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at ’n jaar! Ek sug ’n diep sug van verligting met die jaar se gebeure wat soos ’n rolprent voor my verbyflits. Te kort aan drama was daar beslis nie. Snaaks hoe die gebeure op ’n nasionale vlak ook in elkeen van ons besighede en lewens afspeel. Ek dink om dit op te som kan mens maar net seg dat daar winde van verandering waai, en dis maar altyd ’n moeilike proses. Transformasie is iets wat die natuur ons leer. Sonder dit is daar nie groei nie, maar maklik is dit definitief nie. Kom ons hoop dat ons volgende jaar ingaan met meer hoop op wesenlike groei en volhoubare veranderinge. Anders is al die moeite heeltemal nutteloos.
REDAKSIE
Ek wil ’n regstelling maak op verlede maand se uitgawe. Die artikel oor aartappelproewe op Aurora is gepubliseer sonder aanhaling van die outeurs. Die proefresultate is oorspronklik in Aartappel SA se Chips publikasie van Julie/Augustus 2017 gepubliseer, ons het ook nagelaat om dit te noem. Ek wil dan ook verder die outeurs van die artikel noem, hulle is as volg: Piet Brink (Sandveld Aartappelwerkgroep), Albert de Villiers (Produsent), Chantel du Raan en Terence Brown (Aartappels Suid-Afrika), aanvaar asseblief ons verskoning oor die uitlating. Opgedateerde resultate is verder beskikbaar oor die proewe, Plaastoe sal vroeg volgende jaar die nuutste resultate, met die hulp van Aartappel SA, publiseer.
Hierdie uitgawe van Plaastoe is daarop gemik om mense wat langs die see lê en bak, of by ’n swembad sit om lafenis te soek, of sommer net lus is vir lees, ’n lekker leeservaring te bied. Ons gaan bietjie wyer as net pure landbou en kyk na artikels wat meer insig verskaf oor byvoorbeeld uitvoere. Beefmaster se uitvoere na China het kop opgetel, ons kyk bietjie daarna. Verder is spaza winkels bietjie van ’n onbekende onder mense wat vir daardie mark produkte wil voorsien. Lees meer oor hierdie mark in die insiggewende artikel oor ‘brands and spaza shops’. Angorabokke is vir my een van die mooiste diere wat daar is, hulle hare lyk altyd asof hul nou net opgestaan het. In verskillende artikels gesels ons met Mohair SA en Samil en kyk hoe hul besighede vorder. Vesel adviseurs is die spilpunt waarom die bedryf draai maar niemand gee regtig die eer waar dit toekom nie. Linda Henderson gee vir ons ’n blik op ’n dag by ’n veiling. ’n Ander onderwerp wat altyd baie kommentaar uitlok is hoe produkte se etikette die inhoud van die produk beskryf. Wat beteken organies, of geen hormone ens.? Ons publiseer ’n uittreksel uit die ENOUGH groep se verslag hieroor, en lig uit waarna mense moet kyk wanneer jy produkte aankoop of bemark.
Redakteur Marlene Bramley: 083 600 5110 marlene@plaastoe.co.za Skrywers Dale Barber Marlene Bramley Jacqui Taylor Linda Henderson Melissa Baird LekkerBekkig Voorblad fotograaf Willem de Lange Ontwerp Sonnel Grobbelaar Taalversorger Izelle Roux Advertensieverkope Marlene Bramley: 083 600 5110 Mei-Li Coetzee: 072 396 5846 Letche-Ann Dewing: 079 519 7925 Kantoor Mei-Li Coetzee: 072 396 5846 Teken in op Plaastoe! tekenin@plaastoe.co.za Plaastoe! Digitaal www.plaastoe.co.za/skryf-in Klets saam www.facebook.com/Plaastoe www.facebook.com/LekkerBekkig Webtuiste www.plaastoe.co.za Foto-kompetisie fotos@plaastoe.co.za
Verder word dinamiese vroue in agritoerisme uitgelig, asook die produkte wat hulle maak en die distribusie@plaastoe.co.za besighede wat hul bestuur. Vriende van Landbou gesels verder oor die gemeenskapswerk wat deur die Skryf ook vir ons indien Plaastoe! nie beskikbaar is wanneer jy dit soek nie, met organisasie gedoen word, in hul gereelde kolom. bogenoemde inligting.
Laastens is daar ’n lekker storie uit die Karoo se bek, oor Karoo Flavours, ’n eenvrou-besigheid wat vir al die regte redes in die lewe geroep is. Dankie vir al jul ondersteuning deur die jaar, en vir lesers wat gereeld Plaastoe aanskaf. Ons kan nie sonder julle ’n bestaan maak nie. Laat dit reën waar julle beeste wei en geniet die vakansie, indien jy gelukkig genoeg is om een te hê. Daar lê volgende jaar baie opwindende verwikkelinge voor vir Plaastoe, ons vertel meer in die eerste uitgawe wat die tweede week in Februarie op die rakke sal wees. Wederom
Uitgewers Uitgewers Plaastoe (Edms) Bpk www.plaastoe.co.za, Tel: 083 600 5110 Kopiereg Plaastoe (Edms) Bpk 2017 Alle artikels, foto’s en inligting hierin bevat, behoort aan Plaastoe (Edms) Bpk en mag nie sonder toestemming herdruk of gebruik word nie. Die opinies wat uitgespreek word in hierdie publikasie is die van die skrywer en is in geen verband die amptelike opinie van Plaastoe (Edms) Bpk.
skryf aan ons ...
skryf aan Marlene
verspreiding & datums Na vele herwaarts en derwaarts hierdie jaar het ons op die volgende besluit vir die res van die jaar. Jy kan jou Plaastoe! koop by al die winkels waar jy dit in die verlede gekry het, en dit ook gratis aanlyn lees op Issuu.com. Tik net die naam Plaastoe! in, en al die uitgawes sal daar verskyn. Een verandering wat ons wel aanbring is dat ons nou slegs elke twee maande gaan publiseer. Weereens dankie vir jul ondersteuning. 2
Plaastoe! Desember & Januarie 2018-2019
E-pos — redaksie@plaastoe.co.za Pos — Plaastoe!
https://www.facebook.com/plaastoe/ https://www.facebook.com/plaastoe/
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REDAKSIE
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KALENDER Hierdie maand kyk ons na gebeure in 2019 wat van belang is. Wie, wat, waar en hoekom nie? Die Nasionale Wolskeerdersvereeniging se kalender vir 2019 is ook iets om in jou biblioteek te hou.
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VESEL ADVISEURS - KYK NOORD, DIE TOEKOMS IN Vesel adviseurs is die stil spilpunt waarom die bedryf draai maar niemand gee regtig die eer waar dit toekom nie. Linda Henderson vertel ons meer van die manne agter die suksesvolle ramtelers.
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SAMIL & ANGELA Samil Farming talks about the research they do in the processing industry to make the most of the leading processors of mohair in the world.
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PRECISION FARMING: PLANTING PREPARATION FOR MAIZE In this article the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) tells us more about planning, preparation and calibration for the maize season.
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VOLHOUBARE SYBOKHAAR Mohair SA gesels oor die volhoubaarheid van sybokaar en hoe die bedryf seker maak dat alle standaarde nagekom word.
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CHINESE INVESTMENT STIMULATES BEEF INDUSTRY We take a look at the local beef industry and how exports to China have opened up doors for producers.
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DATA DEBUNKED The Spaza shop market has been a bit of a grey area. We look at the Five Mintues to Town (5M2T) platform and what it offers brand managers.
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FACTS ON FOOD Food labels can be very misleading. The worldwide ENOUGH organisation looks at the promises labels make, what it means and how it impacts on the end consumer.
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LETHOTENG GEE KINDERS HOOP Vriende van Landbou gesels oor die voedingsfonds wat hulle gestig het om projekte soos Lethoteng by te staan. Soos hulle seg, vriende help vriende.
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DYNAMIC WOMEN IN AGRITOURISM Jacqui Taylor, CEO of Agritourism South Africa introduces us to some of the female farmers and participants in Agritourism. We take a look at some of the products they produce and the projects they are involved in.
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OUR GREEN HERITAGE Trees do not only contribute to lowering carbon dyoxide levels in the air, they also give us a legacy that will be there long after we have cut our mortal coils. Dale Barber talks about the green heritage we all should leave behind.
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KAROO FLAVOURS Speaking of dynamic women. Linda Henderson is a woman of many talents. She is not only a journalist but also runs a food business from her small factory in the Karoo. Read more about her business and challenges in the regular LekkerBekkig column, this time with a twist.
