ProAgri BNZ 51 by ProAgri

ProAgri B otswa n a / Nam i b ia/ ia / Zim b ab w e No 51

Botswana

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page 23

Namibia page 31

Zimbabwe page 35

Botswana woman nominated for international engineering prize

Sweet success for Zimbabwe horticultural exports

Meet the compact but potent S440 Combine www.agri4all.com

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Closing the last page of this year’s calendar S

everal times I get asked by team members to assist with a farming calendar, and every time I realise this more and more: A farming calendar is more than just ink on paper; it is the lighthouse that steers the ship of agriculture towards the shores of success. Imagine a canvas stretched across a year, divided into 12 segments, each capturing the rhythm of nature’s pulse. This, dear reader, is the essence of a farming calendar. The value of a farming calendar stretches beyond timetables. It enables you to plan ahead. It is a shield against unforeseen circumstances and challenges. By knowing when challenges may arise, a farmer can be prepared, and ready to turn adversity into advantage. This calendar is the architect of proactive farming, a guard that stands against chaos. The year 2023 was an eventful one - a year full of surprises and challenges, but we have survived, and this is a blessing. In this year we have witnessed rising inflation, increased costs, and dynamic climate events. 2023 has also been a year of deep connection, authenticity, reinvention, and gratitude, for both our team internally and, without a doubt, for the industry. As we close the last page of this year’s calendar, the calendar’s role does not cease. It transforms into a mirror, reflecting the year’s performance. It

Content

3. 5. 8. 10. 12. 17. 20. 23. 27. 31. 35. 38.

Cover

becomes the compass for improvement, guiding the next act, ensuring each season surpasses the last. In this season of reflection, I wish to thank the farming and agricultural industry for their continued hard work and ensuring that many of our nation’s challenges and setbacks are tackled with expertise and love. We thank our farmers for their tireless work, it is because of them that we were able to put food on the tables throughout the year. We see you and we honour you, as always and in 2024, we carry this promise forward. We thank our readers and clients for your loyal support and to everyone in the industry whose doors were open throughout the year, for interviews, coffee, collaboration, and commitment. And a big thank you to my team, for your hard work and dedication month after month, edition after edition. We have certainly picked the fruits of all the hard work, and I am looking forward to the new year – a fresh start where we can catch up with all the lost ideals of the past year and achieve new ideals and heights. Wishing you a blessed holiday season! ProAgri greetings Bianca Henning bianca@proagri.co.za

New model on the block - Meet the S440 combine from John Deere Four ways Africa's driest countries improve water Improving the cattle industry and health African smallholders struggle despite increased international support Food for Africa: Legumes Technews: Highlights of 2023 Mechanisation consideration for drip irrigation industries Biomass Briquettes: Ludo Ntshiwa from Botswana nominated for international engineering prize Africa's food production still lags despite many promises NAMLUB celebrates 20th anniversary as an official FUCHS Namibia ditributor Zimbabwe ups horticulture exports to China African countries seek to escalate food production amid extreme weather

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 51

Farmers in Africa and the Middle East can now enjoy harvesting with the new John Deere S440 combine. John Deere AME announced the release of this smaller but powerful combine into African and Middle East markets. Read more on page 3.

ProAgri B ot s wa n a/ a / N a m i b i a/ a/Zimbabwe

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ProAgri BNZ Editor Bianca Henning Reporters Benine Ackermann Maryna Steyn

> +27 82-326-2572 bianca@proagri.co.za > +27 73-105-6938 benine@proagri.co.za > +27 82-261-9177 maryna@proagri.co.za

Specialist Writer Annemarie Bremner > +27 82-320-3642 annemarie@proagri.co.za Client Relations Manager Carin Swartz > +27 84-233-0123 carin@proagri.co.za Marketing Manager Diane Grobler > +27 82-555-6866 diane@proagri.co.za Marketing Xander Pieterse > +27 62-391-6507 xander@proagri.co.za Johan Swartz > +27 71-599-9417 johan@proagri.co.za Tiny Smith > +27 82-698-3353 tiny@proagri.co.za Lynette van Tonder > +27 74-694-4422 lynette@proagri.co.za Evette Liebenberg >+27 71-891-4441 evette@proagri.co.za Head of design Michelle Kruger > +27 84-416-1780 michelle@proagri.co.za Design Anja Oosthuizen Jamie-Lee Tromp Enquiries Engela Botha

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Distribution and subscription Nita Volmer-van Zyl > +27 79-515-8708 nita@proagri.co.za Accounts Ronel Schluter > +27 84-088-0123 accounts@proagri.co.za Business Manager George Grobler

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Lusaka Head Office Plot No. 5284 Buyantanshi Road, Lusaka, Zambia P.O. Box 35168, Lusaka (+260) (211) 241477/387001/9 (+260) (211) 846224/846225 saro@saroagri.co.zm 2

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New model on the block

Meet the S440 combine from John Deere

can choose between either a standard or a premium dual speed discharge chopping beater matched with twin spreading discs.

Options and extras

For the farmer looking for more traction and stability, dual front wheels or a powered rear axle for four-wheel drive can be factory installed.

Cab

A deluxe cab with ample space provides the operator with all the features that will ensure productive and comfortable hours behind the steering wheel. An air suspended operator seat, tiltable steering column, air conditioning, a mini cooler, radio, sun visors, and an instructor seat provides a pleasant working environment.

armers in Africa and the Middle East can now enjoy harvesting with the new John Deere S440 Combine. John Deere AME announced the release of this smaller but powerful combine into African and Middle East markets. The S440 is a class 4 combine, but it is packed with all the features and technology of the larger class S-series combines. Thus, the S440 achieves all the desired qualities of efficiency, reliability, grain sample quality, and harvesting technology. This new addition to the John Deere series of combines is an excellent choice for the smaller or mid-size farmer, who is looking for a technologically advanced combine to enhance his farming operations.

How is the S440 combine different?

The S440 is smaller in frame size and engine capacity compared to its larger counterparts, but it still packs a punch. It is equipped with the proven John Deere six-cylinder, 6,8-litre Tier-3 engine, boasting an exclusive isochronous governor which maintains rotation even during peak power demand, without the intervention of the operator. With 175 kW rated power and 191 kW peak power, it maintains material processing efficiency during the entire harvest operation, also when unloading grain whilst harvesting.

Threshing, separation and cleaning

The S440 is a rotor combine, which can be set up to efficiently harvest a wide variety of grains from maize and soya beans to wheat, canola, rice, sorghum, and more. The John Deere designed Tri-Stream rotor of 61 x 313 cm makes for effective threshing and separation of grain, whilst reducing fuel and power consumption. It is coupled with the Dyna Flow Plus cleaning system which includes deflectors that ensure even distribution of material over the entire length of the sieves when working on hillsides.

The automatic ground adjustment controls or Active Terrain Adjust™, limits grain loss to the minimum when harvesting on inclines and slopes. This is achieved by the automatic adjustment of the fan speed and is coupled with the opening or closing of the sieves depending on the angle of the combine.

Technology

All standard harvesting features are included in basic specifications. A versatile corner post display, a lateral tilt feeder house, Active Terrain Adjust™ for harvesting on slopes or inclines, moisture and yield sensors, in-cab adjustment of all settings (rotor and fan speeds, concave clearance, chaffer, sieve, header height control, and tailings) and an industry leading JD Link Connectivity™ subscription, are all available as part of the standard package. Farmers also have the option of premium technology solutions to be factory installed to their machines. This includes the Starfire™ 7000 receiver and a Gen 4 touch screen display, which has Auto-Track™ and Row-Sense™ functionalities. These options enable secure wireless transfer of harvest data and yield maps, straight to the farmer’s cell phone and to the cloud-based John Deere Operations Centre™ precision farming solution. Furthermore, the 24/7 remote display access and service advisor remote capabilities will give customers an extra edge and greater peace of mind.

