By Kara van der Berg The aftermath of the drought that hit the Klein Karoo in 2016 is still being felt by the area’s farmers even though the drought technically ended two years ago. “The drought had different effects on different…
DROUGHT CRISIS TEACHES RESILIENCE By Grethe Bestbier Last season’s drought taught us much more than that what we already know about water management, irrigation, mulching, and other water-efficient techniques. But most importantly, it demonstrated the resilience of the deciduous fruit…
Introduction In the Western Cape of South Africa, all eyes have been focused on the taps during the 2017-18 summer. Dust storms could be seen clouding the sky above bare dams as shown in Figure 1. Three dry winters in…
By Elise-Marie Steenkamp Transformation and economic reform in agriculture are some of the biggest challenges that South Africa faces today and that is why the Deciduous Fruit Development Chamber’s commercialization programme, the Jobs Fund Project (JFP), is such a beacon…
Oor die Bokveld se stories, streke en karakters kan mens sekerlik ‘n dik boek skryf. Net in een familie kom mens Piet Kalifornië, Piet van Die Bos, en Piet Parlement teë. En nou ook, hoewel aangetroud, Pierre du Toit. Of…
For more than three decades, Anton Rabe has been part of the story of South Africa’s deciduous fruit industry — a journey shaped by change, challenge, opportunity and, perhaps most importantly, a willingness to step forward when there was no…
Richard Hutton-Squire, an apple and pear farmer, has been named Agri Western Cape Santam Young Farmer of the Year 2026. He spoke to Jenny Underhill at the head office of Hutton-Squire Farms in Elgin. Richard Hutton-Squire turned 40 last year…
Their Cripps Red block has surpassed a cumulative yield of 300 tonnes per hectare in its fourth leaf. Written by Anna Mouton. A Cripps Red block at Elgin Orchards wowed participants at the Hortgro Technical Symposium pome-fruit field day in…
By Engela Duvenage Dr Elke Crouch, newly appointed Postharvest Physiology Research Chair in Deciduous Fruit at Stellenbosch University (SU), unequivocally loves her work in the fruit industry. For one, it allows her to work closely with people who have over…
Produsente wat probleme het met krag of meer krag benodig kan nou by die Landbank aanklop finansiële hulp. Vind die volledige dokument hier: Agro Energy Fund from Land Bank 2023
Text Nitasha Baijnath-Pillay Consumer demand for sustainably produced fruit and investor preferences for ESG-compliant businesses are reshaping farming practices worldwide. In South Africa, fruit growers have consistently been at the forefront. As early as 2008, the fruit and wine industries…
By Elise-Marie Steenkamp The potential challenges that South African farmers may face, are not absolute outcomes. The EU-South Africa trade relationship and cooperation on sustainable agriculture can help mitigate some of these risks and foster a more mutually beneficial approach…