AgriBulletin_120727

Julie 2012

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Julie 2012

Monsanto SA (groente) en Sakata Seed SA werk saam Soos met die meeste bedrywe vind die ontwikkeling in tegnologie in die groentebedryf teen ‘n geweldige pas plaas en maatskappye is deurlopend besig om nuwe geleenthede te ondersoek.

Monsanto het besluit om sy groenteverspreidingstrategie in Suid-Afrika te verander, en deel daarvan is om weg te beweeg van direkte verspreiding en met gepaste vennote in die groetebedryf saam te werk.

Sakata Seed Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd. (ook bekend onder die MayFord-handelsmerk) se uitstekende verspreidingsnetwerk leen hom daartoe om die mark volledig te bedien, met die insluiting van sekere Seminis-produkte.

Monsanto sal voortaan steeds tegniese ondersteuning en die ontwikkeling van nuwe produkte verskaf. Vir groenteboere beteken dit verbeterde dienslewering en bykomende tegniese kundigheid.

Monsanto en Sakata behou hul eie identiteit deur hul handelsmerke op hul verpakkings te behou.

Monsanto is een van die leiers in SA landbou, met sy hoofkantoor in Fourways, Johannesburg. Hul visie is

, skoue, n vergaderings Stuur datums va sie. ika bl pu gratis ens. aan ons vir by r eu kt da Skryf aan die re .us.com tin lle bu @ jean IEGROEP SITRUS STUD nd: Letsitele, g van elke maa Eerste Dinsda l Constantia-saa BEESVEILING LE VA ER RUBB elke maand: nderdag van Do Die eerste Rubbervale BOEREDAG LETABA EXPO rrein aneen Skoute Tz , us 1 August p STUDIEGROEP de studiegroe Gekombineer ).

14 Augustus: ia am litchi en macad (mango, avo, udiegroep st oad ok Av 4 September:

om ‘n volhoubare besigheid in stand te hou, wat gebaseer is op wedersydse respek vir ons kliënte, asook alle ander belangegroepe.

“Ons streef daarna om ‘n mededingende verskaffer van landbou-insette en tegnologie te bly, deur voortdurend nuwe produkte wat presteer en wat van gehalte getuig, op die mark te plaas,” sê die maatskappy in ’n verklaring. ”Monsanto het top-tegnologies gebaseerde produkte wat uitstekend presteer en daardeur is Monsanto toegewyd om boere mededingend te hou in die huidige landboumileu.”

Sakata het deur die jare bekendheid verwerf vir hul saad- en produkgehaltet. ”Dit is juis hierdie strewe om net die beste te lewer, wat bygedra het tot Sakata se akkreditasie as ‘n ISO 9001-maatskappy. Die tegniese kennis van ons personeel en die vermoë om produsente op ‘n hoë vlak tegnies te ondersteun, weerspieël Sakata se strewe na ‘n wedersydse vennootskap met sy kliënte, wat tot die voordeel strek van die groentebedryf in die geheel,” luidens ’n verklaring van die maatskappy.

AgriSA spreek hom sterk uit oor kinderarbeid • Beveel aan dat die reg sy gang moet gaan AgriSA se algemene raad het verlede week die gebruik van kinderarbeid bespreek en bevestig dat dit volgens inspeksieverslae van die departement van arbeid nie in die gevestigde kommersiële landbou van Suid-Afrika ‘n praktyk is nie.

Dit is AgriSA se standpunt dat indien daar gevalle gevind word waar daar wel van kinderarbeid gebruik gemaak word, die reg sy gang moet gaan om sodanige oortreders aanspreeklik te hou.

AgriSA het die minister van arbeid ondersteun met haar oproep teen die gebruik van kinderarbeid en hulle ook vereenselwig met die nasionale dag teen kinderarbeid wat in Tzaneen gehou is.

