ProAgri BNZ (Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe)

ProAgri B otswa n a /N am i b ia/Zim b ab w e

No 02

Free

Master soil preparation with AGCO

Botswana p 21

Namibia

p 31

Zimbabwe

p 44

supports farmers with effective technology www.agri4all.com

www.proagri.co.za

For the urban explorers Outdoor ready urban shoes

Letter from the Editor

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he Botswana elections came and went without a stint of unrest. The Batswana should really be proud of the example they set to the rest of the continent. The BDP (Botswana Democratic Party) achieved a runaway victory, with two thirds of the seats in their pocket. This achievement, which was even bigger than in the previous election in 2014, caused a few eyebrows to lift and a few grumbles from the opposition, claiming election irregularities.

But with this huge majority behind him, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, who took over from Mr Ian Khama after he resigned in April last year, is definitely firmly in the seat for the next 5 years.

President Masisi told his officials that they shouldn’t celebrate for too long, because there is hard work to do.

There is indeed hard work to do, especially in the agricultural sector.

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The president did a splendid job with the reinstatement of big game hunting.

This decision offered breathing space and opportunities for our farmers who suffer from unimaginable destruction.

But this was an easy dilemma to fix …

Southern Africa and especially Botswana is gripped in the most severe drought since we can remember. Luckily the UN is already planning an emergency strategy to save what can still be saved. The President already declared the country in a state of drought, but we have to ask him whether he is going to raise the UN one and ensure that our cripple industry will recover as soon as humanly possible.

And then the age old diamond question. Botswana is yearning to become independent from the volatile and potentially unsustainable diamond industry for many years. Agriculture is a very secure and highly important sector and has been earmarked as one of the main industries to grow into a safety net, but progress is slow. Maybe it is time for government to allow the private sector to take over and fully withdraw out of the meat export industry …

In this second edition of ProAgri BNZ, we take a look at the advanced irrigation equipment and technology from Agrico and Reinke and we learn from AGCO how to get maximum value and satisfaction out of this planting season.

For the farmers who wish to receive the magazine on WhatsApp, please WhatsApp your name, surname, country, main agricultural activity and e-mail address to +27(0)84-041-1722.

It will be less than 15 MB per issue.

Farm smartly!

Du Preez de Villiers dupreez@proagri.co.za

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Content 3. Agrico supports farmers with effective technology 4. How to handle your beef cattle. Part 2 8. How to get started with aquaponics. Part 2 11. Spray to protect your crops. Part 2 14. Where there is water, Reinke turns arid lands into oasis 17. Master soil preparation with AGCO 18. Building an affordable round dam: Part 2 21. Botswana hit hard by the African drought 26. BUAN shows how success can be achieved with proper care 31. Flowers can bloom in the desert 35. Combatting the drought at the Windhoek Show 41. Omnia ensures bigger, better yields 44. Zimbabwe battles with land, trust and restitution

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

Cover Agrico is as African as you can get. Their pivot irrigation systems and wide variety of implements and even locally build tractors are manufactured in South Africa for African conditions. Read on page 3 how their remote management technology brings a smile to farmers’ faces.

ProAgri B ot s wa n a/N a m i b i a/Z i m b a b w e

202b Griselda Road Murrayfield, Pretoria +26 (0)12 803 0728 www.proagri.co.za Copyright © 2019. All rights r­ eserved. No m ­ aterial, text or p ­ hoto­graphs may be r­ eproduced, copied or in any other way t­ ransmitted without the written consent of the publisher. O ­ pinions ­expressed are not n ­ ecessarily those of the publisher or of the e ­ ditor. We recognise all trademarks and logos as the sole property of their r­ espective o ­ wners.

ProAgri shall not be liable for any errors or for any actions in reliance thereon.

ProAgri Editor Du Preez de Villiers > +27 82-598-7329 dupreez@proagri.co.za Reporters Jaco Cilliers > +27 71-893-6477 jaco@proagri.co.za Benine Ackermann > +27 73-105-6938 benine@proagri.co.za Marketing Manager Diane Grobler > +27 82-555-6866 diane@proagri.co.za Marketing Xander Pieterse > +27 79-524-0934 xander@proagri.co.za Tiny Smith > +27 82-698-3353 tiny@proagri.co.za Anelda Strauss > +27 74-424-0055 anelda@proagri.co.za Johan Swartz > +27 71-599-9417 johan@proagri.co.za Gerhard Potgieter > +27 74-694-4422 gerhard@proagri.co.za Design Christiaan Joubert Esta van Niekerk Enquiries Engela Botha > +27 12-803-0782 engela@proagri.co.za Izel Zeelie > +27 12-803-0782 izel@proagri.co.za Accounts Ronel Schluter > +27 12-803-0782 accounts@proagri.co.za Distribution Janita du Plessis > +27 12-803-0782 janita@proagri.co.za Managing Editor Annemarie Bremner > +27 82-320-3642 annemarie@proagri.co.za Business Manager George Grobler > +27 83 460 0402 george@proagri.co.za

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+27 (0)12 666 8717

ProAgri BNZ 02

Agrico supports farmers with effective technology Agrico ensures maximum production with efficient irrigation.

D

utoit Agri in the Western Cape, in South Africa is a pacesetting farm that always explores new ways of refining precision farming. They overcame a huge hurdle when they acquired centre pivots from Agrico with the innovative Advanced Rain control system. While the rest of the region was suffering through a drought, Dutoit Agri’s two vegetable farms, Skaapkraal and Platkloof, were managing their water consumption as effectively as possible.

“Initially we had to ask around and do research about which centre-pivot systems to acquire. Agrico proved to be not only affordable, but also tough and durable enough to withstand the harsh African environment, while offering the latest technology. Furthermore, Agrico is supported by excellent service,” says Frikkie Bothma, Manager of Dutoit Agri’s Platkloof and Skaapkraal farms. “The Windsaver, Cablesaver and Wheelsaver that protect against wind damage, cable theft and wheel theft met all our needs.”

On Skaapkraal outside of Malmesbury the pivot network is constantly under pressure due to the fact that the dam and pump station are situated higher up from the pivot. This means that the pivots receive water immediately once they are switched on. The pivots can

Johann Raal saves a lot of diesel and time by controlling his pivots from his cell phone.

Gabri Beselaar, Dutoit Agri’s Production Manager of Platkloof, monitors and controls the pumps from his cell phone. then be set to spray more or less water by adjusting the speed at which they move.

The pivot system can be controlled from an app on your smartphone. The app’s user interface is neat and easy to understand using colour codes. Johann Raal, Skaapkraal’s Production Manager, knows exactly how much water flows through each of the nine pivots at any time. “Our system is simple and accurate,” he says. “From a management point of view, the web control system with the message notifications is very effective. I am notified immediately whenever a pivot is being switched on or when there are problems.”

Via his cell phone, the client receives notifications that indicate how much water is applied to the fields and also if there are any irregularities with the system. In the case of problems or irregularities, a warning is sent to the client. As an added measure, staff at Agrico headquarters are always ready to assist with troubleshooting and making the necessary adjustments. A full record is kept for everything that happens with the system.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

Dutoit Agri took it a step further on the farm, Platkloof outside Piketberg in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The pump installation consists of pumps submerged in the dam and booster pumps at the pump station to supply water to a network of centre pivots.

The pressure requirements of the various sections of the system differ, and also when different pivots are being switched on or off. Therefore, the communication between the pumps and the pivots had to be completely automated.

When a pivot is activated via smart phone, the pivot automatically activates the pumps to supply water. The Variable Speed Drive of the pumps can then adjust the pressure as needed. The pumps and pivots are in constant communication with one another. The interactive control of all the pumps ensures optimal and safe operation.

Gabri Beselaar, Production Manager of Platkloof, has an added feature within the app that enables him to keep a watchful eye on the functioning of all the pumps. “Less labour is needed, and the water application is much more effective and precise. The pivot knows when to switch on or off and when to adjust the speed. Human error is excluded in this process,” he claims.

If a pipe bursts, the system will pick up the increase in water flow and the drop in pressure. It then switches off the submerged pumps in the dam as well as the booster pumps.