INHOUD
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2019 PROVINCIAL AREA BRANCHES REGIONAL MEETINGS / ANNUAL MEETINGS / CONGRESSES AND NATIONAL CONGRESS DATES
KALENDER
FEBRUARY KWAZULU NATAL Regional Meeting 4th - Luneburg 5th - Dundee 6th - Platrand, Ladysmith 7th - Underberg (Mackenzie Club) 8th Kokstad (Stoney Brook) Contact: Jean Visser 058 622 1511 Bom Louw 082 652 2243 WESTERN CAPE Reproduction Info Day 12th - Caledon 19th - Bredasdorp 26th - Hedelberg Contact: Tania Lusse 028 212 3160 Jannie Fourie 083 564 1105 MARCH WESTERN CAPE Reproduction Info Day 5th - Albertinia 12th - Porterville 19th - Piketberg Contact: Tania Lusse 028 212 3160 Jannie Fourie 083 564 1105 FREE STATE Congress 12th & 13th - Brandtfort Contact: Hannelie du Plessis 051 447 3023 Jan-Louis Venter 083 650 1131 EASTERN CAPE 13th - Management Meeting 14th - AGM Contact: Lynette vd Walt 049 802 6734 Juan Venter 079 693 1953 APRIL 2019 International Wool Textile Congress (IWTO) 9th - 11th - Venice MAY FREE STATE NAMPO 14th - 17th - Bloemfontein Contact: Hannelie du Plessis 051 447 3023 Jan-Louis Venter 083 650 1131
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Plaastoe! Desember & Januarie 2018-2019
JUNE NATIONAL National Congress 11th - 13th - Port Elizabeth Contact: Patricia Myburgh Adele Rhode 041 365 5030 JULY WESTERN CAPE Reproduction Info Day 19th - Caledon 23rd - Bredasdorp 30th - Heidelberg Contact: Tania Lusse 028 212 3160 Jannie Fourie 083 564 1105 EASTERN CAPE NWGA / PRO Roadshow 23rd - Jamestown 24th - Elliot 25th - Thomas River Contact: Lynette vd Walt 049 802 6734 Juan Venter 079 693 1953 AUGUST WESTERN CAPE Reproduction Info Day 6th - Albertinia 13th - Porterville 20th - Piketberg Contact: Tania Lusse 028 212 3160 Jannie Fourie 083 564 1105 EASTERN CAPE NWGA / PRO Roadshow 20th Cradock 21st - Aberdeen 22nd - Kareedouw Contact: Lynette vd Walt 049 802 6734 Juan Venter 079 693 1953 SEPTEMBER MPUMALANGA Congress / AGM 4th - Ermelo Contact: Heléne Beukes 017 819 3183 Bom Louw 082 652 2243
OVERBERGSE LANDBOUSKOU - Bredasdorp 30 Januarie - 2 Februarie 2019 VICTORIA-WES SKOU 7 - 9 Februarie 2019 HEIDELBERG SKOU 6 - 9 Februarie 2019 RIVERSDAL SKOU 20 - 23 Februarie 2019 WILLISTON SKOU 21 - 23 Februarie 2019 SWELLENDAM SKOU 28 Februarie - 2 Maart 2019 BEAUFORT-WES SKOU 13 - 16 Maart 2019 SEIL SAFARI (Bootvaart) 1-5 April 2019 CLANWILLIAM SKOU 10 - 13 April 2019 S A KAASFEES - SANDRINGHAM - Stellenbosch 26 - 28 April 2019 BLOEMSKOU - Bloemfontein 26 April – 4 Mei 2019 NAMPO HARVEST DAY - Bothaville 14 - 17 May 2019 ROYAL SHOW - Pietermaritzburg 24 May - 02 June 2019
LUTZVILLE SKOU 31 Julie - 3 Augustus 2018 AURORA SKOU EN GYMKHANAKLUB 24 Augustus 2019 GEORGE LANDBOUSKOU 29 - 31 Augustus 2019 NAMPO KAAP - Bredasdorp 4 - 6 September 2019 SWARTLAND SKOU - Moreesburg 11 - 14 September 2019 TULBAGH SKOU 18 - 21 September 2019 MALMESBURY SKOU 19 - 21 September 2019 ROBERTSON LENTESKOU 24 - 28 September 2019 AGRI-EXPO LIVESTOCK - Stellenbosch 10 - 12 Oktober 2019 VILLIERSDORP SKOU 11 - 12 Oktober 2019 PRINS ALBERT SKOU 17 - 19 Oktober 2019 LOERIESFONTEIN SKOU 17 - 19 Oktober 2019
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LANDBOU
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Plaastoe! Desember & Januarie 2018-2019
Deur Linda Henderson
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man, daai ander ram wat jy netnou gewys het gaan jou afgooi as dit droog word. Hy’s te platsydig.’ Hierdie manne werk. Hulle deel hulle kennis en beplan vir die boer se toekoms. Daar’s ’n soort van kamerraadskap wat deur die jare gekweek word want hulle ken hulle boere en dié se kuddes.
Jaques Laubscher doen sy beoordeling by ’n skou in die Karoo.
Dis ’n scenario wat hom by elke ramveiling afspeel. Die vesel adviseurs van al die makelaars is die stil spilpunt van die bedryf. Hulle ken hul storie en hulle gee raad oor die pad vorentoe met ramme en ooie en teelrigtings. Sonder hulle sal daar nie ’n veiling of ’n skou gehou kan word nie.
Dis ’n bloedige warm Januarie en die kwik styg tot 43 grade Celsius tydens Willowmore se veldramveiling. Die bokke hyg na asem en die nuwe sinkdak kraak so af en toe onder die hittegolwe. Billy Colborne, ou bekende Angora ramteler, het al lankal sy broekspype tot by sy knieë opgerol en sit en wag vir die veiling om te begin. Wie kan werk onder sulke omstandighede? So wonder ek terwyl ek vir die soveelste keer ’n bottel koel water nader trek en om my heen kyk. Louis Hayward, vesel adviseur van BKB , vee die sweet met ’n blou sakdoek af terwyl hy praat en beduie, en wys na sy katalogus. Die teler langs hom sê nie veel nie, want hy luister aandagtig. Daar anderkant staan Leon du Plessis, ook ’n adviseur, halflyf oor ’n bok gebuig en blaai soos ’n pianis deur dié se vag, terwyl hy beduie vir die man wat langs hom staan en notas maak. In ’n ander ry staan Cornè Nel, effens ongebalanseerd gebukkend oor die rug van die beste bok op die veiling, terwyl die sweet van sy voorkop tap. Die man langs hom knik instemmend op iets wat hy sê. Kleintjie Pienaar, Graaff-Reinet se vesel kenner kry nog ’n laaste grappie in voor hy sy kliënt met ’n erstige frons na die voorste ry ramme beduie. ‘Jou antwoord lê by ram nommer twee in die eerste ry. Kyk sy breë lyf, sterk horings en kwaliteit vag. Nee 8
Plaastoe! Desember & Januarie 2018-2019
Billy Colborne het net een plan met die hitte van die dag!
Die Karoo is hulle speelterrein en die bokke en skape hul speelgoed, maar hierdie is nie kinderspeletjies nie. Dis asof hierdie manne so meegevoer en in hulle element is, dat hul nie vandag se lastige hitte voel nie. Hulle is dit gewoond, want hul spandeer ure in krale en skure by die produsente. Vandag is die klimaks van ’n hele seisoen se voorbereiding en ‘rambeplanning’. Gawie Kleinhans, hoof van BKB se lewende hawe, tik die mikrofoon, maak ’n paar keer keel skoon, verwelkom almal en vertel ’n grap om aandag te kry. Hy’s gemaklik op sy pos en hy ken almal se stories. Dis die man wat vandag die kopers tot nuwe hoogtes moet inspireer. Hy’s nie die afslaer nie maar is soort van seremoniemeester. Sy stem is gebry en val gerustellend op die oor. Hy moet die boere van die droogte en die bankbestuurder laat vergeet wanneer hulle bie... en hy kan! Gawie het die vermoë om elke man goed oor sy skuld te laat voel. Hy belê tog immers in sy toekoms! Die veiling begin, JJ van der Watt, die afslaer is op sy stukke. Hy praat só vinnig dat die prys net elke nou en dan hoorbaar is. Sy arms waai, sy vinger wys en in sy regterhand swaai hy daardie gevaarlike stukkie hout rond wat groot verskuiwings in bankbalanse meebring as dit die tafel tref. Langs hom staan die veldbeamptes of adviseurs wat die gehoor soos arende dophou vir aanbiedinge. Hulle moet fyn kyk. Die kopers wat opsigtelike gebare gebruik om ’n bod te maak, is gewoonlik die manne wat met intensie bie. Sommige knik kwalik merkbaar die kop of sein effens met die hand, terwyl ander weer die veilingkatalogus oprol en met senuweeagtige klein gebaartjies waai om te laat weet hulle stel ook belang. Dis ’n goeie veiling en daar is nie winskopies nie. Rekords word gebreek. Die kopers sug en die verkopers loop breëbors rond. Te midde van alles kyk die vesel adviseurs, aan wie baie dank verskuldig is aan die dag se gebeure, stil maar tevrede toe. Produsente is dit eens dat hierdie manne se bydrae tot hulle sukses van onskatbare waarde is. Tog bly hulle dikwels die onbesonge helde van hierdie sagas.
