Questions to ask when you're about to grow crops

@gsafarmerdev tweets on training by Johan Kriel from Grain SA. Workshops revolve around asking and answering some questions. The questions are practical and very worthy, and we reproduce them here:

What?

What is the crop you want to plant? Can it be grown successfully in your district? Do farmers still plant it now or have they planted it in the past 3 seasons? Are they making a profit?

When?

 Do you know the planting date, the cut – off date for planting? Soil preparation time? Dry times, very hot times, frost time?

Why?

Why this crop? What is the possible price? Is there a good market? Where will you sell? Do you have an alternative plan in place for your product?

How?

How do you prepare your soil? Have the lands been resting, follow land unused for long? Are there compaction layers? Can you do the work in time to conserve enough moisture? Do you have production capital, equipment?

Where?

Where on your farm will you plant this crop? Have you checked the potential of your soil? Soil depth, texture, and colour? Do you have a recent soil sample result? Can you interpret it?

Who?

Whom do you buy inputs from, which company? Do you know how to get a quotation, compare price & product? Where will you store your inputs? Who will do the contracting work for you? Is he to be trusted?

Agricultural teams at banks, associations and other role players can advise farmers on how much land is needed to produce a particular commodity to be profitable, and to give other advice. These role players are listed in the "Emerging farmer support" chapter. Overviews are also given of all horticultural, industrial and agronomic crops as well as the livestock options

Google searches and farm murders

We are working our way through the chapters of the Agri Handbook, doing a general check on links and updating information. This morning we picked up where we left off yesterday, the “Berries & exotic fruits” chapter.

Subsequent to the 2011 edition we make only the occasional use of the telephone, looking instead for an internet presence to confirm contact details, a role player’s own website being the healthiest verification. Other useful results include social media profiles, Yellow Pages (and other) listings, news articles and court cases. 

We got to Mooiberge Farms. The top two results were “Mooiberge, the Farmstall best know for the strawberries and the Legion of Scarecrows deployed in the surrounding strawberry fields” and “For those eager to linger a little longer and return home with more than just lush berries, the much-loved on-site Mooiberge Farm Stall stocks everything from ...” And then, there at third place was “Mooiberge Strawberry farmer killed in robbery”.

No further work was done for several minutes. The loss was almost personal, like someone we had known personally.

There are those who see farm murders as part of an orchestrated campaign, and the gruesome, disproportionate violence meted out in some cases does appear to point to something beyond casual burglaries gone wrong. Others maintain that farm attacks are part of a wider picture of crime; that it is not helpful to make some victims more special than others.

With the average South African farmer being 62-years old, the need to encourage younger blood is obvious. This is a difficult ask when life as a farmer in South Africa is one of the most dangerous professions there is. As sobering as this is the fact that 40% of the working-age population is without any (legal) profession whatsoever, being unemployed or discouraged job seekers.

The country as a whole faces some major challenges, but until we realise that we are all in this together we will not make any progress that is real.

Showing learners the way

The Koue Bokkeveld Training Centre newsletter contains news of an agricultural excursion for grade 12 learners from four schools: Iingcinga Zethu Secondary School, Skurweberg Sekondêr, Ceres Sekondêr and Wolseley Sekondêr. They were given a day's practical demonstration of what studying agriculture involves.

Photo used courtesy of Hortgro and the Koue Bokkeveld Training Centre

Visits to the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) agricultural campus, Elsenburg, the South African Plant Improvement Organisation (SAPO) Trust and Fruitfly Africa were undertaken.

The tour was arranged by the Koue Bokkeveld Training Centre and industry association Hortgro. Congratulations! The average age of farmers worldwide is inceasing: in South Africa it is 62-years old; in the USA 58-years old. Every attempt should be made to increase the number of those entering this sector as a career.

Agricultural education & training and careers and employment are two chapters in the Agri Handbook. Both chapters can be downloaded free under the "Shop" option on the website.

Our strange planet and having all the time in the world

As someone who works from home, I often help a friend's children with school assignments. Yesterday's was a list of questions which included: (a) What impedes South Africa's economic progress? and, (ii) What strategies would you recommend government adopt to encourage economic development? I sat up, of course. To have people still at school considering questions like this is very commendable.

Today's news that unemployment has accelerated to 27.2% in the second quarter of 2018 compounds the urgency of the issue. And the African National Congress (ANC) has voted to pass a motion legitimising expropriation land without compensation (EwC). As an expert at the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) has pointed out, the ANC and the party which introduced the motion mean different things by EwC. Which hardly reassures future investors and people who already have put millions into their farms.

Political parties -- indeed, revolutions -- happen because people consider that they have the answer which, apparently, everyone else is too stupid to realise! I watch people mouthing phrases that were common in the 1970s and 80s and feel something like a time warp. And then hear others berate something like the social grants in South Africa which have kept food in the stomachs of the poor and saved us from revolution time and time again! And the international scene is as bad. Treating another country as if its humanity was somehow different to your own and provoking trade or other conflict is immature at best.