“Since 2015 when I started here, we have managed to save 20 to 25% of water with the help of Agrico’s Advanced Rain system,” says Gabri. The system also ensures that the pumps are utilised as effectively as possible in order to save electricity, and there is the added saving on manual labour that all ensure more effective management and optimal profitability.

Gabri Beselaar is quite pleased with Agrico’s ultra-modern Advanced Rain web control system.

With an Agrico system you can survive any storm. Contact Alfred Andrag today at +27-82824-1214 or on +27-21-9504111 or send an e-mail to alfred.andrag@agrico.co.za for more information.

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How to handle your beef cattle Part 2: The importance of a crush 4

ProAgri BNZ 02

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o make beef production a pleasure, it is vital to use the right equipment and to listen to the academics and experts who spend many hours working out what the equipment should look like and how it should function. This is the second part in our beef cattle handling series and the ARC Agricultural Engineering in South Africa has made their manual on handling facilities available to ProAgri BNZ so that our readers can benefit from their research and knowledge.

Last month we found the easiest way for the handler to manage cattle. This month we focus on the different kinds of sorting pens.

Sorting pens Cattle are collected from the field or feeding pens before being handled.

The size of the sorting pens must be as large as the largest group of animals to be handled at a time. Each animal needs approximately 2 m² of space in the sorting pen.

The shape of a sorting pen depends on the total lay-out of the facility, whether round or square. For savings on labour, there should preferably be two sorting pens. In the planning of a system, provision must be made for possible future expansion.

In sorting pens used for commercial purposes, one pen should be in the shade and be supplied with water, should sick or injured cattle have to be kept there for recuperation.

In feeding lots, however, provision must be made for a separate recuperation camp. In large feeding pens, a separate sick bay with a crush pen and special facilities will be necessary.

Crush pens Crush pens are used to drive the cattle from the sorting pens to the loading platform. It is usually provided with moveable gates used for leading the cattle into the crush, by making the area behind them smaller.

In handling facilities with a rectangular layout, a funnel-type crush is usually used. The crush pen must be designed in such a way that the one side joins up straight, that is continuous with the crush. The other side must join up with the crush at approximately 30°. If both sides join up with the crush at an angle, like a funnel, it causes the cattle to try to turn around and mill around in front of the entrance. One of the handling mistakes occurring generally in funnel-shaped crushing pens, is that the pens are overloaded with cattle. The crushing pen must never be filled more than three-quarters with cattle.

Cattle will move into the crush more effectively if handlers wait until the crush is half filled before they drive in more cattle. This will create enough space for the cattle to follow a leader into the crush. Figure 1 shows a typical funnel-shaped crush pen.

Figure 1: Funnel-shaped crush pen Cattle usually walk along a fence and are inclined to stand in corners. A round crushing corral is usually better than a rectangular one, as it helps with the flow of cattle. The construction of such a crush pen is, however, more difficult. To simplify the construction, a pen can be made 10 or 11 sided instead of round. A partial circle can also be used.

A number of exit gates are provided on the sides and lead to the loading platform, crush or sorting pens.

Each crushing pen is provided with two crush-gates that hinge around a pole in the centre of the pen. One gate is for directing the cattle to the correct exit and the other gate is for moving the cattle. These crush gates can be 3,0 m to 3,5 m long. The pole on which the gates are joined must be securely concreted into the ground and sturdy hinges must be affixed.

For a very heavy gate, a bearing is used on the top end as a hinge. A wheel can also be affixed to the bottom end of the gate, to provide sturdiness to heavy gates.

A space of approximately 100 mm must be left between the gate and the ground to allow for unevenness of the ground and to make provision for collection of manure.

Layouts of different crush pens are shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.

It is preferable to make the crush gates and sides of the crush pen solid, while it is a must for feedlots. The only exit that the cattle then see, is to a certain exit gate. The sides can be made solid with steel sheets or rubber.

Steel sheets of one millimetre in thickness are too thin and cause a lot of unnecessary noise. Use thicker sheets instead. Peepholes can be made for the handlers to observe the animals.

Cattle collected from the field before being handled.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

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Crushes A crush is used to line up cattle in single file to handle them. The end of the crush is considered the working area.

A general problem at crushes is that they are usually made too short and too wide. By following a few directives, much frustration can be avoided. The type of crush which will be used will depend on the specific lay-out of the handling facility.

Crush The length of the crush is determined by the number of cattle that have to stand in the crush at the same time.

As a rule of thumb, 1,5 m per animal is allowed. Therefore, multiply the number of cattle that have to stand in the crush at one time with 1,5 m.

A crush must preferably be at least six metres long, with the length of a straight crush generally 12 to 21 m long.

A too short crush will lengthen the work time of large herds of cattle, while a crush that is too long, will cause the cattle to remain crowded together during a long work session.

This could cause some cattle to lie down and cause disorder and injury. It happens especially with wild cattle.

It is preferable that the crush is built at an upwards incline towards the front, because cattle will rather tend to move uphill in a narrow passage than downhill. Cattle tend to stop if they are driven downhill in a crush. The slope will also help to allow rainwater to run off and this prevents slush.

Crushes may be curved or straight.

The overall lay-out of the handling facility will determine which type to use. The advantage of a curved crush over a straight crush, is that the flow of cattle is generally better in a curved crush. One of the reasons for this is that the leading animal cannot see the exit in front of him and only follows the crush. The rest of the cattle only see the animals in front of them and follow easier. The cattle can also not see ahead that they are to be handled. Another advantage of the curved crush, is that the rumps of all the animals are in the same direction.

This simplifies gestation examinations.

The radius of such a crush is approximately 13 m.

Next month we shall look at various crush constructions and the ideal crush dimensions and specifications.

Figure 2: Herding pen

Figure 3: Crushing pen

Published with acknowledgement to the ARC Engineering for the use of their Beef Cattle Handling Manual. Visit www.arc.agric.za for more information.

Figure 4: Variation of crushing pen - semi-circular pen ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

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Use 90% less water for vegetable production and have fish to sell • Cost-effective • Highly productive • Robust

Commercial unit: 65 x 75m • 4 000 kg tilapia p/m • 50 000 lettuce / spinach / herbs • 4 000 fruit bearing plants (eg tomato) Community units of 30 x 10m also available

Send an e-mail to sales@ksba.co.za for a quote (+27) 71-412-4207 / colin@ksba.co.za www.ksba.co.za

System Design – Build – Train 8

How to get started with aquaponics Part 2: Why aquaponics?

ProAgri BNZ 02

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ast month we started this series looking at factors you need to consider before starting with aquaponics.

In this issue we answer the question: Why aquaponics?

What makes it different to or better than hydroponics? Also, what is the difference between using fish in aquaponics and a traditional aquaculture system?

Difference between aquaponics and hydroponics: Aquaponics is a highly sustainable method of agriculture; mainly because it is a self-contained ecosystem that mirrors nature. Contrary to hydroponics, aquaponics does not rely on chemical nutrients for the plants, as the fish waste provides these nutrients to the plants.

Hydroponics

Aquaponics

Definition Hydroponics refers to the cultivation of plants in water.

Aquaponics refers to the cultivation of fish and plants in a looped system.

Types of nutrients Chemical nutrients are used in hydroponics.

Organic matter produced by fish waste is used as nutrients in aquaponics.

Bacteria

Bacterial growth is inhibited in hydroponics.

Bacterial growth is used in the production of nutrients from the fish waste.

Temperature Hydroponic systems are maintained at low temperatures, inhibiting the bacterial growth.

Aquaponic systems are maintained at temperatures that induce the growth of bacteria.

Start-up speed Hydroponic systems are quicker to start producing as all the nutrients can be added from the beginning.

Aquaponic systems are slower to start producing as they need to be cycled up through natural processes.

System unloading and cleaning Hydroponic systems should be unloaded after a certain period due to the build-up of sludge and toxic chemicals.

As natural nutrients are used in aquaponic systems, the replacement of water in the system is not required.

Productivity

Hydroponic nutrient dosing Growing methods:

Hydroponic systems will start off being more productive for the first few months. Productivity is directly related to the consistent application of precisely measured doses of nutrients.