Hy is al jare in die bedryf, werk elke dag met vee en sy opinie is altyd onafhanklik. Aangesien hy my behoeftes en omstandighede ken, gee hy raad wat my boerdery vorentoe vat. Ek stel sy integriteit hoog op prys en hy is een van die hoofredes vir my lojaliteit teenoor my makelaar.” “Jy weet, boere wat hulle boerdery wil verbeter, gebruik hierdie manne. Daar is ander wat maar net voortploeter, maar hulle moet dalk onthou dat ’n slegte dier net soveel vreet as ’n goeie dier,” sê Gert. “Dis die manne wat altyd agter die skerms werk en ek dink hulle kry nie altyd die erkenning wat hul toekom nie,” sê Antoine Hayward, boer van Steytlerville. “Hierdie ouens moet soms baie persoonlike opofferings maak ten opsigte van tyd en dis dikwels ’n ondankbare werk. Ek het nog net goeie raad van my veldbeampte gekry wat my ook maar vermaan het om die middeweg in my teelbeleid te volg deur ’n dier te teel wat by my omstandighede aard. Wat belangrik is, is dat produsente eienaarskap van hulle eie besluite moet neem en nie hierdie manne moet blameer as dinge nie reg uitwerk nie. Dit is onbillik en onregverdig om ander te blameer vir besluite wat jy self neem. Alhoewel hierdie manne ’n beter insig in die mark en die gehalte van die nasionale kuddes het, is hulle ook maar feilbaar. Wat ek van my vesel adviseur waardeer, is dat hy altyd objektief en baie professioneel bly, en sy raad aan my dat ek nie giere moet najaag nie, het vir my nog net goeie vrugte afgewerp,” sê Antoine. “Ek wonder of die belangrikheid van hierdie manne regtig besef word,” beaam Blair Henderson. Nog ’n boer, Antoine, bevestig: “Jy weet ’n goeie vesel man kan ’n streek of ’n veeras maak of breek deur sy betrokkenheid en entoesiasme vir sy werk. Waar die veldmanne goed is, floreer die bedryf. ’n Goeie veldman behoort die totale pakket van sy kliënt in oënskou te neem. Hy behoort te weet wat die kliënt se boerderyomstandighede is sodat hy raad kan gee met ’n teelbeleid. Hy moet hom ook van raad kan bedien by ram- en veeveilings en hy moet weet
“Weet jy, hierdie manne het nie werksure nie. Hulle moet beskikbaar wees wanneer dit die boere pas en soms word hul misbruik, omdat hulle dag nie aan kantoorure gekoppel is nie. Boonop moet hulle tog só diplomaties met party produsente te werk gaan, want party se velletjies is maar dun, en dan vererg hul hulle soms vir die waarheid en ontgeld die veldmanne en hul maatskappye dit. Ek verkies ’n reguit antwoord en ’n direkte opinie, want dan weet ek waar ek staan,” sê Gert Jordaan van Aberdeen. “Ek het geweldige vertroue in ons plaaslike veldbeampte. 10 Plaastoe! Desember & Januarie 2018-2019
Louis Hayward van Steytlerville (links) by ’n prysuitde ling van die jeugskou.
my dienste soos hierdie lewer. Hierdie manne is enige tyd beskikbaar en hulle vriendelike professionele houding is ’n riem onder die hart.” Almal is dit eens. Die veldmanne of liewer vesel adviseurs speel ’n onontbeerlike rol in die bedryf. Vra maar die boere wat die toekennings inpalm. Agter elke suksesstorie sit ’n man wat leiding en ondersteuning gegee het. Iemand wat sy passie en kennis met integriteit en sonder eie belang gedeel het om sy medemens ’n voorsprong te gee. “As makelaars besef ons hulle waarde en belê ons baie tyd in die keuring en plasing van hierdie manne in ons bedryf. Dit moet onthou word dat hierdie diens uniek is in die wêreld. Australië, wat seker die naaste vergelykbare omstandighede het, se grootste makelaar het slegs drie beamptes in diens wat tegniese advies gee! Dit is vir ons belangrik dat hulle goeie opleiding ontvang en dat hul die nodige ondervinding opdoen, want hulle is ’n verlenging van die dienste wat die maatskappy aan die boere bied. Hulle moet op datum wees met hoe die nuutste tegnologie en inligting toegepas word. Gaan kyk maar wie die leierboere is wat in teling (ramme) en die amptelikekompetisies (kudde en haar) presteer, en wat rekord sybokhaarpryse behaal. Daar is een gemene deler. Hulle Ettienne Bezuidenhout soek na ramme vir sy kliënte. maak intensief van ’n veldbeampte gebruik,” sê Isak Staats, hoobestuurder van BKB se veselafdeling. waar hy vee kan inkoop wat by sy teelbeleid pas. Dis toegewyde belangstelling en kennis wat die verskil “Hierdie manne leef daarvoor om hulle kliënte se boertussen swak en goeie agente onderstreep.” derye te help verbeter. Hulle vra nooit vir erkenning of buitensporige vergoeding nie. Wat dit so moeilik maak “My veldbeampte speel ook ’n waardevolle rol om my om die regte mense te kry is die feit dat hulle so seun wat nou net begin boer het van kennis te bedien. Ek passievol oor hulle werk is. Ek kan heeltemal verstaan het bloot nie altyd die tyd om dit self te doen nie en ek dat ’n boer so erg oor sy tegniese raadgewer is want dit waardeer sy insette in hierdie verband,” gaan Blair is amper soos ’n huwelik; besluite wat vandag geneem voort. word kan vêr in die toekoms nog ’n verskil ten goede of kwade hê. Dit is hoekom integriteit en kundigheid so “My veldbeampte is amper soos my tweede vrou,” belangrik in ons bedryf is,” sê Isak. skerts Roland du Toit. “Ons lewe baie na aan mekaar en sy perspektief is vir my bitter belangrik. Hy bring die Miskien het die tyd aangebreek dat die bedryf hiernodige kundigheid en sy opinie is belangrik omdat hy die erkenning op ’n tasbare wyse toon. P met soveel ander kuddes behalwe myne werk. Dis waarom ek my makelaar ondersteun, want hulle kan vir Plaastoe! Edition 23 11
AGRICULTURE
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SAMIL, one of the principal mohair top processors and exporters in the world, was seriously concerned about the steady decline in the production of greasy mohair in South Africa and so, in 2011, the company launched one of its most ambitious projects to date. SAMIL Farming Pty Ltd was established with the primary objective of stabilising and possibly increasing mohair supply to the processors, and, secondly, to show its commitment to the industry. The project was set up in two parts: Private land ownership and lease partnerships: To secure land for angora goat farming and to keep abreast of the needs of the mohair processors, the farm Woodlands, was purchased where the company runs a commercial flock of both angora ewes as well as ‘kapaters’ (wethers). SAMIL Farming has also registered an angora stud, Stud 324, with the South African Ram Breeders Association. Kapater partnerships: It is normal practice for mohair farmers to send their so-called ‘kapaters’ (18 to 24-month-old castrated male goats) to market to generate some cash flow and to free up land and feed for the new generation of goat kids. SAMIL chairman, Francis Patthey, initiated the idea to form partnerships with various farmers to buy these goats and run them on the partners’ available land with the proceeds of the mohair sale being split between SAMIL Farming and the farmer.
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In stimulating economic growth, SAMIL Farming’s activities have far-reaching effects in rural areas, improving the quality of life of many by creating job opportunities in impoverished communities while simultaneously improving the supply of greasy mohair to the industry. GENETIC RESEARCH ANGELA - Angora Genetics Laboratory:
through a generous capital donation from the chairman of SAMIL Natural Fibres. It is projected that the revenues will be sufficient to sustain the venture for as long as 20 years. The project starts with 15 selected rams, owned by ANGELA and 500 ewes. It is benefitting from the experience gained over a long period, by a sister company in the alpaca industry at Pacomarca in Peru. COMBING
The latest and not least important venture under the SAMIL umbrella is our research project called ANGELA. ANGELA has as its objective the enhancement of angora goats and the mohair industry, from kidding to the improvement of the different hair qualities. The project will make available its results to all in the mohair farming community, and its intention is to generate interest to attract a wider participation of other farmers. ANGELA was conceived in January 2013, and started in February 2014 on the farm Vleikuil, close to Willowmore in the Eastern Cape. It was a partnership between a prominent mohair farmer and SAMIL Farming, and furthermore with the valued collaboration of Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute (GADI) and a bio chemistry professor from the University of Barcelona. ANGELA currently resides on Leliekop in the Swaershoek mountain region of Somerset East, and is being looked after by Prieur du Plessis. The financing of the project is assured by the revenues of ANGELA Research NPC (non-profit company),
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For more than twenty years SAMIL commissioned the combing of greasy mohair in the United Kingdom, Italy and South Africa. However, in 1987, SAMIL established its own combing plant, Border Combing Company, in Berlin, outside East London in the Eastern Cape, now known as SAMIL Natural Fibres Combing. As mohair processing has decreased in other areas of the world, SAMIL Combing, as it is now known, has become one of the world’s leading processors of mohair. With a capacity of more than forty tons of top and noil per week and ten tons of scoured (washed but not combed mohair), SAMIL Combing processes all the greasy mohair purchased by SAMIL Trading, and it also offers commission combing to the industry. Unlike many processing plants around the world SAMIL Combing focusses on and is committed to processing only mohair. P
AGRICULTURE
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By Dr Tingmin Yu and Mr Johan van Biljon, ARC-Institute for Agricultural Engineering
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PLANNING IN ADVANCE Successful crop production largely depends on the correct and proper applications of production inputs that will minimize the cost of these inputs and sustain the natural resources and the environment. The inputs for maize production generally include the available mechanisation tools, soil tillage option, crop rotation, adapted cultivars, plant population, fertilisation, weeding, insect and disease control and harvesting. Careful planning for each of the inputs that are necessary and the applications thereafter should be considered before planting or even after last season harvesting.