It makes one feel the years! Economic systems eventually disappoint. I remember the enthusiasm decades ago when friends at university embraced the "free market" principles of Thatcher and Reagan ... which led to neoliberalism and a scenario where wealth inexorably is siphoned up to the top 1% (whose number is itself dropping!). And socialism, at least as it is practiced in the examples I have been privy to, in turn disappoints.

Economies make me feel like an old man, or someone who thinks he is on a strange planet. That people do not have enough to eat while others have so much wealth that they are patently wasteful is a little bit weird. Drivers look ahead at traffic lights because the number of beggars and those wanting work is overwhelming. Drivers also face the fury of some who feel that the one behind the steering wheel is somehow personally responsible for their being on the street.

Until there is a shift in consciousness and a realisation that others are like us, with the same dreams and basic needs like a meal for the day and a roof over their head, we are heading in the wrong direction. It doesn't matter what the policy or ideology is. It might take decades still for the penny to drop and, unfortunately, we do not have all the time in the world.

To the many who are still visitors to this website, remember you can read the whole Agri Handbook at www.agribook.co.za.

“I’ve learned to be more assertive and that I really need to stick to my goals.”

The story of Renshia Manuel , owner of Growbox Nursery, in her own words

I grew up in Eerste River and, after high school, I studied motor mechanics for two years. (My mom was a single working parent and her car wasn’t very reliable so I thought this would a great way to help her.) After getting married, I moved to Hanover Park and worked as a librarian at a primary school for some years. Unfortunately, the school experienced financial problems and could no longer afford me.

Being unemployed, I was struggling to feed my four children and the only solution was to grow vegetables in my own garden. I then had the idea of starting a wholesale plant nursery within Hanover Park. At this point I entered Cape Town’s youth entrepreneurship challenge #YouthStartCT which offered weekly workshops. I started in the top 100 and made it all the way to third place, and received a prize of R5 000. I used this money to register my company and sort out all the tax and government requirements. I registered as a vendor with the City of Cape Town and the Department of Agriculture and bought my first stock, including pots and compost, to start my company Growbox in my back yard.

Growbox is primarily a social enterprise; we grow seedlings for farms, NGOs and the government. We also supply people who have limited space the opportunity to grow vegetables in our wooden Growbox. Our Growboxes are customised to meet our clients’ needs and come with the growth medium, as well as seedlings. We also offer corporate-sponsored food-gardening workshops in disadvantaged communities, and teach households how to grow food in limited spaces.

What sets us apart as a company is that we offer the complete package. It’s a hassle-free vegetable box. Our customers tell us what vegetable or herb plants they want and what size the box must be, then we deliver the fully-stocked box. This eliminates the need for customers to run around finding plants and compost. Our holistic programme starts households on the path to food growing, and teaches people how to grow vegetables sustainably and how to use food waste.

I believe that entrepreneurs need steadfastness, perseverance and the ability to work hard. Without these qualities, you won’t be able to overcome the inevitable setbacks and failures. For me, the biggest challenge when I started out was the lack of technical know-how. I thought it would be easy but it turns out that Google can’t teach you everything. I gained most of my technical knowledge through trial and error. (It would have been very helpful if I’d had a go-to person to give me advice.) Access to finance was also a challenge. I was very fortunate to receive funding from Netafim who also gave me support and linked me to farmers for technical support and mentorship.

In 2017 I entered ENGEN Pitch & Polish with the goal of boosting my confidence. Public speaking is one of my worst fears and is an area my mentor has encouraged me to work on. The programme was a great help in my pitching confidence and also taught me how to take rejection really well. Having to keep a straight face in front of an intimidating panel of judges taught me a lot. I’ve learned to be more assertive and that I really need to stick to my goals. (I applied much of what I learned when I did a funding proposal to Netafim.)

Since the competition, business has been going well. People tell me I have good problems because I have a high demand for my seedlings but don’t have the capacity to meet the demand. I’m very happy to say that on Mandela Day, we are moving into great new premises which will allow us to expand and meet the increased demand.

To the Pitch & Polish sponsors, Nedbank and Engen Petroleum, I would like to say thank you, thank you and thank you!

Scientists to embark on landmark study to assess extent to which rooibos could boost athletes’ performance

Press release

One of the hottest topics in sport and exercise science is the role that natural herbs can play in enhancing athletic performance. Already known for its many health benefits, home-grown Rooibos, will be put through its paces over the next few months when a team of scientists from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and the Prime Human Performance Institute in Durban will test the extent to which the tea could aid sportsmen and women.

In a previous study led by Prof Jeanine Marnewick at CPUT’s Oxidative Stress Research Centre, researchers found that Rooibos plays a preventative role in exercise-induced oxidative stress. In other words, Rooibos’ abundance of antioxidants works in unison to resist cell damage which often occurs during high-intensity bursts of exercise.

Prof Simeon Davies who heads up CPUT’s Sports Management Department explains that these studies have demonstrated that during repeated exhaustive exercise bouts Rooibos can reduce physical fatigue allowing for improved performance – both crucial factors in sport.