Header compatibility

The S440 can be matched to a wide range of front-end equipment options. For maize four, six and eight row headers can be fitted. For small grains, both rigid and flex platforms up to 7,6 metre be fitted.

Testing in South Africa

During 2022, the S440 was tested over a wide geographical area in South Africa. All types of grains were harvested. The compact S440 impressed with its greater than expected versatility and performance under different harvesting conditions. Grain quality, efficiency, and fuel consumption were impressive! John Deere AME is positive that the S440 combine will prove itself as a capable, affordable, and popular option for grain farmers in the African and Middle East markets. Contact your nearest John Deere dealer for more information.

Specifications

The potent 6,8-litre engine is combined with a 3-speed hydrostatic transmission and a 65-kW feeder house reverser. The S440 is equipped with a grain tank of 6 500 litres, and a 5,5-metre unloading auger that can unload at a rate of 65 litres per second. Unloading can be done whilst harvesting. For residue management needs, farmers

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 51

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Four ways Africa's driest countries improve water Article supplied by Xylem

hree percent of Earth's water is fresh, and over two-thirds of that tiny amount is unavailable or polluted. The entire human race relies on the remaining 0,5 percent to survive. But water distribution is uneven – few places prove this point as much as Africa does. Cameroon receives an average of 1 016 mm of rainfall yearly, while parts of Sudan get less than 2,5 mm. Southern Africa falls somewhere in the middle, yet our uneven rainfall areas and dispersion zones make Southern Africa a very water-stressed sub-continent. Fortunately, there is much we can do to improve water availability, and we can draw on great examples from the rest of the continent. "Africa is a great place to study how we can manage water for the future," says Chetan Mistry, Xylem Africa's Strategy and Marketing Manager. "Just as with energy and technology, Africa's unique challenges also prompt us to leapfrog forward and create innovative solutions. African nations can look to each other and cooperate to create better water conservation, and I believe that one day we shall help the rest of the world do the same." What are some of those ideas that we can use in SA right now? Here are some examples and how three African nations use them to good effect. ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 51

Solar desalination

Desalination is the process of extracting fresh water from seawater. African nations are among the most prolific adopters of this technology. Egypt and Namibia are desalination leaders, especially when it comes to the use of solar desalination. Namibia introduced a containerised system in 2019 where every unit can produce 3 500 litres of water per hour from seawater without an external power source.

Drip and smart irrigation

Agriculture is the biggest consumer of water by sector, and many farmers 6

rely on rainfall and spray irrigation to nourish their crops. These methods are very inefficient, prompting the growing use of drip irrigation. Namibian farmers are starting to use a combination of nuclear techniques and small-scale drip irrigation to water their fields. Drip irrigation is also becoming more common among farmers in Botswana and Egypt. Smart irrigation, the combination of irrigation technologies, is also gaining favour. Namibia today uses smart irrigation to grow blueberries, and Botswana's green agriculture strategy leverages smart irrigation to reduce its farmers' energy and water consumption.

ProAgri BNZ 51

Tourism

Water is essential to tourism, keeping visitors cool and refreshed and sustaining the natural spots they want to experience. Botswana, in particular, appreciates this link and promotes it as a state policy. Its largest wetland, the Okavango Delta, is an excellent example of this dynamic. But it can also be seen across Botswana's dams and wetlands. Egypt has similarly been aggressively cleaning the Nile river to help support tourism and create jobs.

Efficient metering

Modern civilisation is wasteful with water. Even towns and cities' metering and billing practices leave a lot of money on the table. Egypt has been getting some of that back as it pushes to modernise its water metering and wastewater systems. Namibia is rolling out prepaid water meters to encourage better use and easier collection of utility fees. These are only four examples of how African nations with water shortages are preserving their most valuable resource. Working directly or through partners, Xylem Africa serves the African continent and helps them select the best ways to ensure safe water for all. Through the examples of countries such as Botswana, Egypt, and Namibia, we can all solve water problems.

About Xylem

Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology company committed to solving the world’s critical water, wastewater, and water-related challenges through technology, innovation, and expertise. Our more than 22 000 diverse employees delivered combined pro forma revenue of $7,3 billion in 2022. We are creating a more sustainable world by enabling our customers to optimise water and resource management, and helping communities in more than 150 countries become water-secure. Join us in the effort at www.xylem.com and Let’s Solve Water.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 51

Improving the cattle industry’s health D elivering a quality beef product to South African and global consumers begins with premium cattle. But healthy animals are made, and this is a collaborative process that requires input from multiple players, including primary producers like farmers, veterinarians, animal nutritionists, pharmaceutical companies and feedlots. This is the view of Jaco Liebenberg, Senior Section Manager at Beefmaster Group, who says that all role players must work together to solve industry challenges, which will ensure that the national herd remains in top-notch condition and performs at its best. “This, in turn, will ensure a premium quality product, which will attract more international interest, and ultimately secure the sustainability and profitability of the industry, with value in8

creased throughout the supply chain,” says Jaco. Jaco outlines several principles that, if applied, guarantee a healthier animal, as well as bolster the income of primary producers: a win-win situation for all. “We believe that the better the animal performs in the feedlot, the more everyone benefits. Striking the right balance is essential as animals that have a high body fat percentage, or are malnourished, can negatively impact their feedlot performance, resulting in subpar products. Thus, a wellperforming animal in the feedlot becomes a valuable incentive for primary producers.” What are some of the factors that contribute to raising a healthier animal? Feedlots typically purchase young

The better the animal performs in the feedlot, the more everyone benefits.

ProAgri BNZ 51

cattle from farmers, with Jaco stressing the importance of receiving already-weaned animals to reduce weaning stress. “A weaned calf experiences lower stress levels, a critical factor in maintaining the animal's health and immunity. When calves are separated from their mothers prematurely, stress levels rise, weakening the immune system and increasing susceptibility to infections.” To ease the transition, primary producers are encouraged to start feeding the animal from a feed trough, helping it adapt to a diversified diet beyond cow's milk and grass. This helps the animal avoid suffering from weaning shock when it gets to the feedlot. He underscores the importance of the primary producer following a regimented vaccination programme, which will allow the weaner to build up an

“Weaning also makes it easier to integrate the animal into the feedlot's nutritional programme, which is tailor-made for newly arrived animals.”

only hampers their nutritional intake but also impacts growth rates and overall performance within the feedlot.” He adds that if all stakeholders work together to improve herd health in this manner, it will unlock value for the entire cattle supply chain. “Farmers play a vital role in this journey, and by following these principles of healthy animal management, they not only contribute to the overall success of the industry but also reap the rewards of a sustainable and profitable future,” Jaco concludes.