SOIL TILLAGE VS NO-TILL Soil tillage refers to any targeted movement of soil physical structure exerted by mechanical implement. It is the major part of the mechanisation system for crop production and the biggest cost factor in mechanisation inputs. Soil tillage properly applied can help maintain or improve soil structure and keep clean of weeds. However, soil tillage can be costly due to the vast amount of furl energy requirement and it may cause big loss of soil moisture and wind erosion before planting. In the past two decades, no-till which is often referred as major concept of the conservation agriculture (CA), has become a popular farming practice for maize production. In comparison with conventional farming no-till has major advantages such as reduced energy consumption and labour cost, decreased soil disturbance and erosion, and improved soil moisture reservation. The disadvantages for no-till include higher application of and specially adapted planters. Whether adopting no-till or conventional soil tillage, the most important part of the planting preparation will be the planter and its calibration because the productivity and hence the profitability of the maize production will largely depend on planter performance.
TECHNICALITY OF THE FARM PLAN The following information farm plan is needed before planting preparation: a)Target seed population per hectare. b)Advised amount of fertiliser application in kilograms 18 Plaastoe! Desember & Januarie 2018-2019
per hectare for your soil. c)Average row distance in meters. d)Crop cultivar seed to suit your soil and target yield.
PREPARATION FOR A PLANTER The planter preparation can be sketched as following: a)Thoroughly read the operational manuals and understand the recommended calibration instructions of your planter. b)Check drive gears or sprockets and know the gear ratios from drive wheel to seed and fertiliser hoppers. c)Select correct seeding plate/disk which has proper size of holes along disk circumference to give a seed drop with a minimum of doubles or skips. d)Count the number of the circumferential holes. e)Understand the adjustment mechanism for fertiliser when necessary. f)Combining drive gear ratios and number of holes on seeding disk/plate should give pre-set estimated seed population and spacing.
SEED CALIBRATION IN FIELD a)Bring your planter with tractor to field side. b)Measure a 10m distance and mark with two easily identified markers. c)Load minimum seeds into a side unit of the seed hoppers. d)Take the rubber/plastic seed pipe from the seed boot so that the seeds can be planted on soil surface and easily seen. e)Run the planter and tractor as normal planting over the 10m distance. f)Check the furrow opening, planting depth, soil cover and soil press to satisfaction. Make adjustment if necessary. g)Count the number of the seeds planted over the 10m distance and check any doubles or skips. h)The seed population per hectare can be calculated by the following equation: N=1000 x n/d Where N=planting seed population per hectare n=seed number counted over 10m distance d=average row distance in meters Example: If the row distance is 0.9m and the seeds planted are counted as 33 over 10 meters, the planting seed popula-
tion per hectare is calculated as: N=1000 x 33/0.9=36667 plants per hectare. Compare the calibrated results with your planned target seed population per hectare. If necessary, make adjustment by selecting different seed disk/plate or different gear ratio and repeat the above procedure.
FERTILISER CALIBRATION a)Bring your tractor with planter to your field side. b)Measure a 10m distance and identify with two easily observed markers. c)Load minimum fertiliser into a side unit of the fertiliser hoppers. d)Take the rubber/plastic fertiliser pipe from the fertiliser boot so that the fertiliser will be planted and easily collected by a container. e)Run the planter and tractor as normal planting while collecting the fertiliser by a container over this 10m distance. f)Get the weight of the fertiliser planted in grams over
the 10m distance. g)The fertiliser amount applied can be calculated by the following equation: W=w/d Where W=fertiliser applied in kilograms per hectare w=fertiliser weight in grams planted over 10m distance d=row distance in meters Example: If the row distance is 0.9m and the fertiliser planted is collected and weighted as 140g over 10 meters, the fertiliser to be applied per hectare is calculated as: W=140/0.9=155.6 kg per hectare. Compare the calibrated results with your planned target fertiliser application in kilograms per hectare. If necessary, make adjustment and repeat the above procedure. For more information, contact Dr Tingmin Yu at YuT@arc.agric.za or 012 8424090. P
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LANDBOU
Die wêreld raak al hoe meer bewus van volhoubaarheid. Hernubare plastiek, laer koolstofvrystelling en die gebruik van natuurlike produkte bo sintetiese middels is deurlopend in die kollig. Daar word egter deurgaans meer aandag gevestig op hoe volhoubare produkte verbou en verbruik word. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Sybokhaarbedryf het dit gedurende 2018 eerstehands ervaar, en daadwerklik opgetree om dié bedryf internasionaal mededingend te maak. 20 Plaastoe! Desember & Januarie 2018-2019
Sedert die stigting van Sybokhaar Suid-Afrika (SSA) in 1998, word daar groot klem op volhoubare praktyke, in alle aspekte van die sybokhaar produksieketting, gelê. Dit het tot die samestelling van die bedryf se Volhoubare Produksieriglyne in 2009 gelei – ’n handleiding waaraan alle Angorabokboere moet voldoen indien hulle as volhoubare produsente geregistreer wil word. Dié handleiding handel nie net oor die hantering van bokke en dierewelsyn nie, maar gee ook riglyne vir die toestande waaronder werknemers dienste lewer,
omgewingsbestuur, asook die finansiële volhoubaarheid van die produsent se boerdery. “Alhoewel ons in die bedryf weet wat die produksie van sybokhaar behels, besef ons dat die eindverbruikers van sybokhaarprodukte die versekering en gemoedsrus soek dat die produk wat hulle koop, volhoubaar is. Daarom is die implementering van ons bedryfsriglyne een van ons hoogste prioriteite,” het Deon Saayman, besturende direkteur van SSA, gesê. Textile Exchange*, ’n invloedryke organisasie vir die volhoubare produksie en gebruik van vesels, het by hul 2018 konferensie in Milan bekend gemaak dat ’n nuwe raamwerk vir dierewelsyn saamgestel word, met betrekking tot alle natuurlike vesels. Die sybokhaarbedryf se Volhoubare Produksieriglyne sal ook binne dié nuwe raamwerk hersien word, om te verseker dat soortgelyke beginsels wat tans in die Responsible Wool Standards (RWS) saamgevat is, ook op sybokhaar toegepas word. “Nadat ’n omvangsbepaling van die sybokhaarbedryf se riglyne gedoen is, is ’n uitgebreide besprekingsproses met Textile Exchange begin. Dit het daartoe gelei dat sybokhaar in die hersieningsproses van die nuwe raamwerk ingesluit is. “Na afloop van die konferensie het sommige handelsmerke reeds aangedui dat hulle vrywillig aan die aanvanklike proefprojekte wil deelneem, ten einde die standaarde deur die loop van 2019 te finaliseer,” het Saayman gesê. Die bogenoemde proses kom nadat die belangrikheid van volhoubare praktyke in Mei 2018 weer uitgelig is, toe PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) ’n verslag oor die Suid-Afrikaanse sybokhaarbedryf gepubliseer het. Terwyl die verslag feitlik onakkuraat was, en verskeie praktyke buite konteks geplaas het, het dit steeds wêreldwyd opspraak gemaak, hoofopskrifte in bekende publikasies gehaal, en gepoog om die bedryf se reputasie te skend. Praktyke binne die skeerfasiliteite van twee Angorabokplase is uitgelig en die gedrag van gekontrakteerde skeerders is bevraagteken. Grootskaalse ondersoeke is dadelik van stapel gestuur. SSA en OVK, wie se gekontrakteerde skeerspanne deur die verslag geïmpliseer is, het elk aparte ondersoeke ingestel. ’n Onafhaklike sertifiseringsliggaam het die gerugte ook ondersoek en sy eie verslag saamgestel, terwyl die Dierebeskermingsvereniging (DBV) ook sy eie verslag saamgestel het.