Dit is AgriSA se standpunt dat die gebruik van kinderarbeid onwettig sowel as moreel onaanvaarbaar is. Kinderarbeid word gedefinieer as werk wat deur kinders onder die ouderdom van18 jaar verrig word, wat tot misbruik kan lei en gevaarlik en onvanpas vir ‘n kind is, hul skool onderrig benadeel asook die sosiale-, fisiese-, verstandelike-, geestelike en morele ontwikkeling van ‘n kind strem.

AgriSA verwelkom navrae hieroor. Mnr Anton Rabe, voorsitter van AgriSA se arbeid- en maatskaplike beleidskomitee, kan by 083 453 3422 geskakel word, of me Elize van der Westhuizen, die senior bestuurder: Arbeidsverhoudings, by 082 388 0003.

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Julie 2012

ZZ2 pak hul eerste miljoen kissies avo’s LiN Media/Bulletin ZZ2 in Mooketsi is lank nie meer sinoniem met tamaties nie. Daar is uie (in die Wes-Kaap), appels (in die SuidoosKaap se Langkloof ), avokadopere, mango’s… en dinge soos komposverwerking.

Aan die einde van verlede maand het ZZ2 gewys dat hulle ook met avo’s saam met die groot menere kan gesels, toe hulle die eerste keer een miljoen kissies-kerf vir avo’s in een seisoen gehaal het.

Die mylpaal is gevier en mnr Burtie van Zyl het die miljoenste kissie avo’s aan sy pa, mnr Tommie van Zyl, tydens ‘n geselligheid oorhandig. Van Zyl jr staan aan die hoof van die ZZ2-mega-boerdery se avo-boerdery.

Van Zyl sr het in ‘n kort toespraak gesê ZZ2 se avo-boerdery se sukses is te danke aan ‘n span wat toegewyd aan dié boerdery is. Hy het daarop gewys

Agri Limpopo hou kongres AgriLimpopo hou op 12 en 13 September hul tweejaarlikse kongres en vanjaar word dit in Polokwane aangebied en georganiseer deur AgriKoraal (die plaaslike boerevereniging).

Die tema vir vanjaar se kongres is: “Limpopo se rol in nasionale voedselsekerheid”. Die organiseerdes poog om ‘n geleentheid daar te stel waar die potensiaal van die landbousektor in die provinsie beklemtoon gaan word. Limpopo is op vele terreien die groente- en vrugtespens van Suid-Afrika, en dié feit gaan tydens die kongres geïllustreer word.

Die eerste deel van die kongres gaan kyk na die stand van landbouproduksie in Limpopo — wat word waar geproduseer, en hoeveel daarvan. Daarna gaan gekyk word na metodes en tegnieke wat produsente op produksievlak kan aanwend om hul rol as voedselvoorsieners nog beter uit te voer. Die laaste gesprek van die dag gaan kyk na nog geleenthede wat bestaan of ontgin kan word, om die lanboubedryf in die provinsie nog sterker te maak. Hier gaan ook gefokus word op die wildbedryf. Studies word tans gedoen oor landbouverwerkingsaanlegte van verskeie produkte, en hoe dit nader gebring kan word aan die produksiegebiede. Waardetoevoeging tot primêre landbouproduksie so na as moontlik aan produksieareas, is die voortdurende fokus van dié gedeelte.

Die kongres word by die Ranch buite Polokwane gehou. Die inligting wat daar gedeel word, gaan waardevol wees vir enige landbouprodusent in Limpopo se langtermynbeplanning. Op 12 September word raadsvergaderings gehou, uitsluitlik vir lede van Agri Limpopo, maar die kongresdag (13 September) is oop vir enige belangstellende.

Vir besprekings en/of ‘n volledige program, kontak Corrie Bezuidenhout by corbez@mindsmail.co.za of Sandra Nel by wkl1@lantic.net.

Daar is nog ruimte vir uitstallings deur insetverskaffers, en ook geleentheid om van die gebeure tydens die kongres te borg. Kontak Corrie Bezuidenhout by 082 465 0514.

bring nuus aan die boer

dat verbruikers voordeel geniet uit ZZ2 se avo’s wat van verskillende kultivars is. Hy het ook gewys op die hoë opbrengs van hul boorde, danksy spesiale snoeimetodes en voiding. Die bome is almal van ‘n nuwe geslag en volgens die jongste metodes geplant.