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immune system. For this, he recommends working with a qualified and reputable veterinarian who can assist. There is a common misconception that fatter calves equate to higher profits for primary producers. However, Jaco dispels this notion, explaining that during the weaning stage, it is normal for calves to lose about 7% to 10% of their body weight. “Some farmers attempt to compensate for this weight loss by overfeeding the animals with higher energy rations, resulting in weaners that are too fat when they reach the feedlot. This not ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 51

Whole Concepts cc PO Box 1806, Vryburg,8600, South Afr

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African smallholders struggle despite increased international support

by Marko Phiri

A female farmer works on a horticulture project on a piece of land in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

hile African countries have received generous support from international agencies and philanthropists to boost agriculture production, critics note that this has not been enough to deal with the continent's cycle of hunger. The interventions have failed to adequately address Africa's most pressing needs and wean the continent from what is seen as perpetual humanitarian assistance. As the year ends, African countries continue to grapple with familiar challenges: despite investing billions into the agriculture sector to support smallholders – long identified as the continent's main actors in food security – meeting food production targets remains elusive. At a farming summit held in Rwanda last year, critics noted that climate change was interrupting efforts by donors and aid agencies to help smallholder farmers upscale food production, while also noting that assistance models favoured by donors 10

A horticulture community project in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. went against local needs and environmental considerations. What is seen as the promotion of the overuse of and reliance on fertilisers by donors, has also attracted criticism as smallholder farmers are encouraged to use expensive fertilisers and seeds that smallholders cannot afford.

In turn, critics say this has led farmers to go into debt and fail to meet food security goals touted by both aid agencies and African governments. At the 2022 Rwanda Farming Summit, some delegates contended that to solve the continent's food insecurity issues, the huge amounts of ProAgri BNZ 51

A woman prepares maize at her rural home in drought-prone Gwanda, south-west of Zimbabwe. agriculture finance from donors should be redirected. This redirection should encourage the adoption of organic fertilisers such as manure to help smallholder farmers move away from expensive fertilisers which have also been identified as harmful to the soil. "Green revolution" models have failed African smallholders, delegates were told. While countries such as Zimbabwe have adopted "new" farming techniques as part of growing efforts to boost food security after years of poor performance in the agriculture sector, these interventions have also been criticised for failing to meet targets. Smallholder farmers are expected to apply labour-intensive and time-consuming planting methods in the face of climate uncertainty in a country where

smallholders lack irrigation infrastructure and rely on rain. It simply means that despite such adoption of new farming methods, the farmers are set up for failure in the absence of rain, resulting in empty granaries. This has meant turning to humanitarian agencies for food assistance when international agriculture finance efforts are designed to address exactly that. Despite being partnered by international agencies and donors, smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe have struggled to boost the production of staples such as maize, resulting in questions being asked about whether agriculture finance in Africa is being put to good use. "When will you stop pushing for these green revolution models that have failed?” an African delegate asked

A man works on an urban horticulture plot in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 51

at the Rwanda Farming Summit. African-born initiatives are seeking to change this. In November 2023, the African Export-Import Bank (Afrexmbank) partnered with other agencies to launch the Export Agriculture for Food Security. Afrexmbank set aside USD2 billion for African countries to boost food production, food processing and agriculture trade among African countries. The initiative will provide smallholders with microfinance support, improve storage facilities blamed for post-harvest losses, agriculture extension services and training. It is expected that this initiative will move away from models supported by other international agencies and philanthropy efforts which critics say have failed to improve food production in Africa. The numerous summits held to address Africa’s food security dilemma have pointed to the difficulty of realising the goals set by local governments and agencies to deal with the longrunning concerns. Other agencies, such as the World Food Programme, noted that conflicts have also affected food security ambitions. With billions of dollars already committed in recent years to the agriculture sector in Africa, activists say funding should go into investing in long-term solutions such as irrigation to ensure smallholders can move away from rain-fed food production in the face of climate uncertainty. For example: This year, meteorological services in Zimbabwe have had to issue several updates warning smallholders not to rush to plant their crops because forecasts showed rains would come later than expected. However, smallholders continue following traditional cropping seasons even in the face of shifting rainfall patterns. Even with the intervention and support from international aid agencies, this has resulted in reduced output with poor harvests being the order of the day. Interventions such as those proposed by the Afrexmbank initiative are an attempt to reverse the failed models that have been a fixture of Africa's food security agenda. The reliance on international donors has also been felt in countries where such donors withdrew their support as happened in Malawi at the height of COVID-19 when a UK-based agency suspended its activities. Smallholders were suddenly left out in the cold. It pointed to the complex nature of donor assistance and Africa's struggle with funding its agriculture sector. However, Afrexmbank's USD 2 billion support has yet to be tested to determine if it will change the scope of the continent's food security efforts, unlike previous attempts by other agencies that have failed. 11

Food for

Africa:

Legumes by Tisha Steyn

eans, including common beans that are eaten fresh, and the seeds of other legumes that can be dried and stored for later use, are grown and consumed throughout Africa. These African legumes are suitable for planting under difficult environmental conditions, such as drought and high temperatures. Beans are a good source of protein and micronutrients, which is important to provide healthy food on the continent where poor nutrition has led to diet-related diseases like diabetes, heart conditions and obesity, as well as deficiencies in the diets of pregnant mothers and stunted growth in children. Common beans, cowpeas, groundnuts, and soya beans are easy to grow and provide a high yield. In addition, they put nitrogen back into the soil to increase the soil’s fertility without the use of expensive chemical fertilisers. A small quantity of legumes can be used with or in the place of nsima or sadza, which is made from maize or cassava, and it can even replace expensive meat to a large extent.

plant-based protein. They are good sources of fibre and vegetable protein. Cooking beans Dry beans need to be soaked prior to cooking. This not only softens the beans so that less cooking time is required, but it also releases antinutrients that may stop nutrients from being absorbed by the body. You can incorporate beans into soups and stews with or without meat to add protein to your diet. Health benefits Beans and legumes have several health benefits. Eating more of them may help reduce cholesterol, help prevent heart disease, decrease blood sugar levels, and increase healthy gut bacteria.

Beans and legumes grown in Africa

Four beans, among many others, which are widely grown in Southern Africa, include common bean, cowpeas, groundnuts, and soya beans.

Common bean (Malawi: nyemba; Zimbabwe: shuga, bhinzi) Common beans include bush and vine Beans and legumes are the fruits or varieties that are grown in a wide seeds of a family of plants called Farange of environments. Bush beans do baceae. not have to be staked. Commonly eaten worldwide, beans Beans do not do well under hot, and legumes are rich sources of fibre, humid conditions, but need moderessential vitamins and minerals, and 12

Nutritional value of beans

ate rainfall during the growing period, followed by a dry period for ripening. Beans do not tolerate extremely acid soils. They are attacked by a wide range of pests and diseases, but when they are regularly grown in intercrops with maize or other cereals, it may help to reduce these attacks. Although climbing bean varieties can have higher yields than bush beans, they are only practical in environments with a longer rainy season. They produce a lower yield but over a longer period. They require staking, which is expensive, so an alternative is to intercrop climbing beans with maize. When grown as a sole crop, 70 to 80 kg of seed/ha is needed for some varieties. Cowpeas (Malawi: khobwe; Zimbabwe: nyemba) Cowpeas originated in Africa and is quite tolerant to heat, drought and acid soils but not to waterlogging. Cowpeas are attacked by many insects, and aphids (nyinda/nhata) are especially dangerous as they can infect cowpeas with viruses that will seriously reduce crop growth and yields. When grown as a monocrop, 25 to 35 kg cowpea seed/ha is used. Cowpea leaves are often used in relish, and the crop residues make a good feed for livestock. There are many species of rhizobium ProAgri BNZ 51

in African soils which will form nodules with cowpea, and the nodules formed can be round or odd shaped. Soya beans (Malawi: soya, nyemba, khobwe, mtedza; Zimbabwe: soya bhinzi, shuga bhinzi, nyemba, nzungu). Soya beans, which have hairy leaves and pods, tolerate moderately acid soils and short-term droughts. It can be grown from lowland to upland tropics. As it performs poorly under cool and shaded conditions, it is not suitable as an intercrop under densely planted tall, leafy crops.