Aquaponic systems may have a slower start than hydroponics but will perform better once the system is in balance. Productivity is dependent on the overall health of the system and the balance between fish and plants.

Types of plants Every type of plant needs its own mix of nutrients, therefore only one type is planted at a time.

A multitude of leafy and fruit bearing plants can grow together in the same system using the same recirculating water.

Growing methods Usually in hydroponics only one growing method is used, it may be gutters using NFT (nutrient film technique), Dutch buckets with ebb and flow or DWC (deep water culture) with floating rafts.

NFT sysytem

In aquaponics different systems are often used in combination, with auto syphon gravel beds adding to the filtration system, before water flows through the DWC.

Ease of maintenance Hydroponic systems need intensive management compared to aquaponics.

Aquaponic systems are easy to maintain once in balance.

Water use

Floating rafts

If water is to be re-used it must first be cleaned and treated to remove remaining nutrients.

The only water that has to be replaced is water lost through evaporation or plant use.

Power use

Dutch buckets

If a gutter system is used, power cuts without back-up power supply will be fatal. Power is needed for the water flow and dosing of nutrients.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

A well-designed system should use only one water pump and one air pump and should be able to survive limited power outages if the system is big enough.

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Difference between traditional aquaculture and aquaponics: Compared to aquaculture, aquaponics systems do not have a build-up of waste in the system that causes the water to become toxic. Aquaponic systems utilise this waste, with the bacteria converting the ammonia into nitrites and nitrates, which the plants then consume as their main nutrient source.

Conclusion Hydroponics and aquaponics are two types of methods used in agriculture to grow plants using water as a grow medium. Chemical nutrients are used in the form of fertilisers in hydroponics, while fish waste is used as the source of plant nutrients in aquaponics. The main difference between hydroponics and aquaponics is the type of nutrients used in each method.

Primary benefits of aquaponics are: • Aquaponics uses 90% less water to grow the same amount of vegetables as in soil.

• No water goes to waste. The water is continually recirculated.

Aquaculture

•

Aquaponic systems can be built on non-arable land that can’t be used for conventional agriculture; therefore cheaper land.

Fish is part of the equation – the fish convert the fish food and provide the nutrients and ammonia.

The fish is sold once they reach market weight, covering the running costs.

Vegetables in the DWC system are harvested daily with new plants also being transplanted daily, providing a steady cash flow from the start.

Systems can be erected close to cities, highways and the market, saving a lot on transport costs.

There is a growing demand for healthy food produced without chemical fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides. Aquaponics is the answer.

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Aquaculture

Statistics of aquaponics compared to traditional farming are: Reduced water usage – up to 90% Increased yields – up to 30% Accelerated plant growth – up to 200%

Aquaponics

Tilapia

Definition Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish and shellfish for consumption and can refer to the cultivation of both marine and freshwater species in land-based or open-ocean production.

Aquaponics is the symbiotic cultivation of plants and aquatic animals in a recirculating environment emulating a natural bio-system.

Fish feed pellets

Water use Up to a third of the water in a closed aquaculture system needs to be replaced every week due to the buildup of ammonia and fish waste.

The water should never be replaced as it is filtered and cleaned by the good bacteria and plants in the system.

Temperature The water temperature can be maintained for the specific species, such as warm water (28˚C) for tilapia and cold water (12 - 14˚C) for trout.

The temperature needs of the plants should also be considered and a balance should be reached to keep the fish and plants happy. Generally, plants like 23˚C, which will be fine for tilapia.

Fish feed A tilapia needs 1% of its body weight in feed every day. The better the quality of the feed, the better the production and taste.

Production About 22 grown tilapias per 1 000 litres is the norm.

Up to 150 tilapias per 1 000 litres will be quite happy in aquaponics because clean water continuously circulates through the dam.

Ease of maintenance

Water quality should be managed intensively.

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Aquaponics fish tank

The need stays the same and ultimately the nutrients in the fish feed will also be utilised by the plants.

Once the system is in balance, management is easy.

Sources: https://hydrotower.org/2018/06/24/ why-aquaponics/ http://pediaa.com/difference-between-hydroponics-and-aquaponics/ Kleinskuur Aquaponics Training Manual; Introduction to Aquaponics, 2017, Bremner, CD & Bremner, A.

ProAgri BNZ 02

Spray to protect your crops Part 2: Nozzles and pumps Compiled by J Fuls (Pr Eng)

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

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he mechanics of a pump is very interesting and consists of the basics on which most spraying mechanisms function. It is therefore beneficial for a farmer to know how it works. This month we look closely at nozzles and pumps.

We thank the ARC Agricultural Engineering in South Africa, who made this article available to the readers of ProAgri BNZ.

2. Wipe your dirty finger over the markings, but be careful not to wipe dirt into the nozzle hole.

Nozzle types and their application Nozzle markings The markings on the nozzles are very small and one has to have strong eyes to be able to read it. One can however do the following to make the markings more readable:

1. Make your finger a little dirty on muddy soil

3. Carefully wipe the excess dirt off on your hand palm.

Before

After

This is the result on a nozzle with a light colour, like yellow.

One can do much the same with school board chalk if one can get hold of some, especially on a dark nozzle like red:

1. Wipe the chalk over the markings in all directions.

2. Carefully wipe the excess chalk off on your hand palm.

Before

After

This is the result on a nozzle with a dark colour, like red.

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Pumps To get the spraying chemicals out of the tank and to the spraying nozzle, one needs a pump. This pump must be able to put pressure on the mixture, so that the nozzle can spray as it is supposed to do. (Remember how the bicycle pump made a spray when pumping hard).

On a tractor sprayer, the pump is outside the tank:

How do pumps work?

A sprayer pump can be compared to a bicycle pump.

This is how the pump works:

When we put the pump together again, it looks like this inside:

The bicycle pump pumps air, but if the whole pump is held under water, it will pump water instead of air.

Other pumps work much the same as the bicycle pump.

Compare the pump below with the bicycle pump which is connected to the bicycle wheel. Note that it has the same components:

The main differences are that this piston pump has a separate handle to push the push rod, just like the pump of a Knapsack sprayer, the wheel valve of the bicycle serves as the outlet valve for the bicycle pump.

As the piston is moved out by means of the handle, the inlet valve will open to let liquid flow from the tank into the pump.

The outlet valve remains closed to stop liquid from returning once it was pushed out.

The reverse happens when the handle is moved in for pumping:

Next month we shall look at the different kinds of sprayers. Published with the acknowledgement to the ARC Agricultural Engineering for the use of their manuals. Visit www.arc.agric.za for more information.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

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Where there is water, Reinke turns arid lands into oases Net water en Reinke is nodig vir ’n vrugbare oase in die woestyn

by Annemarie Bremner The first spic and span Reinke centre pivot in Namibia sparkles in the spring sun, ready to transform the naked earth into a fertile green oasis!

Die eerste Reinke-spilpunt in Namibië skitter in die lenteson, gereed om die vaal, dorre aarde in ’n vrugbare lushof te omtower. Die terrein is pas ontbos, maar die grond moet nog bewerk word.

“W

hen you find water on your farm and you don’t make the most of it, it would be better to give the farm to someone who can make more of it,” says Martin Ritter of the farm Woltemade at Imkerhof, about 200 km north of Windhoek.

The present Ritters are the third generation on the farm and are well-known cattle and game farmers in the region. They also utilise the farm for commercial game hunting and have their own meat processing plant.

The purchase of a neighbouring farm with subterranean water was a turning point and they decided to extend their activities to include crop production.

Martin and his brother York, have already started establishing several hectares of olive trees. The next innovation will be the production of grain and fodder under centre pivot irrigation.

The brothers first made sure that they had a strong and stable water source.

The government was also approached to assist with the drilling and measuring of test holes and everybody agreed – the water was a stable source and viable for irrigation.

Martin says: “We in the Hochfeld catchment area believe that there is something like a wide subterranean river because we drilled 35 holes, and in all instances found water at 30 metres, 14

pushing up naturally to 15 metres below ground level.

The best borehole delivers 100 cubic metres per hour and the weakest 20 m3/h.”