Van die wêreld se voorste kenners van avokadopere is betrek en ZZ2 gaan hul boorde verder uitbrei met spesiaal ingevoerde kultivars en onderstam (rootstocks).

Hulle is ook van plan om verskillende mikro-klimaatstoestande te skep, sodat die avoseisoen gerek kan word en verbruikers topgehalte vrugte deur die loop van die jaar kan kry.

Die uitbreidingsprogram sal ondersteun word deur ZZ2 se eie nuwe kwekery.

Mnr Burtie van Zyl oorhandig hier die een miljoenste kissie avo’s aan sy pa, mnr Tommie van Zyl.

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Julie 2012

Citrus fruit export market established in Thailand The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) announced the establishment of a new market for the export of fresh citrus fruit from South Africa to Thailand.

Negotiations between the two countries for the establishment of this market started fourteen years ago.

This provides SA’s citrus growers with a further opportunity to participate in export markets for citrus fruit, in addition to other citrus markets which have already been established over the past years.

The citrus fruit covered by this export market are sweet orange (citrus sinensis) i.e. Navel and Valencia cultivars, mandarin (citrus reticulata) i.e. Clementine and Satsuma cultivars, lemon (citrus limon) i.e. Eureka cultivar, grapefruit (citrus paradisi) i.e. Marsh, Rose and Star Ruby cultivars.

Quarantine pests that are of current concern to the Thailand are listed in the importing conditions for

AgriSA gesels ook saam Die topleiers van AgriSA het ook die onlangse beraad in Soweto bygewoon, waar oor versoening en nasiebou besin is. Hier is dr Theo de Jager (vise-president van AgriSA), president Jacob Zuma, mnr Johannes Möller (president van AgriSA) en dr Mathews Phosa gesellig saam tydens ‘n pouse in die program.

this market. Among the requirements is a mandatory phytosanitary treatment (cold treatment) for false codling moth, Mediterranean fruit fly and Natal fruit fly that may be conducted pre-export (on land) or in transit.

Fruit types to be exported to Thailand must be produced in and sourced from commercial orchards that have been registered with and pre-approved by the DAFF. Such orchards would be monitored by the DAFF to ensure that fruit is produced free from pests which are of quarantine concern to Thailand.

In registered orchards, good agricultural practices must be implemented to ensure that the listed quarantine pests of concern to this market are managed effectively.

The following DAFF directorates are responsible for monitoring and maintaining this market: • Directorate: Plant Health, contact person Ms Rejoice

Muavhi, 012 319 6538 or e-mail: RejoiceM@daff.gov.za • Directorate: Inspection Services, contact person Mr Ernest Phoku, 012 319 8755 or e-mail: ErnestP@daff. gov.za.

AGRI – MERENSKY NUUSbRIEF / NEWS LETTER MAY / MEI 2012

Nuwe landbou klub gestig...

Agri-Merensky besoek ZZ2

Agri –Merensky, die nuut gestigte Landbou Klub by Hoërskool Merensky veroorsaak tans groot opwinding . Met meer as 40 lede na slegs twee maande se bestaan word daar met reg uitgesien na opwindende tye by die Skool vir Agri en Omgewing Wetenskappe. Die klub bestuur wat bestaan uit leerders van die skool is verkies vir een jaar en is verantwoordelik vir die groei en ontwikkeling van die klub;

Agri Merensky lede in die tamatie pakhuis

by ZZ2

George Joubert is as die eerste voorsitter gekies en word bygestaan deur; Carel O’Neill; Johan Wagner; Armand Geldenhuys; Dimari Fernandes; Alicia du Toit en Lize Drewes.