Soya beans are attacked by a brown fungal disease or rust that can seriously reduce yields, so it is recommended to grow soya beans in rotation with other crops. When grown as a monocrop, from 50 to 80 kg of seed/ha are used, depending on seed size and planting distance. Leftover plant material from the soya bean crop can be used for livestock feed. Beans can be added to soups and stews to add protein to the diet.

Groundnuts (Malawi: mtedza, Zimbabwe: nzungu) Groundnut pods are formed underground. For best growth and production, it needs moderate (about 600 mm) rainfall during growth, followed by a dry period for ripening. Groundnuts do best on a sandy loam soil and can tolerate acidic soils, but may need calcium for good pod development. The crop is susceptible to a viral disease called rosette, which is spread to groundnut plants by aphids. About 50 kg of seed/ha are needed for monocrop groundnuts.

Growing legumes

Legumes can be grown in a number of different ways. In intercropping, the legumes are grown with other crops. The timing of the legume sowing has to be planned carefully if the crop is to complete growth before the dry season begins. It is common to grow one row of beans or cowpeas in alternation with one row of maize. With this arrangement the legume yield tends to be lower as the plants are shaded by the maize. The advantage is that the same labour can be used to harvest the maize and legumes. For short-season legume crops, such as cowpeas, the legume is sown into the maize field a few weeks before Legumes add nitrogen to the soil that is necessary for healthy plant development and higher yields.

Beans and legumes have several health benefits, such as reducing cholesterol, decreasing blood sugar levels and, because it contains fibre, it can increase gut health. ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 51

Groundnuts are not nuts, but a legume that can be eaten raw, toasted as a snack, or in a cooked dish.

Cowpeas are widely cultivated in Africa.

Common or green beans are easy to grow in difficult circumstances. maize harvest. Since the maize is drying down, it doesn’t shade the cowpeas so much. Alternatively, the legume can be sown into a field of newly planted cassava cuttings.

Fixing nitrogen

Vine beans can be intercropped with maize so the dry stalks can be used instead of staking. 14

If sustainable development goals set by the United Nations (UN) must be achieved to end hunger by 2030 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where one third of all households are threatened by food-insecurity, cereal crop yields must increase substantially. Yields are severely limited in the region by the depletion of soil nutrients after decades of continuous cropping with insufficient fertilisation. This is the result of the inadequate use of mineral fertilisers and the lack of biomass for organic fertilisation. That means more nitrogen is needed to increase crop yield. Besides being increasingly expensive, mineral fertilisers can harm the environment if used incorrectly. The good news is that nitrogen is abundant in the atmosphere and ProAgri BNZ 51

legumes have the ability to fix this atmospheric nitrogen in their plant tissues via symbiotic bacteria. By growing legumes before cereals and, instead of removing the plant remains from the soil, digging it into the soil before sowing could provide substantial nitrogen inputs. This will optimise the use of mineral fertilisers needed to improve cereal crop yields, thereby cutting costs.

Signs of nitrogen deficiency

All crops need nitrogen, water, sunlight, and other elements to grow and produce harvests. When the lower leaves of your plants turn yellow, it is a sign that a plant isn’t getting enough nitrogen. If the nitrogen in the soil is not fixed, the plants will not grow tall, and the yield will be low. Because crops remove nitrogen from the soil in order to grow, additional nitrogen must be added to the soil in one form or another every growing season. Plants get nitrogen from several sources: from broken-down remains of previous crops grown on the soil, from animal manure, which in combination with the crop remains forms compost, from artificial fertilisers and from legume crops. By leaving the plant rests of legumes in the soil, nature will fix the nitrogen in the soil all by itself.

Bags of legumes at a local market in Africa, where this staple can increase food security and health by providing protein and other nutrients that are often lacking in a carbohydrate-rich diet.

References

Duodu, K.G., Apea-Bah, F.B. (2017) African Legumes: Nutritional and Health-Promoting Attributes. Woodhead Publishing Series in Food Science, Technology and Nutrition 2017, Pages 223-269 https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-100866-9.00009-1Get rights and content https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780081008669000091 Paliwal, R., Abberton, M. Faloye, B., Olaniyi, O. (2020) Developing the role of legumes in West Africa under climate change. Current Opinion in Plant Biology Volume 56, August 2020, Pages 242-258 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2020.05.002 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1369526620300546 Snapp, S.S., Cox, C.M., Peter, B.G. (2019). Multipurpose legumes for smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa: Identification of promising ‘scale out’ options. ScienceDirect https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2019.03.002 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2211912418300798 Ranaivoson, L., Ripoche, A., Affholder, F., Falconnier, G., Leroux, L. (2023) Food security in Africa: growing legumes to reduce the need for mineral fertilisers? https://www.cirad.fr/en/cirad-news/news/2023/betting-on-legumes-for-foodsecurity-in-africa Lalaina Ranaivoson Tarirai Muoni, Andrew P Barnes, Ingrid Öborn, Christine A Watson, Göran Bergkvist, Maurice Shiluli & Alan J Duncan (2019). Farmer perceptions of legumes and their functions in smallholder farming systems in east Africa. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 17:3, 205-218. Tandfonline.co DOI: 10.1080/14735903.2019.1609166 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14735903.2019.1609166

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Technews: Highlights of 2023 by Annemarie Bremner

Every month ProAgri reports on exciting new technology from around the world. These are some of this year’s highlights.

ExactShot applies fertiliser on the spot

he ExactShot planter/fertiliser applicator is one of the interesting new technologies John Deere revealed at CES 2023 - the leading tech-show held in Las Vegas. It applies starter fertiliser precisely to each individual seed. This will help farmers to be more productive, profitable, and sustainable. ExactShot allows farmers to reduce the amount of starter fertiliser needed during planting by more than 60%. The technology uses sensors and robotics to place starter fertiliser precisely onto seeds as they are planted in the soil, rather than applying a continuous flow of fertiliser to the entire row of seeds. ExactShot uses a sensor to register when each individual seed is in the process of going into the soil. As this occurs, a robot will spray only the amount of fertiliser needed, about 0,2 ml, directly onto the seed at the exact moment as it goes into the ground.

Automated recharging solution for drones

he Skydock automated battery changing system for drones was developed in South Africa. Drones can be very useful tools for farm security and crop protection, but short work times with manual intervention due to limited battery power is problematic. Dock-One is Skydock Systems’ automatic drone battery swapping and mission planning solution for DJI Mavic; with other drones to follow shortly. Dock-one is an affordable drone battery swapping station developed in South Africa for the local, and international market. It allows you to fly drone missions 24/7 in an automated fashion. The challenge with staff needed for manual drone surveillance and manual battery swapping is solved by the DockOne docking station. Paired with the DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise drone, DockOne allows you to automatically patrol day and night, and using the drone’s accessories such as the spotlight, or loudspeaker, nefarious activities can be stopped in its tracks. Drones used for crop monitoring and protection in orchards will also be able to continue with their work non-stop. Using the SkyDock/Flight Now system, you can create automated missions and monitor the drone from a

centralised location over the internet. The DockOne solution comprises three components, the DockOne docking station, FlytNow mission planning and remote-control software, and the DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise drone. (For more information, visit https://skydock.systems/dockone/)