The Ritters tackled their major development with the assistance of American part-

“A

s jy water op jou plaas kry en jy benut dit nie, dan moet jy maar eerder die plaas vir iemand anders gee,” sê Martin Ritter van die plaas Woltemade by Imkerhof so 200 km noord van Windhoek.

Die Ritters is al drie

Martin Ritter of Imkerhof near Hochfeld, north of Windhoek, is a satisfied customer after experiencing the Reinke super service and product quality.

Martin Ritter van Imkerhof naby Hochfeld noord van Windhoek is in sy skik met Reinke se goeie diens en gehalte.

geslagte op die plaas en is bekende bees- en wildboere in die omgewing. Hulle bedryf die plaas ook as jagplaas en het hulle eie vleisverwerkingsaanleg.

Die aankoop van ’n buurplaas met water het hulle op die pad van gewasproduksie geplaas. Martin en sy broer, York, het reeds begin om ’n uitgebreide olyfboerdery te vestig en die volgende stap is graan- en voerverbouing onder spilpunt.

Eers is daar seker gemaak die water is sterk en standhoudend. Die regering se hulp is ook ingeroep om toetsgate te boor en te meet en almal was dit eens: die water is daar om te bly.

Martin sê: “Ons glo hier in die Hochfeld-opvangsgebied is daar iets soos ’n breë ondergrondse rivier, want ons het 35 gate geboor en by almal het ons op 30 meter water gekry, wat dan opstoot tot 15 meter. Die sterkste gat lewer 100 kubieke meter per uur en die swakste 20.”

Die groot projek is onderneem met die geldelike ondersteuning van Amerikaanse vennote wat ’n liefde vir die omgewing ontwikkel het nadat hulle verskeie kere op die plaas gejag en gekuier het.

Martin sê hulle het baie navorsing gedoen oor ’n mark vir hulle produkte en hulle beplan om aanvanklik die kontantgraanmark te betree, maar om ook later voorsiening te maak vir voer vir die omgewing. Tussen die ProAgri BNZ 02

ners – visitors who had been on the farm for hunting safaris and developed a love and appreciation for the unique Namibian environment.

Martin says they first undertook extensive research to find markets for their products. They plan to initially participate in the cash crop grain market, and at a later stage also in fodder production to be sold in the vicinity. The various feedlots in the area have approximately 25 000 head of cattle that require a continuous fodder supply.

Selecting a centre pivot system “My brother and I went to the trouble of travelling all the way to the NAMPO show at Bothaville to interview all the centre pivot suppliers.

There are many excellent centre pivot machines on the market, but we decided on Reinke because of their excellent advice, quality of service and competitive prices,” says Martin.

“We could also see that the pivots are manufactured from materials of excellent quality, and that the moving parts will not easily show signs of wear and tear. Furthermore, we were convinced by personal attention and service.

“These are the first Reinke centre pivot machines to be taken into service in Namibia.”

The Ritter brothers decided on four 4-tower centre pivots, each irrigating 20 hectares. He says the size of the centre pivots were decided on based on the recommendations from Reinke; also after having discussed their intentions with neighbours already active with irrigation.

They do not plan to install bigger machines as they are adamant that the water source should remain viable.

They also plan to make use of solar power wherever it is practical.

They decided to initially make use of a basic control panel to manage the system by hand, but Reinke offers the advantage of upgrading it at any time to full electronic remote control depending on their progress.

Preparing the land for a decent seedbed Martin says the decision to embark on crop production

was not taken without serious consideration as deforestation was necessary to prepare the lands and ensure that they could establish a proper seedbed. A contractor has been working for months to reach this point.

270 hectares have been fenced with sturdy gameproof fencing, with chickenwire at the bottom. “We expect that our green crops will be the target of many smaller animals in this dry environment,” says Martin. “Our neighbours grow potatoes and onions, but we expect our maize will receive mouth-watering attention.”

Patrick Ellis from Reinke visited the farm to design the centre pivot system and survey the land. Reinke also sent technicians to assist with the installation of the pivots. Martin says his brother, York, utilised the opportunity to learn as much as possible and he reckons he is well-prepared for installing machines in the future. The four centre pivots are there to be seen, ready for action.

When ProAgri visited the farm early in October, the water supply was in place, two of the lands were prepared and ready to be cultivated – only the electricity had to be connected before pushing the on-button.

Planting has been scheduled for the beginning of December!

Farming for the future Rolf Ritter, Martin’s father, says he supports the project of his sons wholeheartedly.

“When their project is compared with others in Zambia and South Africa, it may not be so extensive, but it is one hell of a step forward for our farming enterprise!”

If you have a viable water source and want to farm progressively in any country in Southern Africa, contact Patrick Ellis of Reinke on +27-83-326-9058, or send an e-mail message to patrickellis@reinke.com.

Also visit www.reinke.com on the internet for more information, or go to www.proagri.co.za/reinke.

The Ritters decided to implement the basic hand-controlled Reinke system initially until they are positive that they have mastered the technique of farming under irrigation before upgrading to fully automatic electronic control.

Die Ritters het besluit om eers met die eenvoudigste Reinke-beheerstelsel te begin totdat hulle self gekonfyt is om die spilpunte te bestuur, voordat hulle opgradeer na elektroniese beheer. voerkrale in die omgewing is daar omtrent 25 000 beeste wat kos moet kry.

Keuse van spilpunt “Ek en my broer is NAMPO toe om met al die spilpuntmaatskappye te gaan gesels.

Daar is baie goeie spilpunte in die mark, maar ons het op Reinke besluit as gevolg van hulle goeie raad, goeie diens en goeie pryse,” sê Martin.

Martin sê hulle kon ook sien dat die spilpunte van uitstekende gehalte materiaal gemaak word, dat die bewegende dele nie gou gaan slyt nie en hulle is seker van persoonlike aandag en diens.

Dit is die eerste Reinkespilpunte wat in Namibië opgerig word.

Martin-hulle het op vier 4-toringspilpunte besluit, wat elk 20 hektaar besproei. Hy sê die besluit oor die grootte van die spilpunte is geneem op grond van Reinke se aanbevelings en nadat hulle ook met bure gesels het wat reeds besproei.

Hulle wil nie groter gaan nie om daaglikse watervloei te verseker. Die plan is ook om so ver as moontlik sonkrag te gebruik.

Hulle het besluit om voorlopig die eenvoudigste beheerpaneel wat met die hand bestuur word te gebruik, maar die voordeel van

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

Reinke is dat hulle algaande kan opgradeer tot volledige elektroniese afstandbeheer.

Die proses Martin sê die besluit om gewasse aan te plant is nie ligtelik geneem nie, want die hele terrein moes eers ontbos en skoongemaak word. ’n Kontrakteur is nou al maande lank daarmee besig.

Altesaam 270 hektaar is toegekamp met ’n stewige wildsdraad met sifdraad onder, want die Ritters verwag ’n redelike aanslag op die groenigheid in die droë wêreld.

Hulle bure plant aartappels en uie, maar die mielies gaan vir seker baie gratis eters aanlok!

Patrick Ellis van Reinke het kom help om die spilpuntstelsel te ontwerp en uit te meet en Reinke het ’n tegnikus gestuur om te kom help met die oprigting. Martin sê sy broer, York, het ook saamgeleer en hy is reg vir spilpuntbou in die toekoms. Die vier spilpunte staan blinkregop, gereed vir aksie.

Met ProAgri se besoek vroeg in Oktober was die water reeds reg, die krag moes nog aangelê word en twee van die lande was skoon en reg vir bewerking.

Van Desember af moet daar geplant word!

Boer vooruit Pa Rolf Ritter sê hy ondersteun sy seuns se projek ten volle. “As ’n mens dit vergelyk met ander projekte in Zambië en Suid-Afrika is dit dalk nie so groot nie, maar dit is ’n reuse stap vorentoe vir ons boerdery.”

15

TOGETHER WE WILL FEED THE WORLD At AGCO, being Your Agriculture Company is more than a slogan. We offer high-tech solutions across the agriculture value chain. Whether it’s preparing soil for planting or enhancing what goes into it.