“In gist, oxidative stress can be defined as an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favour of oxidants – also known as free radicals. Since oxidants are unstable molecules, they can cause damage to vital cell components, such as genetic material, lipids and proteins. Free radicals are derived from organisms and cells inside the body and the outside environment, such as cigarette smoke, heavy metals, pesticides and certain medication, but can also occur as a result of strenuous exercise when our bodies use oxygen to produce energy.

“To prevent free radical damage, the body has a natural defence system of antioxidants that can combat the damage caused by oxidants, but it’s often not sufficient under certain conditions such as strenuous physical activity.

“The initial oxidative stress study already showed that drinking Rooibos in a concentrated form – equivalent to six cups a day – boosted performance during repeated arm flexion/extension work by around 5%, which may have interesting implications for usage in elite sports where every percentage point counts during competition, but may also allow for improved training that could in itself elevate competition times,” says Prof Davies.

To build on these findings, a further and more comprehensive study will be done in a simulated and controlled hypoxic (low oxygen) environment simulating high altitude (3 500m). The study will involve 50 relatively fit individuals between the ages of 18 and 60. On test day, each participant will consume a specially prepared tonic consisting of water and concentrated Rooibos or a placebo. Physical performance will be measured on calibrated Wattbikes, while oxidative stress and other related stress markers will be measured via blood samples to evaluate the efficacy of Rooibos during strenuous exercise.

The hypoxic element to the study aims to further investigate Rooibos’ ability to combat high altitude sickness (HAS). This is because exercising at high altitude induces a high degree of oxidative stress, which is often associated with HAS. In a pilot study, led by Prof Davies in 2015, eight climbers supplemented with Rooibos (in a concentrated pill form) while summiting Mount Aconcagua, which at 6 962m is the highest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere.

Many mountaineers who ascend to such high altitudes often need to take prescription medication to prevent HAS, but preliminary findings from the Aconcagua expedition found Rooibos to be an effective supplement that appeared to mitigate the effects of HAS.

Prof Davies says if Rooibos proves successful in the studies that are to follow, it could become a staple food supplement for elite athletes the world-over.

“As a scientist, I continue to be surprised by Rooibos’ health benefits. Of particular interest to the scientific community, is the flavonoid, Aspalathin, which is unique to Rooibos and is what gives it its powerful antioxidant punch. Aspalathin is known to reduce excessive fat production, balance blood sugar, improve glucose absorption in the muscle and increase insulin secretion in the pancreas,” he says.

The study, which will take place at the Prime Human Performance Institute at Moses Mabhida Stadium will lend scientific credibility to the value that Rooibos supplementation can have on naturally improving athletic performance – something which many adaptogens (plant species that encourage the body to adapt to physical and mental stress) lack.

 “It’s exciting to think that a South African indigenous plant such as Rooibos may become athletes’ next must-have supplement,” says Prof Davies. “In the not so distant future, concentrated Rooibos may also become available to consumers in tablet or tonic form to naturally elevate antioxidant levels in the body to help reduce one’s risk of other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.”

“For updates on the research project, follow Prof Davies and his team on the SA Rooibos Council’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rooiboscouncil/ or visit www.sarooibos.co.za for more info about the health benefits of Rooibos.

Rooibos and honeybush tea are both chapters in the Agri Handbook.

Paying attention to agro-processing

For those who might have missed it, the Department of Trade and Industry’s 2018/19-2020/21 Industrial Action Policy Programme (IPAP) were announced at the end of last month.

Some of the IPAP interventions have been met with remarkable success. In the leather and footwear sub-sector, for example, exports of leather and footwear have grown by 167%, from R 1.98 billion to R5.29 billion, with a peak employment figure of 21,190 in the sector, “clawing back jobs to a level last seen in 2007” (IPAP, 2018). Accordingly, we pay attention to where the dti’s interventions are being directed.

Agro-processing, in one form or another, usually features. Rightly so. The value chain currently employs around 283,000 people, contributing 20.3% to manufacturing GDP and 2.7% to total GDP (IPAP, 2018). The country is a net exporter of agro-processed products and so by strengthening this sector, we can work on our trade deficit.

The latest IPAP diagnoses investment needs, contrainsts and opportunities. Key Action Programmes in agro-processing are planned in the following sectors:

1. Indigenous plants, identified as having “enormous wealth of agro-biodiversity and have the potential to contribute to improved incomes, job creation and local economic development”.
2. To identify the potential of underutilised agro-processing facilities and turn them around as viable, sustainable, job-creating agribusinesses.
3. Facilitate the development and competitiveness of the Halal industry.
4. To work with stakeholders and investors to unlock constraints in the poultry value chain that currently inhibit new investments, deeper localisation and inclusive growth.
5. Agro-Processing Export Development. This targets Rooibos and fruit export development, and sugar industry development.

The IPAP can be located on the dti's website, www.thedti.gov.za.

In the Agri Handbook, find the following chapters of relevance: agro-processing, indigenous medicinal plants, poultry, rooibos, fruit and sugarcane.