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Killing weeds with laser technology becomes viable

he LaserWeeder destroys weeds with laser technology. An autonomous version was developed, but this 2023-version needing tractor power was welcomed by farmers in America, because it works faster. Carbon Robotics™ uses artificial Intelligence and laser technology for chemical-free, no-till weed control for speciality crops. Their hi-resolutions cameras feed imagery in real time to an onboard supercomputer that runs computer vision models to identify crops and weeds. High-powered lasers then kill weeds at the meristem — without harming valuable crops. Laser weeding works day or night, in all weather conditions. It’s a high-precision solution that improves crop yield and reduces overall costs associated with modern farming. Additionally, laser weeding creates sustainable paths to regenerative and organic farming. The new LaserWeeder must be pulled by a row tractor. However, it has three times the lasers of the autonomous farming robot, and in one hour, it can cover about one hectare and can eliminate 200 000 weeds. The Autonomous Weeders are now serving as demo units, but the LaserWeeder is commercially available. (Source: Freethink and Carbon Robotics) 18

Cows (and farmers) will love Exos, the Lely grass robot

he Exos, a fully autonomous vehicle for harvesting and feeding fresh grass, will be commercially available to Dutch dairy farms from the middle of next year. It took around ten years to develop and was extensively tested on 13 Dutch farms. The company is targeting farms with at least 150 cows and a minimum of 40 ha, but the autonomous vehicle has also been evaluated on farms with up to 350 cows. The grass harvester operates at speeds of 3 to 4 km/h, and the working width is 2 m. The 12 m³ bunker holds about a tonne of fresh grass.

The vehicle can be programmed to deliver grass to the right, left, or both sides. A front safety bumper is part of the standard specs, as are front and rear safety cameras. Outdoor navigation is via GPS. Ultrasonic sensors take over when driving inside. The Exos can also be used to apply liquid fertiliser. The ten nozzles are located directly behind the mowing unit, and the capacity of the fertiliser tank is 100 litres. Electricity to power the vehicle is supplied by a 400-volt on-board battery. All four wheels have electric motors. (Source: Veehouderij Techniek) ProAgri BNZ 51

Every potato sprouts: New planter takes the risk out of potato planting

opa from Germany has developed a machine for manually planting presprouted potatoes. The planter, named Gecko, gently plants potatoes without breaking the sprouts. After two years of field trials and use on farms, the desired advantages in

yield and vegetation were achieved. The Gecko provides space for five pallets for efficient logistics of the planting material. Two operators work on each planting row. They put the pre-sprouted potatoes lengthwise on the gentle and

Meet Smartcore, an autonomous soil sample collector

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protective belts, which convey these without any further stress until the tubers are precisely deposited in the soil. This technology allows optimal planting of potatoes with up to 12 cm length at a driving speed of 3,5 km/h. The distance between plants can be variably adjusted in 16 stages and for rows, 75 cm apart, can be planted in one go. See the Gecko in action: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=B0v0IQf6LY0 (Source: World-Agritech.com)

ollecting precise soil samples is essential for farmers because it determines the quantity and balance of nutrients available for crops and can determine crop yields. Smartcore, an autonomous robot developed by a pair of Purdue University College of Engineering graduates, is designed to collect accurate, repeatable soil samples in fields and bring them to the edge of the field for shipment to the lab. SmartCore uses a Bobcat skid steer chassis and navigates fields using boundary algorithms and a variety of obstacle detection sensors. It also is equipped with RTK GPS to ensure that soil samples are taken from the correct spot and can return every season within centimetres. The largest and most common source of error in the soil testing process is with collecting the soil sample. Smartcore is unique in using a high-speed, self-cleaning hydraulic auger that collects soil to a precise depth. In traditional sampling practices, the variance in depth and location can lead to a sampling error as high as 20%. Errors can cause farmers to spend more than necessary on fertiliser, or under apply in certain areas. With Smartcore you can avoid these mistakes. (Source: Purdue) 19

Mechanisation considerations for drip irrigation systems by Mr Celi Mbokazi and Dr Macdex Mutema

limate change is leading to increasing water scarcity. Agriculture is one of the biggest users of water worldwide. Appropriate methods and systems of irrigation are, therefore, critical to the objectives of achieving higher irrigation efficiency to achieve the much-needed savings in water usage. To achieve water savings and remain profitable, farmers must pay careful attention to how their chosen irrigation systems affect other operations on their farms; in particular how the chosen irrigation systems affect mechanisation activities such as planting and harvesting operations. Precision agriculture uses modern methods for mechanised operations in the farming enterprise. In this article, the focus is to discuss how the drip irrigation system affects mechanisation operations

and how a combination of precision agriculture and modern drip irrigation system design can lead to optimal irrigation and mechanised operations resulting in reduced costs and increased profitability.

Land preparation

The drip is typically considered a permanent irrigation system because the system is not moved for at least the entire growing season and can stay in place for several growing seasons. Since the system stays in the same place for a considerable period, careful consideration must therefore be given to the layout of the system. For example, there should be pathways for mechanisation equipment such as

tractors and other farm machinery. To achieve this, special tools and case considerations – as discussed below – need to be applied. GIS Mapping: The use of Geographic Information Systems software to precisely map the farming field and area for irrigation has emerged as a popular system for precision agriculture. Every area of the field is mapped to within a cm to optimise the planting area while making clear layouts of where the tractor wheels must pass. To achieve this, the type of tractor (two wheels or four wheels) as well as tractor width should be known for the precise design of the layout. Crop type: Drip irrigation is popular in orchard farming due to the ability to directly target the root zone of the orchard.

Drip lines with space in the field to make way for a tractor.

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In addition, land preparation for orchards happens once in their production life span. Orchard harvesting equipment also needs access to the field. This may be in the form of trucks rather than harvesters. Thus, some of the pipes may have to be buried underground to ensure access to heavy equipment. This can be achieved through a combination of precise mapping and design to ensure optimised access points and routes in the field. Skilled labour: Handling or operating precision agriculture equipment requires highly skilled operators. The use of unskilled labour can easily cause damage to the irrigation pipes, which are quite expensive. Tractor wheels can also damage the pipes if the driver is not sufficiently skilled. The drip irrigation system is expensive to install and fragile to operate; hence this system needs literate handlers who are good with numbers to control the irrigation scheduling with the assistance of appropriate software. In addition, combining mechanisation planning with optimal irrigation scheduling requires a skilled overall farm manager. Therefore, all levels of labour must be skilled to achieve optimal results in terms of asset utilisation while minimising water use with the drip irrigation system.

Weeding and pest control

Drone spraying technologies: Drone spraying is a relatively new method of spraying and is ideally suitable for drip irrigation because there is no ground

Spraying of a field with liquid fertiliser using a drone.

movement of equipment during spraying. The challenge with drone spraying is mostly due to regulations as an operating license can be challenging to obtain as well as the consequential costs. Elevated spraying vehicles: This specialised equipment has wheels thin enough to pass in between rows while being elevated enough to be above the crop. The irrigation layout and selection of the equipment must both be considered to ensure synergy when operating the drip irrigation system. Harvesting: Drip irrigation may be unsuitable for crops such as wheat which need specialised harvesting equipment and relatively tight spacing. The harvester header is very low during harvesting and therefore pipes cannot be above ground. In addition, costs may be prohibitive since wheat is grown in a larger area.

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In summary Drip irrigation is preferred in high cash crops such as orchards where spacing for mechanised equipment is relatively easier to achieve and land preparation activities are infrequent.