Growing the best crop for a productive harvest or reducing losses afterwards. And using those yields to raise healthy animals. We are developing solutions that will help farmers feed the world – now and into the future. Find your AGCO equipment dealer by visiting us online at www.agcocorp.com

“

“

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16

Nuradin Osman, AGCO Vice President & General Manager of Africa

ProAgri BNZ 02

A Massey Ferguson 4708 working the soil with a 3-tine ripper.

Soil preparation:

Seize the big window of opportunity this planting season!

Opinion piece by Dr Ben Ngwene, AGCO

W

hile the Southern African region endures a persisting drought that started back in October 2018, planting season 2019 is fast approaching.

Farmers have to make crucial decisions on how to recover from last season’s double-digit decline in crop harvests.

Land preparation is where everything begins. This is the big window of opportunity for farmers to prepare for summer grains and oilseed planting.

The recent forecast of improved regional rainfall by the Southern African Development Community meteorologists is certainly encouraging news in the faith business of farming.

This year’s planting season is expected to start in late November, which gives farmers from now until mid-November to apply best-practice cultivation techniques to prepare the soil. With the understanding that we cultivate to create best soil-to-seed contact, and to avoid soil clods for optimal germination, we must consider the farm’s soil type, moisture level and the crop to grow. Check for soil compaction and if present, take the necessary action such as subsoiling or ripping to break the compacted layer. This will open up soil volume that has been previously unavailable to your crops.

The ideal cultivation technique is to disturb the soil as little as possible.

Roots will grow much faster, deeper and easier when the soil is not compacted.

That means minimising the size and the depth of cultivation by applying minimum tillage and cultivating the soil only where the plant is to be seeded.

Less soil disturbance (rip instead of plough) will conserve more moisture and soil organic matter which is generally very low in African soils and one of the main reasons for low yields.

Soil organic matter (dead and decaying plant or animal material, and soil organisms) improves soil structure,

retains and supplies nutrients, and also retains moisture. So, be as conservative as possible with your tillage.

Ploughing creates a reasonably suitable seedbed, but it has a negative effect on soil moisture and organic matter. A good quality, hard-wearing two to five tine subsoiler or ripper made of high-quality steel tines of 30 mm thickness will achieve perfect deep breaking of the soil pan and a good finishing for seeding. Moisture and nutrient availability to your plants will be affected by how you cultivate your soil in the short and long term. It also goes without saying that growing the same crop on your land for several years, simply depletes the soil nutrients. Crop rotation is always advisable – particularly rotating between maize and a legume like soya bean or groundnut.

This will enrich the soil with nitrogen and reduce farmers’ fertiliser costs.

So, with the rain forecast and the International Grains Council’s preliminary estimates for the 2019/2020 maize production season projected to be 16% higher than the current season, the region can certainly anticipate a positive planting season. Just remember to prepare a fine seed bed for good soil-to-seed contact as we wait for the southern rains to provide us with adequate soil moisture to begin planting.

Dr Benard Ngwene is the Agricultural Advisory Manager for AGCO Africa.

He is a highly enthusiastic and motivated agricultural scientist, with exceptional knowledge of rhizosphere processes and involved in defining mechanisation solutions for smallholders and emerging farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa.

For more information on AGCO’s fine equipment and agricultural courses, send an e-mail to Benard.Ngwene@agcocorp.com.

AGCO Future Farm in Lusaka, Zambia provides smart solutions for farmers, giving them access to tools that will allow them to use fewer resources more efficiently and creating a more sustainable food production system.

TRAINING INCLUDES: Agronomy Crop establishment Harvesting Crop nutrition Crop storage Crop protection Farm business management

Mechanisation Tractor fundamentals Tractor driving introduction Tractor maintenance & basic operation

For more information on training solutions offered at the AGCO Future Farm, please contact: Kalongo Chitengi | +260 979701936 | info_agcofuturefarm@agcocorp.com ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

17

Building an affordable round dam: Part 2: Construction and maintenance

by JA Nienaber and M van Zyl

Photo: klimkin from Pixabay

18

ProAgri BNZ 02

S

ome regard this Southern African drought as the worst in human history and it is still with us. Farmers should start to think totally differently about water preservation. The first step is to collect and store water efficiently and for as long as possible.

Last month we discussed what you need to build a very inexpensive round dam, very quickly. This is definitely the best way out with limited resources.

This month we discuss the construction and maintenance of such a dam in the second and final edition of this series.

We thank the ARC Agricultural Engineering in South Africa for making their manual on affordable dam building available to the readers of ProAgri BNZ.

•

the rope. The distance between the two nails must be the same as the calculated radius.

Draw a circle on the ground with the loose-end nail. This will indicate where the wire mesh should be erected.

Planting the timber poles After completing the measuring, the planting of the poles may commence.

The number of poles as shown in Table 1 are spaced evenly along the perimeter of the circle as drawn with the nail.

The poles stand upright, are planted 0,3 m deep and must be rammed down firmly to hold the dam together and in position.

circle of poles (see Figure 1), with sufficient overlapping (at least 500 mm) at the two ends. At the overlapping, the two parts must be secured together.

Ensure that where the wire mesh overlaps, both ends of each horizontal wire are secured on the overlapping part.

If this linkage should come loose, the dam will fail.

Tie the wire mesh firmly to the inside of each timber pole.

Installation of the outlet pipe An outlet pipe, which runs along beneath the floor of the dam and of which the opening should not be closer than 1 m from the dam wall, must be installed. As the water in the outlet pipe will always be under pressure, care must be taken that it is waterproof. A leakage in the outlet pipe will not be observed with the naked eye.

The floor of the dam can be worked off slightly towards the direction of the outlet opening to enable the last bit of water to run off when the dam is being emptied.

Compact the soil again after installing the outlet pipe. Also see Figure 1 for details.

Preparation of the terrain Clear an area large enough for the construction and to allow easy movement around the dam. It must be smooth and completely level. The surface on which the dam is to be built must also be free from oil, organic material, stones or sharp objects that may damage or weaken the bottom of the dam.

The soil underneath the dam must be compacted to prevent sinking as a result of the massive weight of water to be stored inside.

The wire mesh is the backbone of your dam and should be very tight and steady. Photo: shopee.com.my.

Erection of the wire mesh The galvanised, welded wire mesh can now be placed along the inside of the Post Mesh Wire Polyester sheet

The round dam on the ARC-research premises in Silverton, South Africa.

Water

Measuring out the dam The diameter can be measured out with a piece of rope and two nails. This is done as follows: • Knock one nail into the earth, in the centre of the proposed position of the dam.

• Tie a rope to the nail, while tying the other nail to the other end of

Compacted soil

Drainage pipe

Figure 1: Sectional view of the dam for details of the construction.

Volume [m3]

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Diameter [m]

3,26

4,61

5,64

6,52

7,28

7,98

8,62

9,22

9,77

10,3

Number of poles

6

6

8

8

8

10

10

10

12

12

Length of wire mesh [m] (width =1,2 m)

11,0

15,0

18,5

50

24,0

26,0

28,0

29,5

31,5

33,0

Length of polyester cloth [m] (width =1,32 m)

19

30

40

260

60

69

78

87

96

105

Quantity of sealant (ℓ)

95

155

210

310

355

405

450

495

540

Table 1: Quantity or number of materials required according to size of storage dam.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

19

Placing of the lining The walls and floor of the dam is now lined with the polyester cloth. The amount of cloth to be purchased is shown in Table 1. If the polyester cloth must be joined, an overlap of 150 mm must be allowed. The upper edge of the polyester cloth must be tied to the wire mesh with thin wire to keep it in place. As a precaution, the lining can be packed firmly on the inside, with a row of bricks or stones. This will prevent the wind from blowing the vertical part away from the wire mesh when the dam is empty.

In areas where the wind often blows very strongly, the same thin wire can be used to secure the vertical part to the wire mesh in various places. It is done by pushing the wire through the cloth from the outside and bringing it back again for tying up on the outside.

This must however be done before the first coat of sealant is applied.

Application of the sealant A multi-purpose waterproofing substance, normally used for earth dam linings and available at most agricultural stores, is recommended. The sealant is applied with a paintbrush or broom.