Al die bogenoemde verslae is aan die gepaste owerhede oorhandig vir verdere ondersoek en volledige ontleding. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens asook die Nasionale Vervolgingsgesag is betrek, en die bedryf wag steeds vir terugvoering. Intussen het OVK interne dissiplinêre stappe teen die gekontrakteerde skeerspan geneem. “Die spesifieke skeerder, wie se gedrag uitgelig is, is uit die skeerspan verwyder hangende ’n rehabilitasieproses en herevaluering deur OVK se nasionale bestuur van skeerdienste. Die betrokke skeerspan is ook aangespreek en die voorman sal verantwoordelik gehou word indien enige persoon binne sy span diere buite die riglyne hanteer,” het Graham Frost, OVK-skeerdienste bestuurder, gesê. SSA het ook bykomende hulpbronne op die implementering van die bedryf se Volhoubare Produksieriglyne toegespits. Buiten SSA se volhoubaarheidsbeampte is twee bykomende persone opgelei en aangewend om volhoubaarheidsassesserings op Angorabokplase uit te voer. Meer as 700 plase wat sybokhaar produseer, is reeds geassesseer. Wanneer hul vesel op sybokhaarveilings verkoop word verskyn die bedryf se volhoubaarheidskenteken op die katalogus en kopers het die sekerheid dat daardie lotte volhoubare vesel bevat. Om volhoubaarheid verder as slegs die assesseringsproses te neem is nuwe riglyne ingestel wat sal verseker dat daar deurlopend toesig oor werksaamhede tydens skeertyd is. ’n Projek is ook van stapel gestuur om skeerspanne bykomende opleiding te gee, veral met betrekking tot dierehantering, ten einde geakkrediteer te word. Daar word ook beoog om skeerskêre met tyd uit te faseer sodat slegs masjienskeerders gebruik word. “Die Suid-Afrikaanse sybokhaarbedryf is verbind tot die etiese produksie van ’n volhoubare vesel wat ons verbruikers met vertroue en sekerheid kan gebruik,” het Saayman gesê. *Textile Exchange is ’n wêreldwye niewinsgewende organisasie. Saam met sy lede bevorder dit industrie transformasie vir gesogte vesels, integriteit en standaarde, asook verantwoordelike voorsieningsnetwerke. Die organisasie identifiseer en deel beste praktyke met betrekking tot boerdery, materiale, verwerking en naspeurbaarheid om die tekstielbedryf se negatiewe impak op die omgewing en samelewing te verminder. P Plaastoe! Edition 23 21
Klein Karoo Saad Bemarking (K2 Saad) staan vandag bekend as die "alles-in-een saadverskaffer" en het tot 'n toonaangewende onafhanklike Afrika-saadmaatskappy ontwikkel wat 'n wye verskeidenheid gehalte saad aan produsente oor die vasteland bied. K2 Saad se huidige fokus is hoofsaaklik op die Suid-Afrikaanse en SAOG-gebiede met plaaslike bedrywighede in SuidAfrika, Zambië en Zimbabwe. Deur sy eienaars, Zaad, wat ook belange in verskeie internasionale saadmaatskappye het (in meer as 60 lande), is K2 Saad wêreldwyd goed verbind. Aangesien ons voortdurend daarna streef om die besigheid te bevorder, is ons trots om u bekend te stel aan Nuvance (Edms) Bpk. Nuvance is 'n volfiliaal van K2 Saad en beoog om sy kliënte die nuutste vordering in die bedryf te bring. Nuvance sal 'n duidelike fokus op die verskaffing van hoë gehalte groentesaad, professionele dienste en ondersteuning aan produsente hê tot voordeel van ons huidige en toekomstige kliënte. Nuvance is geseën om ongelooflik kundige werknemers te hê, met ’n passie vir wat hulle doen - "trots van Afrika vir Afrika". Ons is verbind tot passievolle alliansies deur uitstekende diens en 'n diep kennis van sake in die landbou. Wedersyds voordelige verhoudings met ons belanghebbendes is noodsaaklik vir ons bestaan. Vaste verhoudings met ons verskaffers bied ook Nuvance die geleentheid om ons kliënte 'n omvattende produkreeks aan te bied. Nuvance sal die enigste verspreider van groentesaad van BejoZaden, De Groot en Slot en sekere Seminis-variëteite in Suid-Afrika en geselekteerde gebiede wees. Met Nuvance se saad- en diensaanbod wil ons graag bydra tot die volhoubaarheid van ons kliënte, wat weer 'n integrale rol in die bereiking van voedselsekuriteit speel.
Met 'n toenemende wêreldbevolking is daar beslis ’n groeiende behoefte aan voedsel. As 'n verskaffer van insette in die voedselproduksiesektor, glo ons dat dit 'n opwindende sektor is, met enorme geleenthede vir onsself en ons kliënte. Sukses is egter in die besonderhede en by Nuvance belê ons voortdurend in navorsing om op hoogte te bly met die nuutste tendense en uitdagings om sodoende relevant en mededingend te bly. Om dit te bereik, het ons onlangs proewe begin in ons nuwe kweekhuiskompleks van 5 000m2. Hierdie moderne fasiliteit (saam met 'n proefplaas naby Brits) stel ons in staat om nuwe variëteite te identifiseer en voortdurend in te stel en te verseker dat ons relevant bly deur die beste moontlike groentesoorte aan U - ons kliënte - te bied. Net een van die maniere waarop Nuvance toegewyd is om "meer as net groentesaad" te bied. Die uitdagings wat die landboubedryf in die gesig staar, blyk voortdurend te styg en Nuvance beplan om saam met sy produsente te werk om te verseker dat ons 'n positiewe verskil op die plaas maak. Ons wil ook graag glo dat ons produsente, deur geloof, nie toelaat dat onsekerheid hul vasbeslotenheid ontmoedig nie. Een ding is altyd waar - wanneer ons hoop het, het ons alles. Vir diegene wat suksesvol is met groente, is Nuvance die plaaslike groentesaadverspreider, wat dienslewering bied, 'n wye verskeidenheid toepaslike en kwaliteit groentesaad en persoonlike oplossings. Nuvance, as deel van K2 Saad, word gedryf deur die begeerte om gesamentlike suksesse met ons kliënte te vier en ons span van vertroude adviseurs sien uit daarna om van diens te wees. Nuvance – meer as net groentesaad!
AGRICULTURE
As the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) held in Shanghai came to an end, attention turns to the South African beef industry, one of the clear winners of increased favourable relations between China and South Africa. The two nations signed a landmark trade agreement in 2017, allowing SA to export its beef products to China, in turn creating a booming local beef industry.
Successful Public Private Partnerships (PPP) are essential to unlocking lucrative trade agreements that stimulate economic growth. This is the view of Louw van Reenen, CEO of Beefmaster, who was a guest of the department of trade and industry (dti) at the prestigious CIIE held in Shanghai from 5 to 10 November 2018. Beefmaster is a renowned South African beef producer fast cementing its reputation as an international specialist supplier of world-class products, with a customer base that stretches throughout Southern Africa to the Middle East, Far East, and beyond. “Since the start of the trade agreement with China, Beefmaster’s exports have doubled. This is despite the limits created by the volatile maize price, the shortage of weaners, which made introducing fresh stock to our 24 Plaastoe! Desember & Januarie 2018-2019
herd challenging, and a pervasive country-wide drought,” said van Reenen, speaking from Shanghai. He added that agreements such as these ensure that the meat industry remains profitable, a stable source of revenue and employment, and stimulates the growth of commercial and emerging farmers. Beefmaster is currently only one of three beef producers in the country that has been exporting its products to the Chinese market under the trade agreement. Due to the quality of beef cuts supplied by Beefmaster, the Chinese market has gradually increased its demand for select cuts. Recent reports echo this trend, with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) suggesting that beef will be the fastest-growing import
sector in China in coming years. China’s official beef imports have grown almost 20-fold from 23 702 tons in 2010 to an estimated 460 000 tons in 2015.
required to take advantage of export markets. It is only by all parties working together that we will be able to achieve this,” said van Reenen.
“Our status as a preferred supplier of red meat to the Chinese export market is a result of our leading-edge technology in the areas of herd management, productivity, purchasing, marketing, hygiene and housekeeping,” said van Reenen, adding that its state-of-the-art technology allows the company to customise and “produce to order”. Van Reenen believes that PPPs will go a long way to help strengthen the local farming industry and create a trustworthy export industry that is renowned for its beef quality products.
Sectors that participated in the CIIE from South Africa and on invitation from the dti included agro-processing, footwear and leather, engineering, petro-chemicals, railway components, defence, and information and communications technology.