We thank the ARC Institute for Agricultural Engineering in South Africa which made this article available for our readers. For any enquiries send an e-mail to mbokazic@arc.agric. za or mutemam@arc.agric.za. Source: ARC-Natural Resources and Engineering Agricultural Engineering Campus

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Biomass Briquettes: Ludo Ntshiwa from Botswana nominated for international engineering prize

Ludo Ntshiwa from Botswana is not scared to get her hands dirty! She has developed an environmentally friendly clean fuel that harnesses the green energy of biowaste.

abrics made from fungi grown on human waste, chicken farming tech, recycled plastic roof tiles, and an appbased waste management service are among the innovations nominated for the 2023 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation. The innovators will join a network of 133 alumni across 21 African countries working to transform the continent with home-grown solutions. Sixteen innovators from eight African countries, including Botswana for the first time, have been shortlisted for the 10th Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation. The shortlist includes engineers from Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Africa Prize, launched in 2014 by the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering, demonstrates how ambitious engineering innovators are protecting the environment and transforming the continent’s economy through scalable solutions. Africa Prize innovators are working to address pan-African and international challenges, including adapting food and water systems for climate resilience, developing low-carbon energy and transport solutions, and improving telecommunications, education, financial services, and healthcare. Shortlisted innovations for the 2024 Africa Prize include roof tiles made

from recycled plastic, early detection of agricultural pests and diseases, environmental monitoring of chicken farms, and a fabric made from fungi grown on human waste. Also featured are innovations aimed at healthier methods of cooking, including low-smoke briquettes made from biowaste, a solar-induction oven and hob, and a biodigester that uses organic waste to generate gas. Clean energy solutions include a large-scale power pack made from repurposed electric vehicle batteries, a solar dryer to enhance small fish farming, and converted electric motorbikes with replaceable batteries. Other innovations include an automated storage locker, a domestic alert for deaf people, a plug-in device to transform any screen into a computer, and a healthcare platform based on WhatsApp. Engineering is a fundamental enabler of development and is linked to all the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, impacting healthcare, education, gender equality and the environment. Engineering is also a driver of the African Agenda 2063, the African Union’s blueprint for development over the next 50 years, where it is described as supporting the continent’s goal of being “integrated, prosperous

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and peaceful... driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena”. By being shortlisted for the Africa Prize, innovators benefit from support including business incubation, mentoring, fundraising, and communication. They also gain access to the Academy’s global network of high-profile engineering and business experts in the UK, Africa and beyond. Judges, mentors, and expert

Botswana

Shortlisted innovations and entrepreneurs: •

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This biofuel product has been shortlisted for the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation. reviewers for the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation have provided more than 4 000 hours of support to entrepreneurs since the prize was established, equivalent to more than £10,4 million. “Winning the Prize opened up many opportunities and provided exposure for our solution to the local and international market,” said 2020 Africa Prize winner Charlette N’Guessan from Côte d’Ivoire, the first woman to win the prize. “I am happy to see the Africa Prize has inspired many young female innovators to break down barriers.” Four finalists will be chosen from the shortlist to present their innovations and business plans to judges at the Africa Prize final in Nairobi, Kenya, in June 2024. The winner will receive £25 000, with three runners up awarded £10 000 each. A One-to-Watch award of £5 000 will be made for the most impactful pitch, as voted by the audience. In 2024, the audience will include some 80 Africa Prize alumni from the last ten years. Africa Prize alumni have supported more than 10 million beneficiaries through their products or services. They have also created more than 28 000 jobs – including more than 21 000 jobs for women and more than 500 jobs for persons with disabilities – and raised more USD39 million in grants and equity funding, directly contributing to 15 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Africa Prize judge Sewu-Steve Tawia said: “The 16 innovators shortlisted for this year’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation are contributing to key Sustainable Development Goals including no poverty, health and wellbeing, quality education, affordable and clean energy, reduced inequalities, and climate action. What sets these 16 people apart is their determination to solve local challenges, contribute to job creation and seizing the opportunity to scale their innovation across Africa. In its tenth year, the Africa Prize is proud to elevate these local changemakers to global engineering innovators.” 24

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Beba-Beggie, Charles Oduk, Kenya: An IoT automated locker technology offering affordable, accessible, secure, and convenient short-term storage. Biomass Briquettes, Ludo Ntshiwa, Botswana: An environmentally friendly clean fuel that harnesses the green energy of biowaste to produce a renewable energy source for heat production as a substitute for charcoal. Early Crop Pest and Disease Detection Device, Esther Kimani, Kenya: A solar-powered tool using AI- and machine learning-enabled cameras to detect and identify agricultural pests and diseases early. Eco Tiles, Kevin Maina, Kenya: An environmentally friendly roofing material made from recycled plastic. Kiri EV, Christopher Maara, Kenya: An end-to-end affordable and clean energy mobility provider, from electric motorcycles, scooters and tuktuks to battery charging infrastructure across Kenya. Knock Knock, Esther Mueni,

•

Kenya: A domestic alert system for the deaf and hard of hearing, using a highly sensitive vibration sensor to detect physical knocks on a door and transmit this information to smartphones via Bluetooth. Kuza Freezer, Purity Gakuo, Kenya: A durable low-cost solar-powered fridge freezer made from recycled plastic waste. La Ruche Health, Rory Assandey, Côte d'Ivoire: A smart healthcare platform that provides communities in remote areas with direct access to vital healthcare information via WhatsApp, facilitates appointments to vetted medical practitioners, and digitises medical records for smooth patient onboarding. MakSol Cooker, Paul Soddo, Uganda: A low-cost, solar-powered induction oven and hob designed for safe, zero-emissions indoor cooking by people in off-grid communities. MAVUNOLAB Solar Dryer, Dr Evodius Rutta, Tanzania: A low-cost solar-powered dryer developed to help small-scale fish processors and farmers in off-grid locations by enhancing food safety and hygiene for perishable food products.

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•

Microfuse Stick Computer, Ivan Karugaba, Uganda: A compact and affordable device that plugs into any screen, projector or monitor to transform it into a Wi-Fi-connected computer, increasing computer access and digital inclusivity. Myco-Substitutes, Abubakari Zarouk Imoro, Ghana: An eco-friendly sewage treatment that uses viruses, bacteria, and fungi to treat and feed on faecal waste and produce yarn and leather substitutes. PenKeep, Adaeze Akpagbula, Nigeria: A climate-smart remote sensing device that monitors and controls environmental conditions in poultry farms, ensuring optimal health and productivity of chickens. Second-Life Batteries, Léandre Berwa, Rwanda: A solution that

repurposes retired electric vehicle (EV) batteries to be assembled as a back-up power supply for telecom towers and mini electricity grids. • The Kitchen Box, Tunde Adeyemi, Nigeria: An affordable biogas digester technology which turns any type of organic waste into animal feed and organic fertiliser and generates clean energy for heating and cooking. • Yo-Waste, Martin Tumusiime, Uganda: A location-based mobile application that connects homes and businesses to independent agents for an efficient on-demand rubbish collection and disposal service. The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation is Africa’s biggest prize dedicated to developing African innovators and helping them to maximise their

impact. It gives commercialisation support to ambitious African innovators developing scalable engineering solutions to address local challenges, demonstrating the importance of engineering as an enabler of improved quality of life and economic development. The Africa Prize has been generously supported by the UK Government, including the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s Official Development Assistance funding, as well as charitable trusts and foundations, individual donors, and corporate partners over the last ten years. The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. “Together we are working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.”