First, the strips of unwoven polyester cloth must be painted with the undiluted sealant on both of the insides of the unfolded overlapping. The top part is then folded back and pressed firmly onto the other part, in order that the sealant, acting as a glue, can affix the two overlapping parts onto each other.

The entire dam can now be painted with the sealant. A minimum of four coats must be applied. The first coat is diluted 1:1 with water. The dilution is necessary to ensure that the sealant is drawn into the cloth. A next coat must not be applied before the previous coat is completely dry.

After application of the last coat, the sealant must be allowed to dry com-

A variation of the pole and mesh dam, with pallet wood and plastic sheeting. pletely for 72 hours before any water is pumped into the dam.

Application of paint to the exterior After completing the construction of the dam, the exterior of the walls must be painted with exterior acrylic paint or with the same sealant to protect the polyester cloth against sunlight.

This also increases the durability of the cloth. The polyester cloth is not resistant to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, therefore the paint will limit damage considerably and will prevent the polyester cloth to become brittle after years of exposure to direct sunlight.

Maintenance It is obvious that this dam is vulnerable to mechanical damage and normal wear

and tear. It should therefore be inspected regularly to ascertain whether any damages have occurred or if any problems can be foreseen. If a leakage occurs, the dam must be emptied and cleaned immediately. All silt and sediment must be removed carefully, without causing damage to the lining of the dam. The location of the leakage, or if necessary the whole dam, must be painted with another coat of the undiluted sealant. If a single hole occurs, it can be repaired with a piece of polyester cloth, treated in the same way as the overlapping parts. The approximate quantity of sealant required for painting the entire dam is shown in Table 2.

Happy dam building!

Volume of dam [m3]

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Amount of sealant required [â„“]

25

40

55

70

80

90

105

115

130

140

Table 2: the approximate quantity of sealant required for painting the entire dam.

A huge round dam built with locally sourced material.

20

ProAgri BNZ 02

Botswana hit hard by the African drought

by Benine Ackermann

L

ivestock like cattle and goats, and even elephants, are dying daily in Botswana, the heat is ever more intense than before and beef exports, which have been declining for the past 35 years, are drying up. This drought threatens the culture, tradition and employment rate of Botswana.

A cow lies dead in the dry remnants of a lake. Photo: thesun.co.uk “It is the worst drought ever, there is nothing to graze and I am feeding my animals,� says Wimpie Biemond, farmer and member of the Tuli Block Farmers Association. He lives in Tuli Block South on Basinghall farm and farms with game, cattle, and dryland peanuts.

Photo: thesun.co.uk

Animals are dying in Botswana due to the terrible drought. Photo: ipsnews.net ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

21

Botswana

In May this year, President Mokgweetsi Masisi officially declared Botswana to be in state of drought after months of unevenly distributed rains, heat waves and dry spells.

According to an agricultural census released by Statistics Botswana last year, the country’s estimated cattle population has fallen from 2,5 million in 2011 to 1,7 million in 2015.

The number of households husbanding cattle has also plunged from about 75 500 in 2004 to 39 000 in 2015, a decline of more than 45 percent.

But livestock still accounts for

80 percent of this Southern African country’s agricultural earnings, and Boikhutso Rabasha, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Agriculture, said she worries about the country’s continuing ability to produce enough beef.

Wimpie adds that the drought has been severe for the past two seasons. “The western and central parts are the worst.”

Wimpie warns other farmers not to fall in the trap of debt if they struggle to survive through the drought. He also adds: “The government does not help owners of private land. We have to help ourselves.”

Photo: thesun.co.uk

Southern Africa has been hard hit by extreme weather conditions: Not only Botswana, but also Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia are suffering.

Zambia is in the throes of a drought which has affected the 2018/19 farming season. Around 2,5 million people are facing food shortages, according to official figures.

In Zimbabwe, nearly a third of the population of 16 million depend on aid and at least half of these face acute hunger, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).

Some parts of Namibia did not have sufficient rain for the past seven years.

Photo: thesun.co.uk

22

ProAgri BNZ 02

most have died. As of last year, I am only left with four,” said Shanki, who has raised cattle for four decades in southeast Botswana. He lives on the outskirts of Molepolole, a village northwest of Gaborone.

These remaining four now have calves, after some rains last year, but the renewed drought this year has him worried he could lose more animals, he said.

“I will not stop rearing cattle. Not ever,” says Shanki.

In a country where cattle have long been a rural stash of savings, the diminished herds affect how families like Shanki’s feed their children, buy school uniforms, pay for their households, and bury the dead.

Elephants also suffer because of the drought: Botswana's environment ministry said it has recorded a spike in the number of elephant deaths since May in Botswana’s Chobe National Park.

"More than one hundred elephants are estimated to have died naturally in the past two months," the ministry said in a statement, adding that 13 deaths were recorded just this week.

In neighbouring Zimbabwe, it’s wildlife agency has recorded at least 55 elephant deaths over the past month due to lack of food and water.

Preliminary investigations in Botswana have also suggested some of the elephants may have died from anthrax.

"Due to the severe drought, elephants end up ingesting soil while grazing and get exposed to the anthrax bacteria, an infectious disease found naturally in soil, spore," the ministry said in a statement.

"The animals are also travelling long distances in search of food which

Photo: africanexponent.com More on Botswana’s drought: “Prolonged and crippling drought is threatening to wipe out over 38 000 heads of livestock,” said Thato Raphaka, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Wildlife.

Raphaka said the surface water of Lake Ngami, situated some 1 000 kilometres northwest of Gaborone, has been drying up slowly but surely, thereby creating sticky, miry clay.

According to Raphaka, cattle and other livestock are being trapped by the mire.

"Only the livestock is trapped in the muddy waters; not the wildlife," the acting Director of Wildlife and National Parks, Moeti Batshabang, said.

He said the farmers have to walk long distances, hoping to take their animals to better places where they can find something to eat.

Rural households have been especially hit, and are looking to the government for help.

Sharon Tshipa writes on the Thomson Reuters Foundation about farmer Shanki Mokweba, who does not want to give up his animals.

“I used to have 20 head of cattle, but

Photo: afrik21.africa

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

23

Botswana 24

ProAgri BNZ 02

leaves some highly emaciated, ending in death."

The environment ministry said it would be burning "anthrax related carcasses" to prevent the disease from spreading to other animals. It warned the public not to touch any animal carcasses they might find and report them to the authorities.

Growing lablab: A cure for the drought Mophato Gabanakgotla, who lost 22 of his 35 cattle to drought, mostly in 2016, and saw another 9 stolen, hopes to begin growing lablab, a sturdy legume also known as hyacinth bean that works well as cattle fodder.

The plant has been grown successfully in the north of the country, helping farmers to cope with poor grazing and avoid paying high prices for scarce animal fodder.

“I have 21 hectares of farmland that is not producing any crops due to limited rains and excessive heat. I want to fence it and grow lablab to feed my cattle and then sell excess to others,” Mr Gabanakgotla said.

Stephen Pillar, Vice-Chairman of the Totume Farmers’ Association, has been growing the legume for 14 years and said it can produce a crop even in the bad years, though it produces much more in good ones. “I started growing lablab because I wanted to save my cattle from droughts. When I realised that it performed way better than my maize and sorghum crops with normal to below normal rains, I began growing it commercially on 70 hectares,” he said.

For farming to stay a way of life and survival in Botswana, urgent plans and even more urgent rains are necessary.

Lablab, a sturdy legume also known as hyacinth bean that works well as cattle fodder in the drought. Photo: mybageecha.com.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

25

Botswana

BUAN shows how success can be achieved with proper care Agricultural Field Day at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources

by Dr Mataba Tapela; Coordinator, BUAN – Israel Student Attachment Programme

U

seful and interesting information came to light at the field day presented by the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) at its Sebele Campus in Gaborone on 18 October 2019. The event was officially opened by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Rule Jimmy Opelo. Other dignitaries included the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof Shalaulani Nsoso and the Israel Honorary Counsel in Botswana, Mr Richard Lyons.