“We are committed to working with emerging farmers. We run mentoring and educational programmes, often alongside Government, to empower smaller farmers in the meat and fodder industries. We want to see more farmers reach the scale and high-quality herd standards
“The CIIE was an excellent platform to promote South Africa’s trade and investment capabilities, and it was an honour to be part of it. Our purpose in attending was to thank our existing customers in China for their continued business and further cement our good relationship with them,” said van Reenen. According to reports, total trade between the two nations grew from R205 billion in 2012 to R318 billion by the end of 2017. P
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Johannesburg, 8 October 2018: 5M2T (5 Minutes 2 Town) is offering brands and wholesale distributors unprecedented access to data and analysis of South Africa’s informal trade outlets – and it’s all accessible through a mobile app. 5M2T started out as an innovative distribution model that helped commercial brands reach South Africa’s lucrative spaza shop and informal trade sector. After engaging with brands making use of its distribution model, 5M2T identified a need for more focused data and analysis on this sector. This led to the launch of their in-market audit platform that offers brands unique and highly detailed data on informal trade within a fraction of the time and with far greater reach and penetration than any other market research offering. According to Stuart Smith, Operations Director at 5M2T, the problem that brands are facing is that the majority of data available is not accurate or specified to this unique retail model. “We currently lack a platform that allows distribution strategies to be planned around accurate data on informal trade. Often the research that is performed and data collected is one sided and does not take into account the unique idiosyncrasies of the informal trade sector. In spite of the fact that informal trade can fundamentally alter the fortunes of brands in South Africa, the investment into market research remains limited to anecdotal evidence and assumptions which couldn’t be further from the actual truth happening on the ground.”
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5M2T’s audit platform provides commercial brands with valuable information on informal trade outlets such as their purchase frequencies, stock replenishment cycles, buying habits and the most brand-loyal product categories. They can go even deeper to provide highly detailed information – for example, which spazas in Soweto have refrigeration units. “Our solution is a focused platform that collects specific data tailored to the needs of brand managers across all product categories. This allows us to provide our clients with data that will maximize their distribution opportunities.” 5M2T is able to offer this in-depth research and audit capability off their current mobile application, using their existing network of agents who already have established relationships, networks and routes on the ground. The 5M2T mobile app delivers this information instantly providing a level of access to market data in real time that has not been offered before. The app provides accurate and extensive reporting on sales alongside market research monthly, quarterly or yearly across over 60 000 spaza outlets, as well as neighbouring businesses such as salons, kota establishments and barbers.
and accurate information to clients in a fraction of the time and cost they are used to, on an easy to use platform that it right at their fingertips. We’ve managed to do this without trying to formalize the informal sector, by leveraging on our deep relationships with our networks of spaza owners,” concludes Smith. Five Myths Worth Debunking About the Spaza Market Informal trade and distribution data specialists, 5M2T (5 Minutes 2 Town) sets five common myths about the spaza market straight – and the facts could change your entire brand to market strategy.
A full audit at the nearly 5 000 spaza outlets in Soweto takes a maximum of one month from commencement to delivery of results, including a GPS heatmap of outlets visited as well as in-depth data about stock availability, shelf space, pricing variations, replenishing cycles and whatever other information the client has opted to include on their custom-built wireframe. Because the entire system is instantaneously scaleable, extending to broader geographical areas can be achieved in comparable timeframes. The data upload in real-time via mobile, creates additional opportunities to track promotions, product launches or sales rep activity on the ground. “Brand owners, sales managers and even executive level management believe that they know their brands’ performance and position in the informal market but once we deploy on the ground, we discover huge gaps and insights and are then able to accurately shape a distribution model aligned to the brand’s specific needs,” Smith explains. “The brands that we have engaged with have been astounded at the data that we have collected. It is changing their perception of informal trade as a major part of their strategies.” The 5M2T audit capability is available nationally, SADC territories and will soon be rolled out into key markets on the continent. “Our aim is to take the guesswork out of the informal trade market and provide transparent 28 Plaastoe! Desember & Januarie 2018-2019
By its very nature, the informal trade is geared around guessing. The lack of definitive data and market research means that once your formalized sales and distribution data reaches the wholesale level, the rest remains a total mystery. The informal trade can fundamentally alter the fortunes of brands in South Africa, and yet market research remains limited to anecdotal evidence and assumptions which couldn’t be further from the actual truth happening on the ground. “We’ve sat around many boardroom tables listening to
brand owners, sales managers and even executive level management suggest what they believe or know their informal market penetration to be; what brands they compete with and which areas they are strongest in,” says Stuart Smith, Operations Director at 5M2T. “Once we deploy on the ground, we discover huge gaps and some incredibly rich insights.” These insights include a major correction on commonly misunderstood aspects of the spaza market: 1.Spaza store owners do not do their own restocking. 90% of stock replenishing is done by runners, buying groups, bulk breakers etc. Runners’ lists are prescriptive
an additional margin. Everyone on the route-to-market is profiteering and brands have absolutely no control or idea of the level that is happening on the ground. 3.Spaza store owners are just looking for the cheapest option. In fact, spaza owners are highly reliant on consumer demand. Price isn’t everything and brand loyalty is critically important. If the customers don’t want it, the spaza will not stock it. Dumping stock into wholesale will not land up on a shelf unless there is a consumer demand and regular purchase of it. The informal channel is not immune to the basic principles of supply and demand. 4.What works in Soweto, will not work in Soshanguve. The truth is there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach. Even within huge categories like carbonated soft drinks, the purchasing, consumption and brand loyalty behaviors differ hugely from one area to another and are amplified even greater when you look regionally. You cannot assume that what works in Soweto, will work in Diepsloot or Mamelodi. The patterns are incredibly diverse. 5.The spaza market is too unpredictable to execute a long-term distribution strategy. On the contrary, political upheaval and acts-of-God aside, the spaza network is highly reliable and stable and many outlets have been open for decades and a part of the very fibre of the communities they service, even offering informal credit opportunities to regular customers. 5M2T’s app-based in-market audit platform offers brands unique and highly detailed data on informal trade within a fraction of the time and with far greater reach and penetration than any other market research offering. This platform provides commercial brands with valuable data on informal trade outlets such as their purchase frequencies, stock replenishment cycles, buying habits and the most brand-loyal product categories.
and buying groups and bulk-breakers buy only what they know they can on sell and earn their commissions on. So what’s the point of running wholesale promotions as an avenue to reach spazas? 2.Spaza stores are often not the cheapest place to buy your product. In fact, a product can cost more at a spaza than it does at your favourite high-end retailer in Hyde Park. This is because that product has changed hands up to 5 times before reaching a spaza shelf… each iteration adding on XX Plaastoe! Desember & Januarie 2018-2019
The 5M2T mobile app delivers this information instantly providing a level of access to market data in real time that has not been offered before. The app provides accurate and extensive reporting on sales alongside market research monthly, quarterly or yearly across over 60 000 spaza outlets, as well as neighbouring businesses such as salons, kota establishments and barbers. The 5M2T Audit capability is available nationally, as well as in neighbouring SADC territories and soon further afield into key markets on the continent. P Plaastoe! Edition 23 29
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Basel, Switzerland – Conflicting sources of information about how our food is produced make it difficult for families to make smart choices about nutrition and health, according to a new study from the ENOUGH movement, carried out in 11 countries globally, including countries in Europe. The consumer survey measured understanding and knowledge of popular food and nutrition topics including product labels, farming methods, nutritional value and environmental impacts. Among the key findings in Europe: although food and nutrition is a frequent topic of discussion for more than 93% of the respondents – there is a lot of uncertainty of what food claims and labels mean. A majority of consumers report choosing foods labeled “all-natural” or “organic” despite not knowing what the labels mean in terms of environmental impact, animal welfare, and other metrics commonly associated with healthy food choices. “The farm-to-table movement has revealed that we all want to know what’s in our food and where it comes from,” said UK based Livestock Sustainability Consultant Dr Jude L. Capper. “But it’s hard to separate fact
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from fiction when it comes to food labels, farming practices, and other food production topics. Distinguishing myth from reality can make a big difference in the choices families make about nutrition, household budgets and environmental impact.” Based on the results of the survey, the ENOUGH Movement is sharing the “Truth About Food,” a digital and media driven program to put accurate, fact-based information in forums to spark discussion to dispel misunderstanding. Information about the campaign can be found at https://bit.ly/2OZMtpL
KEY FINDINGS FROM THE SURVEY AND THE TRUTH ABOUT FOOD PROGRAM INCLUDE: Food labels are one of the most confusing topics for consumers. • Although many people (66 percent) buy “all natural” foods thinking they are healthier and safer, most survey respondents don’t really know what labels like “natural” and “organic” actually mean.