For more information visit www.raeng.org.uk/africaprize

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Africa's food production still lags despite many promises by Marko Phiri

Source: Pixabay

report launched by the Africa Food Systems Forum in September 2023 has lamented that targets set by African countries to meet food production and trade demands remain "far-fetched." This is because of what the forum says are underlying challenges that have historically held back the potential of the continent’s vast natural resources. Agencies have reported that while agriculture produces up to 35 percent of Africa's gross domestic product, the continent remains food insecure. Other sources estimate Africa's annual food import bill at around USD78 billion, showing the challenges the continent faces to turn the corner towards feeding itself and also being a net food producer. This is happening even as the continent’s development partners continue pouring billions into the sector, and at a time when hunger has become a common trend from Cape to Cairo. The Africa Food Systems Forum says the continent must move from relying on smallholder farmers to promoting large-scale agrifood projects.

Source: Pixabay

This, however, should not mean the exclusion of smallholders in the continent’s food production ecosystem, the forum says. According to a communique issued after the Forum's summit: "Govern-

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ments have a crucial role to play in this by taking responsibility for the creation of a regulatory environment supportive of a substantially expanded agricultural sector in Africa. The shift towards large-scale agriculture, however, must 27

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of hunger, and Africa has seen its fair share of such conflicts which have resulted in the disruption of farming activities. Because of this, the African Union's Agenda 2063 is pushing for accelerated agricultural growth, but other researchers have warned that: "Although such global and pan-African statements of intent are crucial, they must be followed by concrete national regulations and policies if African agriculture is to attract the scale of investment required to become a net exporter of food." According to the IFAD, Africa's lack of capacity to feed itself has also been worsened by post-harvest losses, with the agency reporting that it has left African farmers in countries such as Rwanda to lodge losses of over 400 percent.

Source:Pixaby

Source: Pixabay

not come at the expense of small-scale farmers, who are an integral part of Africa's agricultural landscape. "In addition to overcoming structural obstacles to production, planning needs to be pragmatic, focusing on large-scale agrifood projects, developing bankable business cases, and managing investment risks to create an environment attractive to private sector investors," the Forum added. The Africa Development Bank says the continent’s agriculture sector has the potential to increase from the current USD280 billion annually to USD1 trillion by 2030, but agencies say this is being hampered by factors that include climate change and poor financing and investment in the sector. This is even though, under the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP),

Source: Pixabay

African Union member states committed to a minimum of 10 percent of their government expenditure toward agriculture. There are concerns however that the bulk of African countries have yet to breach 5 percent of that target, with national budgets routinely prioritising sectors such as defence. At the World Food Summit in Rome, it was noted that African agriculture faces a multitude of challenges that include climate change, wars, the high cost of farming inputs and a lack of comprehensive research on soil science. Africa has not been spared by the war in Ukraine, agencies say, which has "increased food insecurity" while “weak local infrastructure” has only "made matters worse". The World Food Programme has also said conflict is the biggest driver

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This has highlighted the multipronged challenges the continent faces, despite the Food Forum’s assertion that there is potential to produce enough to address long-running food deficits. Amidst all this, researchers at the African Union say Africa needs to produce between 50 and 60 percent or even more of what it is currently producing, but add that because there remain factors such as climate change and other issues that remain unaddressed: "The yield for some crops will even be smaller than it is today." The continent's concerns were perhaps summed up best by Tanzania’s agriculture minister, Hussein Mohamed Bashe, during an African Development Bank food sovereignty and resilience event in September. He said: “Africa has to wash away the shame of not being able to feed itself." 29

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NAMLUB celebrates 20th anniversary as an official FUCHS Namibia distributor Article supplied

producer of uranium. The mining sector accounts for 20% of GDP and the majority of exports. Other key industries are agriculture, fishing, and tourism. Looking at the broader Southern African region, FUCHS Export Divisional Manager Giles Cutter says the lubricant manufacturer has maintained a steady 15 to 20% market share in countries like Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and Zambia. “We have established key markets in countries that do not have massive growth expectations like South Africa. Our in-country presence in Southern Africa is to offer assistance and establish a strategic foothold for other areas.” Giles says this is mainly focused on

Giles Cutter, Export Divisional Manager at FUCHS LUBRICANTS South Africa.

amily owned and run Namibia Lubricants (NAMLUB) of Windhoek, now into its second generation, is celebrating its 20th year as the official FUCHS distributor in the country. Established in 2003, the distributor has shown year-on-year growth ever since. Due to its strong presence in the automotive, mining, and general industrial segments, the distributor has allowed FUCHS LUBRICANTS SOUTHERN AFRICA to comfortably secure a 15

to 20% share of the Namibian market. “NAMLUB was the second export market ever for us,” notes Business Development Manager Matthias Erhard. “It has grown steadily in terms of business, volume, and turnover, so is quite an important partner for us.” Namibia is a developing country with a mixed economy that depends heavily on the mining industry. It is the fourthlargest exporter of non-fuel minerals in Africa and the world’s fourth-largest

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From left: NAMLUB team MP Pretorius, Sonja Pretorius, and Bernard Pretorius. 31

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MP Pretorius, Sonja Pretorius, Bernard Pretorius, Matthisa Erhard, and Giles Cutter. As for the future, Erhard is convinced that the 20th anniversary is one of many more milestones to come in NAMLUB’s longstanding partnership with FUCHS. “It is a relationship that has been built up over a couple of decades now, and which reflects the loyalty, dedication, and hard work of the owners over the years,” he highlights.

East and West Africa, where FUCHS is aiming for a minimum 10% growth as part of its regional expansion strategy. “While we shall grow from a low base when we consolidate our presence there, it is a region that offers tremendous potential.” A key factor making NAMLUB the perfect partner for FUCHS is the roughly two-day-plus shipping time from the main Isando blending plant and warehouse in Isando, Johannesburg to Windhoek. The distributor itself has an extensive network of seven depots to service diverse customers and industries. In terms of appointing distributors, Giles explains that this depends on the country and the market. Traditionally, when FUCHS’ regional presence was still embryonic, it would locate a trustworthy local partner that it could

grow with and support over the years. “It does take a long time finding a company we can nurture and that will grow in tandem with our own expectations,” adds Giles. Prerequisites for distributorship include a significant local market penetration and preferably experience in the lubricants industry, although this is not mandatory. While distributors remain fully independent, FUCHS provides technical training, assists with advertising and marketing, and also conducts in-country and customer visits. Commenting on the second-phase expansion of the Isando facility, Giles says the main benefit will be the addition of loadcells and the capability for bulk filling, which will allow FUCHS to fulfil a once-off 30 000 litre order for major mining customers, for example.

About FUCHS FUCHS develops, produces, and markets high-grade lubricants and related specialties for virtually all industries Founded in 1931 as a family business in Mannheim, FUCHS is now the world's largest independent supplier of innovative lubricant solutions, covering almost every industry and application. Today, the company’s 6 000 employees in over 50 countries still share the same goal: To keep the world moving both sustainably and efficiently. To live up to this claim, we think in terms of perfection, not merely standards. When developing individual solutions, we enter into an intensive customer dialogue – acting as an experienced consultant, innovative problem solver and reliable team partner. The results we provide meet not only the highest technological requirements, but also help customers save on operating costs and emissions. At FUCHS, sustainability is not simply an empty phrase, but a mindset – and thus the basis and aspiration of all our business activities.