The objectives of the event were to: • Bring together key industry players across the agricultural value chain and showcase the potential of agricultural development and food security in Botswana; • Showcase that technology, water availability and farmer determination are key to successful farming; • Demonstrate the benefit of functional partnerships and collaborations (as demonstrated by BUAN, Israel’s

26

Agency for International Development (MASHAV), and SeedCo).

The event was held at the Agricultural Incubation Project field where the irrigation equipment was donated by the Israel Government through MASHAV. The project is run by seven BUAN graduates who went on an eleven-month cross-border attachment programme in Israel between 2017 and 2018. The programme exposes students from Botswa-

Photos: Colin Bremner

na to advanced agricultural production technologies in Israel which experiences similar desert conditions to Botswana.

Since 2017, BUAN annually sends 35 students to Israel. To date, a critical mass of 70 students have graduated from the programme and another 35 will complete the programme in August 2020.

BUAN is the only university of agriculture in Botswana and its two key strategic objectives are to promote innovation and strategic use of technology, and to develop collaborative partnerships in order to produce market ready graduates for the agriculture and natural resources sectors.

Botswana and Israel have similar climatic conditions which are characterised by very low and erratic rainfall. The weather is also extremely hot during the summer with temperatures exceeding 40ºC, resulting in desert conditions.

While the climate conditions are similar in both countries, the challenge for Botswana is achieving food self-sufficiency due to more frequent drought conditions. The drought results in moisture deficits preventing crops from growing to

ProAgri BNZ 02

full maturity. Israel, on the other hand, is able to develop and use moistureefficient technologies to produce sufficient harvests for domestic consumption as well as for the export market.

The Field Day was a true testimony that when the right technology combines with the right farmer attitude, and efficient use of water resources, farming can be successful. The students planted maize on about 1 ha, as well as butternuts, watermelons, tomatoes and cabbages on another hectare. The crops were planted around the 18th of August 2019 and the harvest is expected in mid-November 2019.

Interestingly, mid-November is usually the time when most Batswana farmers practising rainfed agriculture are still preparing for ploughing and planting. In contrast the BUAN students will be harvesting. This will give them a chance to plant a second crop in December, which will be harvested at the end of March 2020, before planting winter crops.

The event was very successful with an estimate of over 300 visitors and it was Right: SeedCo, the university’s partner in preparing the crops for the field day, is a seed company with more than 80 years’ experience in Africa. They are pioneers in the development of maize streak and mottle virus resistant hybrids and also was the first seed company to address the grey leaf spot (GLS) disease pandemic.

They breed and distribute hybrid seed varieties for maize, wheat, soya beans, sugar beans, cowpeas, sorghum, groundnuts and vegetables. On the field day farmers could see the good performance of different varieties of cabbage, tomatoes, peppers, watermelons and butternuts.

well covered in print, radio and television media.

For the demo plot the maize variety, SC 719 was planted to demonstrate the high yields of this popular variety that can be used for silage and grain. It has excellent drought tolerance traits and has delivered harvests of up to 21 tonnes in the right conditions.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

27

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SC 608 is the top of the range in yellow varieties. It is suitable for irrigation and dryland production, and is a medium maturing (130 to 136 days) hybrid with double cobbing. It is a drought tolerant maize hybrid that yields 13 tonnes per hectare when managed properly.

Practical and useful hints were also given to farmers, such as this simple way to measure moisture loss through evaporation. By measuring the level of water every day, you can get a good idea of how much water you would need to apply by irrigation. Supplemented with soil moisture probes, irrigation can be planned precisely.

Ms Rebecca Mgadla, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) invited ProAgri’s Managing Editor, Annemarie Bremner, to explore the modern campus. The University will provide valuable content in the magazine for farmers in Botswana.

Visitors crowded together at each cultivar to listen to the students and experts explaining the traits and management methods.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

Some visitors also had a field day at the field day posing in front of the most impressive maize plants they have ever seen!

29

Botswana

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All agrochemicals sold by Agrichem, are registered as required by the Agrochemical Act. Staff are trained and offer a professional service.

Veterinary products Feed Seed Pest control Fertilisers Irrigation equipment General farming products

“We have established a demonstration plot where we test and showcase products and train people. We are here to assist new and established farmers with good quality products and relevant information.”

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Agrichem demo plot

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+267-241-4211 / 3905 sales@agrichembotswana.com Plot 246/7, Khutse Crescent, Light industrial, Francistown

ProAgri BNZ 02

Waterwise farming:

Flowers can bloom in the desert

by Annemarie Bremner

At the end of this road through the oldest desert in the world, there is a little piece of paradise.

“W

e want to prove that agriculture can succeed in harsh conditions and then we can replicate this concept elsewhere,� says Christopher Kahle, Managing Director of Shalom Farm outside Swakopmund.

After driving for kilometre after kilometre watching dry bush turn into sandy soil from Windhoek to the coast, seeing the first green tree-tops of the olive groves of the Swakopmund River Plots, provides instant relief for sore eyes.

But that is nothing compared to the amazement of standing in a wellventilated tunnel looking at the smiling faces of hundreds of colourful gerberas or bending down to touch the tender petals of a bright yellow rose to make sure it is real.

Shalom Farm is the flagship project of AvaGro Namibia. It was an olive farm when purchased four years ago, and the 1 300 olive trees still provide a mixture of table olives and olives for oil extraction sold under the Shalom brand.

Christopher Kahle has been running the Shalom farm for a year now, and he is eager to expand the business and replicate the model elsewhere.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

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Photos: Colin Bremner The olives and olive oil are prominent ingredients on the menu of the farm’s bistro and at the farmers’ market every Saturday, now supplemented with a variety of fresh vegetables grown in the 21 greenhouses and on every little patch of land on the eight hectare plot.

“Each greenhouse is 336 m2 in size, and six more tunnels are being built,” says Christopher.

They focus on the production of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers in the greenhouses, with spinach, other leafy greens and herbs in the open patches. The growth medium used is imported coco coir, and the plants are cultivated in bags or beds. Coco coir is a neutral medium with a high water holding capacity, it is heat stabilising and has high levels of porosity, which makes it ideal for farming in challenging environmental conditions. Even run-off water is utilised for planting herbs, thereby making the most of every drop.

Excellent yields are attained under the watchful eye of Chief Agronomist, Ranjit Patil. They harvest six tonnes of

tomatoes, three tonnes of peppers and ten thousand pieces of cucumber per greenhouse per season (comprising six months).

Soluble fertilisers are applied in various mixes through the drip irrigation system, and a pest management programme is followed.

Establishing the farm was not without its challenges, one of the most crucial ones being the quality of the water. Christopher says the farm has access to 80 000 litres of water per day, of which about half is being used at the moment. The availability of the water is not the problem, but it is too brackish to grow vegetables.

A huge reverse osmosis machine, capable of handling the quantity of water, proved to be the most important investment to turn the desert farm into an oasis.

“We must also be ready when the east wind comes,” says Christopher.

The sturdy greenhouses are testimony to the strength needed to withstand the elements. The greenhouses are supplied by AvaGro, along with a

number of other products and services offered to local farmers.

AvaGro provides guidance on unique crop inputs and customised, efficient water-use systems; supply chain improvements; skill enhancement training and support in unlocking finance and markets for smallholder farmers.

Other services include general land assessment, water sample analysis, soil sample analysis and regional weather data analysis.

Christopher says they support farmers in adopting climate wise farming methods and establishing vegetable production to such an extent that, together, they can reach a critical mass to supply the local market and also export high income crops.

“Farmers need to come together and share costs and services if they want to become important role players in agriculture in the region,” he says. “It is not possible or necessary for every farmer to buy a huge, expensive filtering system. When we come together, we can share the system, and all enjoy the benefit of usable water.”

Vegetables from the 21 greenhouses and open land patches on Shalom farm are being sold mainly to retail stores in Swakopmund and other coastal towns.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

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Farmers need to carry on farming despite the drought, and exhibitors at this year’s Windhoek Industrial and Agricultural Show (WIAS2019) were ready with plans and ways to make the most of all resources.

Combatting the drought at the

Windhoek Show

by Annemarie Bremner

I

t goes in as seed and comes out as feed. Dries Joubert of Feedgrow says millions have been spent by Feedgrow to perfect the process and the units for waterwise green feed production.