Die Agri-Merensky toer groep het ook die kompos tee projek besoek

Armand maak kennis met “Chapter 2” 1

Dit woel vir die vales op Plasieland, waar Agri Merensky besig is om ‘n nuwe model te skep, vir leerlinge wat ‘n loopbaan in die landbou wil oorweeg of wat ‘n goeie akademiese grondslag wil kry om in die praktiese boerdery-omgewing suksesvol te kan wees. Agri Merensky beoog om mettertyd ‘n volwaardige boerevereniging te wees, wat kan affilieer by AgriLetaba. Hulle het reeds hul eie studiegroepe en ook ‘n eie publikasie (hierbo) begin.

Julie 2012

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Julie 2012

Mannya is new HOD of Department of Agriculture in Limpopo Mr Kgadima Cullingworth Mortimer Mannya has been appointed new Limpopo Department of Agriculture (LDA) Head of Department (HOD).

He takes over from his predecessor, Prof Edward Nesamvuni, who left the department for the University of Limpopo.

Mannya received his Masters’ of Science degree from the Cranfield Institute of Technology in the UK and obtained his Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science Honours degrees from the then University of the North (now University of Limpopo), as well as postgraduate certificates in Project Management and Management Advanced Programme from the University of Bradford, UK, and Wits respectively .

Mannya worked as a professional scientist for the former Lebowa Homeland’s Department of Agriculture. He is a soil scientist and has vast experience in agricul-

ture, as he served the Limpopo Department of Education as principal of Tompi Seleka Agricultural College. He was also a lecturer in Soil Science at Unilim.

Since 1995 to date before appointed as the HOD, he was Chief Director within the LDA managing technical branches including Sustainable Resource Management, Technical Production Services, District Extension Services and Agricultural Technical Services. He also served as Director for Agricultural Research Services.

Limpopo’s MEC for Agriculture, Mr Jacob Marule, hopes his appointment will contribute towards better service to farmers.

“With his seventeen years of experience in the department, he will continue to work with his senior management and staff as a team to deliver the mandate of the department and to offer support to our farmers,” the MEC said.

Disabled farmers win big The Kopano disabled agricultural project in Sekhukhune was adjudged the top producer for the national and export markets at the annual Young Aspirant Farmers of the Year awards of the Limpopo department of Agriculture.

For their efforts the farmers of the project received R150 000 in prize money from Mr Jacob Marule, MEC for Agriculture. Country fresh eggs of Mopani walked away with R120 000 as the second best producer, and Lebapank-

wet trading of Capricorn was third.

Top producer for household consumption was Ditsepu farming project of Freddy Sekgobela of Mopani. Leleni Primary School of Mopani was adjudicated second best primary school.

Prize money ranged from R10 000 to the top R150 000. All prize winners were adamant that the money received from the department will be used to expand their operations and to take them to become commercial farmers.

Hoedspruit

Farmers should diversify and integrate Although they may seem contradictory, the concepts of diversification and integration are, in fact, two different facets of one single approach to improving the sustainability of the South African agricultural industry.

Mr Willie du Plessis Standard Bank Head of Agriculture says that the need for an astute combination of diversification and integration can be demonstrated most clearly at the moment in the maize sector. ”Pockets of drought and consequent late plantings that have been damaged by frost impacted negatively on yields in the maize sector (as confirmed by the crop estimates committee). This coming at a time of high demand should support the maize price during harvest. So, for now, in spite of difficult times, maize producers should see a fair return on their hard work.”

The real question is how margins in the farming business can be preserved and improved over time. Du Plessis notes that if farmers remain price-takers only — and don’t participate in other parts of the agricultural value chain — they will remain vulnerable to market volatility.

“Integration into the agricultural value chain can help stabilise margins in the primary operation as the processing side would typically experience higher margins at the time when primary production is under pressure.”

Du Plessis gives an example of a farmer’s produce boosting the local miller’s operations. The farmer could consider taking a stake in that business, provid-

ing an extra revenue stream, and in the process help to create job opportunities and stabilise the local economy.

This, however, is not without risks. For an integrative approach to be implemented successfully it requires a full understanding of the cycles in markets other than your own.