º “Organic” is a type of farm management and food production that only allows natural products to be used, but it doesn’t mean “pesticide-free.” For example, the use of a certain number of organic (i.e. derived from natural sources and processed lightly if at all before use[1]) pesticides are allowed in EU organic farming[2]. º Further, an analysis done by Stanford University on more than 237 studies concluded the quality, safety and nutrition content of organic and conventionally produced foods to be equal[3]. º When it comes to “natural”, in the UK for example it means that a product consists of natural ingredients, i.e. ingredients produced by nature, not the work of humans or interfered with by humans[4].
ing practices are often the most environmentally sustainable, using innovation to decrease the amount of land, feed and water to raise meat, milk and eggs. In fact, today’s conventional chicken production in Europe saves the equivalent of the CO² emission of 250 000 cars/year in Europe (2% of total). Thanks to continuous improvement less feed is needed, the carbon footprint impact is reduced by half, while producing the same quantity of meat[6]. Food waste and loss is a top concern among survey respondents.
Consumers are confused about modern agriculture, farming, and food production.
• 91 percent of people surveyed believe that the number one way to eliminate hunger globally is to eliminate food waste. º Food waste is a significant challenge we must address, but it’s only part of the problem. And we also have to look at food waste across the entire production system.
• 85 percent of survey respondents believe that more organic production globally is one of the top three solutions to feeding the growing population.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 30 to 40 percent of food is lost in production each year[7].
º In fact, organic farming produces less food – about 25 percent on average globally [i]. It requires significantly more land and resources to produce the same yield as modern farming methods.
º In animals, more than 20 percent of production is lost to death and disease[8]. Best management practices and tools that help keep animals healthy are critically important to this challenge.
º If Europe would try to feed itself exclusively through organic agriculture (at constant consumption), it would need an additional 28 million hectares, equal to all the remaining forests covering France, Germany, Denmark, and Great Britain combined[5].
• Veterinary medicines and vaccines leads to 20% resource waste reduction[9].
º While organic methods use less fertiliser, herbicides and energy, modern farming methods resulted in less soil erosion with better yields[ii]. In fact, modern farm-
When it comes to what we eat, globally, consumers are most concerned about hormones, antibiotics, and generally food safety. With so much conflicting information, it’s no wonder. But we can put these fears to rest. Did you know?: Plaastoe! Edition 23 33
• All living things contain hormones – people, plants, animals and therefore also the food we eat. • There are no hormones used in livestock production in Europe. Yet 73% of consumers believe there are. • All animals have the right to be free from pain, injury or disease. If an animal is sick, it should be treated[10]. However, regardless of whether an animal was sick and treated with an antibiotic at some time in its life or was raised antibiotic free, the food you buy is free from any harmful residue. “The survey results underscore just how critical it is for more people to understand what goes on behind the scenes with their food,” continues Capper. “As a farmer, animal health and wellbeing is a top priority and we do everything we can to ensure that our animals are healthy.” Notes The Truth About Food Survey was conducted within large cities in 11 different countries – United States, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Peru – between August 17 and 31, 2016 among 3 337 adults aged 20 and over (at least 300 per country). This online survey was sponsored by Elanco Animal Health and conducted by Kynetec. For more information about the survey, please visit http://www.kynetec.com/.
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 About the ENOUGH Movement It's time to solve the greatest issue of our time: building a food-secure world. In order to achieve this goal, we must have the courage to work together to tackle this complex issue from all sides. We need to produce more food using fewer resources. We must support farmers as food producers as they make sustainable choices that are right for their business. We should empower consumers to make the healthy food choices that are right for them. We must supply the high-quality and nutritious food that will nourish our children and lead to better health and development. And we must foster the kind of international infrastructure that ensure food reaches the people who need it, wherever they are. The ENOUGH Movement is a global community working together to ensure everyone has access to nutritious, affordable food — today and in the coming decades. We're consumers, farmers, businesses, activists, and everyday people — passionate people who believe in implementing practical solutions to build a food-secure world. P
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LANDBOU
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Hoe maak jy ’n verskil? Een kind op ’n slag. Hierdie opsomming van die missie van Lethoteng Community Centre verduidelik presies watter impak die sentrum op die gemeenskap in Clocolan het. Marieta Groenewald, ’n boervrou van die plaas Imla in die Oos-Vrystaat, en haar span gee hoop aan kinders wat waarskynlik nie voorheen oor ’n toekoms sou droom nie. Die kinders se lewensuitkyk verander en hulle groei. “Die kinders kom uit ’n baie onsekere lewe, maar hulle word verstandig en kyk die lewe vierkantig in die oë,” sê Groenewald. “Dit is asof hulle ’n nuwe identiteit kry. Dit gee ook aan hulle die vermoë om dalk eendag ’n werk te kan kry of om ’n besigheid te begin.” Sy weet nie van een van die voormalige kinders van Lethoteng wat op straat is of bedel nie. “Hulle is almal standvastig, kry ’n werk en doen iets vir hul medemens.” Dit is juis van die strate af waar baie van die kinders kom. Die sowat 100 kinders by die leersentrum bestaan uit byvoorbeeld weeskinders, bly by hul oumas of oupas en ’n klomp weet nie wie hul ouers is nie. Hulle kom uit die plaaslike gemeenskap, asook Lesotho, en is meeste tussen die ouderdom van ses en vyftien. SKRYF, LEES EN LEWENSVAARDIGHEDE Die sentrum bied ’n heenkome vir kinders wat nie andersins sou kon skoolgaan nie. Hulle kan nie toegang tot formele onderwys kry nie, omdat hulle nie geboortesertifikate en dus ID-dokumente het nie. Volgens
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groente insluit. Ons gee ook baie keer vir hulle sop,” sê Groenewald. Hiervoor is Lethoteng ook van donasies afhanklik en skenk landbouers ook dikwels kos. Dit is hoeka om projekte soos hierdie te help, wat Vriende van Landbou ’n voedingsfonds gestig het. Vriende van Landbou is ’n inisiatief wat landbouers in Suid-Afrika bystaan en word gedryf deur Vrystaat Landbou.
Sowat 100 kinders, waarvan die meeste tussen die ouderdomme van ses en vyftien, word by die Lethoteng Community Centre in Clocolan ’n kans gegun wat hulle nie andersins sou kry nie. Foto: Lethoteng Community Centre.
Groenewald was die Departement van Binnelandse Sake ook voorheen daar en is gepoog om die kinders te registreer, maar hul ouers kan nie opgespoor word nie. Dit was juis die kinders se situasie wat Groenewald, wat reeds sedert 1988 by kinderhuise en verskeie ander gemeenskapsprojekte betrokke is, se hart aangeraak het om in 2014 die Lethoteng Community Centre as ’n niewinsgewende organisasie te registreer en begin. Boonop word alles ondanks groot finansiële uitdagings gedoen en is die sentrum, wie se leuse Changing South Africa one child at a time! is, baie afhanklik van donasies. Volgens Groenewald word die kinders met behulp van vrywilligers geleer om te lees, skryf en basiese wiskunde te doen. “Ons gebruik Smartbrain, omdat ons onderwysers nie opgeleide onderwysers is nie,” sê sy. “Dit is ’n baie oulike program om kinders te leer wat glad nie kan lees en skryf nie.” Lethoteng kan ook as ’n goeie voorbeeld van ’n gemeenskapsprojek gesien word, aangesien die vrywilligers mense uit die gemeenskap is “wat omgee vir die kinders”. Buiten die formele leerprogram, word die kinders ook byvoorbeeld dissipline, liedjies, lewenslesse, lewensvaardighede en self ’n bietjie sport geleer. Mense uit die gemeenskap kom deel dikwels hul kennis en vaardighede met die kinders. GROENTETUIN VERSKAF MEER AS KOS Die kinders ontvang ook een keer per dag ’n maaltyd, wat baie van hulle waarskynlik glad nie sou gehad het nie. “Hulle kry ’n basiese ete wat gewoonlik vleis, pap en 38 Plaastoe! Desember & Januarie 2018-2019
Groenwald en haar span gee nie net daagliks die kinders kos nie, maar het ook danksy ’n borg ’n groentetuin aangelê. “Daar is skadunet huise met spinasie, beet en uie. Buite die nette het ons ook wortels en boontjies begin plant,” sê Groenewald. Die kinders gee daagliks ook die groente water. “Dit hou hulle besig en leer hulle hoe groente werk sodat hulle ook selfonderhoudend kan wees.” Die groente word vir verskillende doeleindes aangewend. Die kinders gee dit soms aan hul familie, dit word verkoop, die onderwysers kry van die geld siende hulle vrywilligers is en dit word as kos gebruik. UITDAGINGS EN TOEKOMS Groenewald sê Lethoteng se grootste uitdaging bly altyd finansies, waarsonder die sentrum nie kan klaarkom of uitbrei nie. “Ons moet geld hê om te kan uitbrei en om die onderwysers te betaal.” Die sentrum het ook nie behoorlike klaskamers met krag nie. Skryfbehoeftes, toilette, ’n ordentlike kombuis, klere vir die kinders en boeke is alles op die wenslys. “Verder is die betrokkendheid van mense belangrik. Enigiemand wat iets kan bring, die kinders kan leer, belangstelling toon en geleenthede vir die kinders kan gee is welkom.” • Vir meer inligting oor Lethoteng Community Centre, besoek die sentrum se Facebook-blad https://www.facebook.com/Clocolanbuildinglives/ of die webtuiste www.imlafarm.co.za • Om hulp aan te bied, kontak vir Marieta Groenewald by 082 568 3643 of stuur ’n e-pos na community@imla.farm
Alles by die sentrum word self gedoen. Vrywilligers, wat ook die onderrig aan die kinders verskaf, spring ook in wanneer daar geverf moet word. Foto: Lethoteng Community Centre.