It takes six days for the grain seed to develop into a highly digestible green sprout. Tests with barley show digestible protein content of up to 86% in contrast with dry grain’s protein content of between 38 and 45%.

Dries says other systems used

by farmers often develop problems with fungi and algae, but the special Feedgrow units with their 100 mm insulated panels can guarantee constant climate control with the temperature ranging between 17,8 and 18ºC preventing the growth of fungi and algae.

The large Farm-in-a-Box-unit can provide 680 kg of feed per day, by using only 1 000 litres of water of which nothing is wasted, and with an

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

electricity cost of N$410 per month.

The units are being distributed through Hochland Tractors in Namibia and Feedgrow is planning to establish a factory in Windhoek for local production of the units.

The green feed mixed in with dry matter such as bush chips (boskos) will keep the rumen active and provide the nutrients needed to keep animals healthy and growing.

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Johan Steenkamp from Hochland says: “Whatever the farmer needs, we can get it for him.” This year the boskos-range (chippers) was popular as farmers turn the branches and leaves that would normally have been wasted after debushing, into feed for animals in the dry conditions. Hochland’s pelletising machines were also in high demand this year.

Hochland services farmers from the south to the far north of Namibia and they have mobile crews going out to the farms to service equipment and solve technical problems. Tafe, Deutz and Landini are the tractor series sold by Hochland. They are also the agents for Staalmeester, Feeler and BPI.

Craig Deyzel and Vikki de Jager from WinSalt introduced their unique saltbased lick to farmers at the Windhoek Show. When animals are being rationed with feed, it is very important that they receive the right supplements.

WinSalt is the only producer of this kind of lick in Africa. It is already quite popular in Europe and Australia.

Normally licks are sugar- or molasses-based. A WinSalt block is developed for 50 grams intake per animal per day which will give it the right amount of vitamins and minerals needed.

WinSalt is also developing a dewormer block which will be especially useful for game farmers. Instead of wasting time and money with helicopters and herding the game, the animals can now inoculate themselves without all the stress. Craig says the dewormer block can only be used for ten days, but then it can be retrieved and safely stored in its own box until the next time it is needed. The blocks are highly compressed and may include natural healthy products such as moringa. Every time the animal licks, the moringa gets released.

They are busy setting up a production facility in Namibia from where they will expand into Botswana and Zimbabwe, as well as South Africa.

In Namibia the distribution of the licks will be done through AGRA and they will be available as soon as the registration process has been completed.

Top: Hoffmann’s Farm Implements Marius Cronjé van Hoffmann’s Farm Implements says many farmers first try out smaller chippers, but if they really want to debush and make feed chips at a sensible pace, they eventually turn to a sensible machine such as the 150 mm Drum-Style Hydraulic-Feed Tomcat Chipper running off its own 24hp V-Twin petrol engine or a 35hp diesel engine.

Marius’s warning to farmers however is that even if the machine can handle branches of 150 mm wide, animals cannot digest it. You should be able to fit your wedding ring around a branch you want to use for feed.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

ProAgri was an immediate hit at the Windhoek show.

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Namibia

ProAgri ProAgri Z a m b i a

ProAgri South Africa was established 25 years ago and ProAgri Zambia 4 years ago, growing from strength to strength every month.

We now welcome our latest addition to the ProAgri family -

ProAgri Botswana /Namibia/Zimbabwe This publication will pave the way for agricultural development, knowledge and trade with our northern neighbours in Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe Namibia Namibia

Zimbabwe

Botswana

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Contact Diane Grobler on +27 (0)82-555-6866 or send an e-mail to diane@proagri.co.za for more information.

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Meet our distributors T

his issue of ProAgri BNZ would not have been in your hands were it not for the valued support our distribution partners.

Omnia, with its many branches and cash-and-carry depots all over Zimbabwe plays a pivotal role in distributing a wide range of agrochemicals to all farmers. ProAgri now also enjoys the benefit of this extensive network to distribute information to farmers.

Understanding the biology of plants and soil is key to the success of farmers and it is Omnia’s vision to empower farmers with this knowledge.

Right: At the recent ADMA Show in Harare, ProAgri’s Managing Editor, Annemarie Bremner (right) received a friendly welcome from Sue Kaye-Eddie from Omnia.

Sue explained that for Omnia it is all about the “science of growing” or Nutriology®. Omnia’s business philosophy involves more than just selling fertiliser to farmers – it is about optimising yield and crop quality to maximise returns while reducing farming and environmental risks.

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ProAgri BNZ 02

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

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Zimbabwe

Land, trust and restitution: Zimbabwe’s three hurdles to becoming the breadbasket of Africa

by Jaco Cilliers

T

he new government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced earlier this year that it intends to change the country’s land-ownership policy. Under the regime of the late president Robert Mugabe, white farmers were barred from owning land. The Mnangagwa administration claims that this will no longer be the case, and that farmland will be available to all who are willing to invest.

This does not mean that land will be given back to white farmers who lost their farms during the landgrabs from 2000. The government has appointed an ad-hoc committee to investigate these cases and determine how much compensation each of the evicted farmers should receive.

In order for a farmer to obtain land in Zimbabwe, he must first apply to the government for an offer letter. This offer is issued by the government to give the farmer the opportunity to apply for a 99-year lease of the land. This means that the farmer will never own the land. It remains the property of the government.

Once the offer letter has been issued, the farmer must then apply for a 99-year lease. As soon as that lease is granted, he can start farming the land.

According to the Zimbabwean government, they are committed to the protection of all agricultural investments from expropriation, or from measures that will have a similar effect.

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Ninety-nine-year leases will be offered to white farmers, a deal previously reserved for black Zimbabweans. Photo: abc.net.au.

There are still certain issues with this new government policy that need to be clarified. The fact that the farmer, or “investor” as the policy says, never owns the land but merely leases it, is cause for concern. It makes the promises of protection against expropriation quite moot.

The second issue is the application process itself. Before being able to apply for a lease, one needs to obtain an offer letter from the government. This has proven to be a political hurdle and can be used to reserve land-use for a well-connected elite. The application process, even with an offer letter, is

ProAgri BNZ 02

time-consuming with only one such an application being successful in the past year.

A further problem is that the 99-year lease cannot be used as collateral to finance input costs. Banks will therefore not fund any farming ventures due to the risks involved.

The conventional way for white farmers to access land is through joint ventures with land beneficiaries. Often the beneficiaries are indebted and seek an arrangement where the farmer will farm the land and pay a percentage of the gross turnover to the beneficiary.

These arrangements have the approval of the government if they have been registered. The issue with this type of

arrangement is that the government is often not paid while the beneficiaries’ pockets are being lined.

In most cases the government has financed the beneficiaries of land reform under Command Agriculture. The costs to the state have been exorbitant and as little as 20% of the invested money have been recovered. This is adding to the financial burdens of an already crippled economy.

A huge problem in Zimbabwe at this point is the lack of trust in the government from the general public. President Mnangagwa’s biggest task is to restore the trust in the Zimbabwean government that is needed before any policy will succeed.

ProAgri Botswana / Namibia / Zimbabwe 02

The positive news is that there are many young farmers who are eager to start working. According to Ben Gilpin of the Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union, “the mindset of the younger generation is different. They see opportunities where others see obstacles. They can’t wait for things to get perfect so that they can get busy”.

Even though Zimbabwe is facing what some may describe as a hopeless situation, there is still hope for the future. If the current government can recapture the people’s trust and create opportunities for a flourishing agricultural sector, the youth is willing and able to do the work and reap the benefits.

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The manufacturer, Piket Implements, says, "It is simple really, we uphold our international standards, but we manufacture in South Africa which is much more cost effective. We have been supplying South Africa, Namibia and Botswana since 1933 and identified a need for our implements throughout the rest of Africa as well.

We have since appointed Dauerhaft Pty Ltd to spread our message throughout the rest of Africa by expanding into various African countries for the first time."

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This is clearly a winning combination for the 80 year old manufacturer. Farmers are excited to see what else Piketberg has in store for them in the near future.

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