“Some maize farmers did take the positive step of diversifying this season — by putting their maize through livestock such as poultry and cattle, rather than selling the maize outright,” says Du Plessis. “The problem was that those farmers who bought weaners in December paid R23 per kilogram, only to be confronted by a cyclical drop in the weaner price, to R15 per kilogram in April. This has significantly reduced the added value they were aiming for by putting their maize through cattle.”

Key to avoiding unpleasant surprises like these would be to take an integrative approach, for example for the maize producer to get involved in poultry production. In this case, margins in the poultry business will improve in times when the maize price is under pressure, thus forming a natural hedge.

“Pooling knowledge and capabilities across agricultural sectors invariably produces a better return on time, effort, and financial investment for the individual farmer than operating in isolation,” says Du Plessis. “It also has the significant knock-on benefit of stabilising margins, as well as making agriculture as a whole more efficient and productive.”

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Julie 2012

Small scale farmers must join forces Unprecedented market and growth opportunities are being created for small scale farmers, thanks to new sustainability initiatives that focus on environmental and cost factors. Local retailers, for example Walmart and Pick ‘n Pay, are paving the way through sourcing goods and services locally or even directly from farmers.

Mr Willie du Plessis, the head of Agriculture at Standard Bank says: “This new trend is starting to have an impact on localised economies and general productivity in these regions. Small scale farmers will only be able to maximise these opportunities if they collaborate with each other as well as other members of the agricultural value chain.”

Closer collaboration with retailers is also yielding benefits along the food production cycle of the small farmer value chain. Retailers are investing extensively into research and specialist food production skills to assist local and small scale farmers to improve the quality of the produce provided to the retailer.

Benefits to the farmer include access to new markets and the latest trends in agricultural science, and a men-

Ernstig oor agri?

Adverteer in die AgriBulletin, Limpopo se agri-venster.

015 307 7248 Thinus van Deventer | 083 611 6292

torship relationship. Benefits for the consumer include value-for-money produce and longer term health benefits. The consequent cost savings, on transport for instance, are also being passed on to customers.

Du Plessis says: “Whichever approach the retailer uses to source quality produce, the small scale farmer gains the advantage of access to markets otherwise out of his financial reach, and the rapid infusion of skills and knowledge that it could otherwise have taken many years to obtain. The ripple effects of such an integrative approach are vast.”

However, he also cautions small scale farmers to understand that the onus now falls on them to make collaboration at their end of the value chain a success. This means upholding a consistent supply of quality products to retailers.

Because small scale farmers are not able to buy in bulk, they suffer the disadvantage of high input costs that erode margins, and as a consequence, pushes up the prices of their products. Most farming is also capital intensive, creating difficult entry conditions and ma-

king small scale farmers less competitive from day one.

“There’s every argument to be made for small scale farmers to form buying and marketing groups through which they can optimise their input costs and negotiate contracts with off takers,” says Du Plessis.

Such groups could operate at a regional rather than national level, and don’t need to be limited to one specific industry. South Africa’s geographic diversity means that many regions have a range of climatic conditions that would enable a variety of crops to be produced and then sold collectively to local retailers.

“In other words, grain, livestock, fruit, and vegetable farmers could work together to negotiate one contract to which they would all be suppliers. The retailers would get the product variety they need to attract consumers, and each farmer within a farming group would benefit from a stable supply contract,” says Du Plessis It may also be easier for the government to grant subsidies to collective farming structures instead of individuals. Banks also prefer to fund small scale farmers through an umbrella organisation that takes responsibility for the group meeting its contract obligations.

Furthermore having a retailer ring-fencing the bank’s risk by contracting to put the group’s products on its shelves makes such groups even more attractive Du Plessis points out that, in the past, agriculture has been fragmented, with input suppliers, farmers, beneficiators, marketers, financiers, off takers, and consumers all seeing themselves as separate role players without responsibility for any other element of the value chain.

“The sector is maturing into the realisation that more can be achieved by acting together rather than independently. Small scale farmers are in the fortunate position of taking centre stage just as that maturity takes the practical form of the new sustainability trend among off takers and consumers,” concludes Du Plessis.

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Julie 2012