For more information on FUCHS Namibia, send an e-mail to mp@ namluboil.com or visit their website on fuchs.com/za/en or visit their facebook page https://www. facebook.com/fuchsnamibia. Alternatively contact them on (+264)61271-928. ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 51

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ProAgri BNZ 51

Zimbabwe ups horticulture exports to China by Marko Phiri which was lower than its peak before the country embarked on the controversial land reform programme at the turn of the millennium. The country is aiming to return to those glory days, and with new entrants eying the Asian market, the incentive to grow internationally approved horticulture produce has increased. While Zimtrade has lauded the trade protocol that specifically targeted the export of horticulture produce, it underlined the need for local farmers to invest in what it calls supporting infrastructure.

Pictures courtesy of Herald and Newsday.

Photo: Courtesy Kleinskuur Aquaponics/SAT.

n 2023 Zimbabwe increased its horticulture exports to China, providing a boost to a sector that has seen little growth in recent years with agricultural production favouring grains. The country's horticultural sector experienced disruptions over the years due to factors that included a lack of skilled labour after the land reform programme and a lack of wide interest in the sector by indigenous farmers. However, in recent years and with figures released by the authorities, the sector is experiencing a rebound, with China claiming the bulk of exports. This follows trade agreements between Zimbabwe and China with

the world's second largest economy expressing interest in the Southern African country's citrus fruits. The Chinese are also being targeted for the export of blueberries, with small-scale farmers venturing into a sector previously dominated by commercial farmers. According to Zimtrade, a state owned entity in charge of promoting international trade, China has shown a great appetite for a range of produce that includes avocados, watermelons, fresh peas, and fresh peanuts, alongside citrus fruits. Zimtrade says in 2020, horticulture exports stood at USD122 million,

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 51

Because horticulture is a highly specialised sector and capital intensive, this has compromised export potential for quality produce, officials say. Private investors have trained and contracted thousands of local farmers to grow horticulture produce and this is expected to add value to export initiatives as the country doubles its efforts towards meeting goals of a multi-billion-dollar agricultural economy. Zimbabwe has a long history of exporting horticulture to the European Union which for years was the primary destination, but at the turn of the century as relations between the two soured, Zimbabwe turned to China. The country is steadily building its exports to China, with a local consultancy

Pictures courtesy of Herald and Newsday. 35

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noting that there is increased interest in Zimbabwe's blueberries in Asia. “We were very interested to see that there is a huge demand for Zimbabwean citrus in China, we also got very good response for Zimbabwean blueberries into China,” Clarence Mwale, Chief Executive Officer of Fair-Mark, is quoted saying by a Chinese news outlet. "We are hoping that we get approval for blueberries soon enough so that we can start moving blueberries," he added. The interest in horticulture is a major shift for local farmers who have traditionally turned to grain for local consumption. The Zimbabwe-China Business Forum has called horticulture exports to China low hanging fruit as its potential to

Pictures courtesy of Herald and Newsday.

boost foreign earnings remains largely undervalued. "Having top-quality produce in large quantities to sustain supply is important, but how the product is presented will also determine the success of products as China is big on packaging," says Zimtrade, highlighting the need to professionalise the sector if horticulture trade is to be escalated. In June this year, China approved eleven orchards and six citrus fruit packing operations in Zimbabwe as official suppliers to Chinese markets, marking a boost for the sector that has been on a lull for years. Figures from the Zimbabwe Statistics Agency show that the country's citrus export grew by sixty four percent between 2017 and 2022 thanks to what it says are trade protocols with China. To emphasise the country's focus on exports, the Horticultural Development Council (HDC) revealed that it intends to increase hectarage from around 3 300 in 2020 to about 4 500 hectares in 2025. A possible USD27 million investment into horticulture production is on the table, confirming the drive to tap into the export market with China as the major destination. Citrus Growers Association President Pete Breinstein told a recent conference that the sector is eying the revival of 10 000 hectares of citrus plantations across the country by 2030. Amid that interest to boost horticul-

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 51

ture production, the finance ministry set aside USD30 million towards the horticulture sector to provide support production at a time when other agriculture sectors are struggling to access agri-finance. For now, the future looks promising for horticulture growers meeting the export standards.

Zimbabwe

African countries seek to escalate food production amid extreme weather

by Marko Phiri

Dried vegetables for sale at the open-air market in Bulawayo.

imbabwe, like other African countries, poured millions of dollars into the 2022/23 agriculture season, but officials and aid agencies warn that climate change threatens ambitions to increase grain production. Maize is Zimbabwe's main food crop, feeding millions of subsistence farmers, with interrupted production raising hunger and malnutrition concerns. With record high temperatures recorded in recent weeks, extreme heat has become the bane of agriculture activities in the country where an estimated 70 percent of maize is produced by smallholder farmers. In some areas across the country, both rural and urban farmers have abandoned their fields with large swatches of agricultural land lying fallow. From October, agriculture activity begins in earnest, but now into December, fields have been left to overgrown grass and acacia trees. Farmers cite unbearable temperatures, the uncertainty of rainfall and high costs of inputs among other factors for staying away from their fields. "I didn't even make any effort to buy seed this year. It doesn't seem like a good year to go to the fields,” said Nosizo Hadebe, a fifty-something year old city resident. She is one of many here who each year diligently headed to local fields 38

Urban community garden in Bulawayo supported by a borehole. and turned the city into lush green maize fields. This activity afforded residents the ability to feed themselves while others raised small incomes from selling what they considered excess harvest. However, recent climate shifts have discouraged such activities, even though residents were happily growing their staple food. This occurred at a time when basics such as maize meal

were beyond the reach of many. "We have not seen this kind of heat in recent memory, and you cannot work the land under such conditions. You are looking to collapse from heat exhaustion in the fields," Nosizo said. She was expressing a common sentiment as there have been reports in the past of elderly residents eager to feed themselves collapsing and dying alone in their maize fields. ProAgri BNZ 51

Open air market in Bulawayo where vendors sell drought-resistant traditional crops. A look around the city of Bulawayo tells a story of neglected land where, instead of green grass marking the fields this time of the year, dry grass extends across long stretches of land, highlighting the extent of both high temperatures and delayed rainfall. According to Zimbabwe's climate ministry officials, this has adversely affected agriculture activity, effectively impacting the country's food security efforts. And for smallholders such as Nosizo, the reality of her circumstances means that this cropping season has been cancelled. "It is evident that I am not the only one who didn't head to the fields this year, and this means we cannot stock our grain and other crops like we did previously even during a low rainfall season," she said. In the past, late planters have had to watch high temperatures scorch their crops. However, this year, even those smallholders who decided to plant early are already contending with crops that have been written off at the onset of what is considered the traditional planting season. Amid such gloom, the World Food Programme (WFP) say this will lead to more people requiring food assistance when, for years, smallholder farmers have been touted as the answer to the continent’s food security efforts. The United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service says Zimbabwe experienced a 43 percent drop in maize production during the 2022/23 season, and with this year's El Niño, production is expected to drop even further. Yet, Zimbabwe is not the only country whose agricultural activities have been hard done by extreme weather. The Food and Agriculture Organisation

(FAO) has said Zimbabwe is among several southern African countries that face a drought due to El Niño, making the 2023/24 season one of the worst in recent memory. In November this year, World VisionMalawi said the effects of Cyclone Freddy, which devastated the country, were still being felt months later as it caused extreme soil erosion and degradation. “This has not only affected the 2023 harvest but also has long-term consequences on the productivity of agricultural land. An online news outlet quoted Paul Turnbull, the World Food Programme’s (WFP) Country Director in Malawi, in November this year, stating, “Soil erosion diminishes soil fertility and can lead to decreased crop yields." Meanwhile, residents such as Nosizo pray that their fortunes will change, yet for climate ministry officials, the extreme weather could point to longterm disruptions of food production.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 51

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