, then, is to be done? The answer requires courage: vote the ANC out, install a new ethical government, reinstate agricultural subsidies and provide targeted state support to black farmers. The goal must be to guarantee food security for all South Africans and make food affordable for poor people.

, political analyst at the Centre for Politics and Research

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