Vriende van Landbou, ’n netwerk waar belanghebbendes saamkom om landbouers in Suid-Afrika te ondersteun, het ’n ooreenkoms met Genesis Nutritional Products aangegaan. Dit vorm deel van Vriende se voedingsfonds waarmee instellings soos Lethoteng Community Centre bygestaan kan word. Die idee is om Genesis-produkte, waarby kinders, landbouers, plaaswerkers en ander kan baat vind, beskikbaar te stel tot voordeel van die landbougemeenskap. Genesis se produkte is hoog in energie en verskaf ’n gebalanseerde ete op ’n maklike manier. Daar is byvoorbeeld ’n reeks spesifiek ontwikkel vir mense wat in taai omstandighede soos plase werk. Dit bevat Sel-plex en Bio-Mos wat dit uitsonderlik maak. “Ons daag maatskappye uit om hul CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) fondse te gebruik om dit beskikbaar te stel aan Vriende sodat ons die prosesse kan fasiliteer waar die voedselprodukte van Genesis aan mense soos Lethoteng beskikbaar gestel kan word,” sê Gerhard Kriel, Hoof Uitvoerende Beampte van Vrystaat Landbou (VL). Vriende van Landbou word gedryf deur VL. “Daar is byvoorbeeld reeds ’n paar landbouverenigings wat kinders oor naweke kos gee en ons wil die Genesis-produkte ook daarvoor gebruik.” Vriende van Landbou sal via Genesis Nutritional Pro-
ducts ’n paar produkte beskikbaar stel. Dit is die Dual Pouch (teen R14, 95), wat poeier en water bevat om ’n maaltyd te vorm. Dié produk is ook in 10 kg (200 maaltye teen R695, 95) en 25 kg (500 maaltye teen R1 795, 95) sakke deur Vriende beskikbaar. • Om die Genesis Nutritional Products te bestel, besoek Vriende van Landbou se webtuiste by http://www.vlvriende.org/. Of kontak Vrystaat Landbou se kantoor by 051 444 4609 of stuur ’n e-pos na elana@vslandbou.co.za P
Die kinders word ook verskeie vaardighede geleer.
Mense uit die gemeenskap kom deel dikwels hul kennis en vaardighede
Foto: Lethoteng Community Centre.
met die kinders. Dit inspireer hulle om ook self produkte te maak. Foto: Lethoteng Community Centre
Plaastoe! Edition 23 39
TOURISM
By Jacqui Taylor CEO Agritourism South Africa
40 Plaastoe! Desember & Januarie 2018-2019
Over a third of South Africa’s population lives in rural areas. Women tend to have less access to economic prosperity although they make up a substantial percentage of those who farm on small holdings. Oxfam’s report “Starting with people: A human economy approach to inclusive growth in Africa” made me think of all the remarkable women farmers I have met on my trips into our magnificent countryside.
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Maggie Fourie from Oudemargie outside De Rust is a resilient, determined and remarkable woman in her mid-seventies. She farms with sheep and has several Agritourism accommodation units. Work is seven days a week from 5am until 7pm. Not only does she care for her beloved animals, but she cares about her farm staff and those who live in her local community; baking cakes and contributing in many ways to others well-being. Hugely admired for her tenacity and ‘can do’ approach, she is lauded as an example to young farmers. One of the comments in her Guest Book is “Maggie Fourie, the owner is one in a million! This woman has more energy than all of us in the world! It was a great honour to share
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her farm with her”. Dr Brylyne Chitsunge, has a PhD in microbiology and is one of the country’s most successful female commercial farmers, farming on her Elpasso farm near Centurion. Dr Chitsunge was recently appointed Africa’s First Pan African Ambassador for Food Security. She believes that agriculture is one of the sectors with the most potential to drive economic growth and employment creation. Her Elpasso farm has many indigenous species which she breeds – Kalahari red goats, Nguni cattle, Bonsmara cattle, free-range poultry, quails, Tilapia fish and indigenous pigs. She offers regular
educational tours to school children to educate them on growing their own food. Dr Chitsunge says: “There is an art to everything and living well is no exception. Of all the arts, farming is the most fantastic.� Successful women who have embarked on careers in Agriculture can be found throughout Africa. Dr Jemimah Njuki, IDRC, who attended the African Green Revolution Forum in Kigali Rwanda earlier this year spoke of the story of three women, Charity, Loise and Jane. In 2012, they founded Exotic EPZ Limited, a company which processes macadamia nuts for export. When they decided to go into business together, nobody took them seriously. The banks said that as women with no collateral, they were too big a risk for a loan. They pulled together their savings and borrowed from friends and family. They started with 7.5 tonnes of shelled nuts each month. They have now doubled that capacity and currently employ over 100 people, most of them women, and have created a market for thousands of smallholder macadamia farmers. The story of Charity, Loise and Jane is about the huge opportunity that women agribusinesses present, but it is also a story of the challenges and gender barriers that women still face. Across the continent, 68 % of economically active women are in the agricultural sector. The continent has the largest proportion
of women agricultural entrepreneurs in the world. In Ghana 46.4 % of total businesses are owned by women, followed by Uganda at 33.8 % and Botswana at 24% as reported in the Daily Nation. Women farmers in South Africa also play an active role in running the Agritourism operations on a working farm. Marianne from Foxenburg Estate in Wellington who farms with goats and adds value with organic products that she makes from the milk, including yoghurt, hard cheese and cottage cheese. Foxenburg Estate, due to Marianne’s passion, has been recognized as a priority biodiversity site in the Cape Floristic region and is a commit44 Plaastoe! Desember & Januarie 2018-2019
ted partner with Cape Nature in their stewardship program. She works long hours, seven days a week. Zoliswa Mahanjana farms on her family farm, the 5 000 hectare Carnarvon Estates, in the Sterkstroom area in the Eastern Cape. She completed her Agricultural Diploma at Fox Cottage Agricultural College in the Eastern Cape. Apart from the accommodation offered on the farm – Stagger Inn Lodge – she cultivates lucerne, sorghum, maize and barley, as well as 500 breeding cows and 3 000 Dohne Merino ewes. The Lodge has 10 individual styled en-suite bedrooms with self-catering and family units giving a total of 20
beds. Zoliswa is dynamic and a leader in their local community encouraging women to choose farming as a career choice. As George Washington said “Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful and most noble employment of man�. P
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By Dale Barber Photo by Francisco AnzolaŠ
GARDEN
46 Plaastoe! Desember & Januarie 2018-2019
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What do we think about when faced with the statement ‘our green heritage’? Perhaps some of us will think of our gardens, others may think of vegetable gardens. Sadly many of us will feel no connection to the statement at all. It clearly means different things to different people. “The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity… and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself. ” - William Blake As a gardener, and by default, one of the custodians of our green heritage, I find it difficult to verbalise what it means to me. Whilst pondering direction, I find myself drawn to my little garden nestled in sprawling suburbia. What is the attraction to this green space? It dawns on me that I have been blessed with an arbor of trees. As civilisations have grown on earth, trees have had a significant impact on people for thousands of years. Possibly one of the most significant in our evolution was the use of timber as a fuel for fire. This brought us from the shadows and into the light. Being able to fashion timber into useful resources has significantly changed our lives. Trees have also played a pivotal role in agriculture as a source of food and sustenance. Unfortunately the more we evolve the more space we need. Plants of lesser deemed importance are cleared to make way for those of more economic value, and as a result, we are changing the face of our planet. As a gardener and arborist, I have always had a deep emotional connection with the giants in our landscapes. Trees are not only the largest element, but also the longest living. I have often marvelled at the quiet patience of trees. Imagine being alive and rooted to the same spot for hundreds (and in some instances, thousands) of years. Not being able to move, as the environment around you changing over time. Let us look at the importance of trees in the urban landscape as they are by far the largest component, and have the most significant impact. In gardens and parks they form a critical backbone and give a dominant structure and feel to the space. On the
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other hand, they also play a significant role as street trees, softening the urban environment. We all know the aesthetic value of trees, and what it means to us. However, they also have other value not often considered. They have aesthetic, economic, social, and environmental value. “Trees exhale for us so that we can inhale them to stay alive. Can we ever forget that? Let us love trees with every breath we take until we perish.” - Munia Khan SHADE Trees offer shade and this breaks the effects of direct sunlight in the landscape. This in turn reduces the temperature. An added benefit of large trees is the cooling effect of evapotranspiration. In a large urban environment this can greatly reduce the amount of energy required to cool and heat homes and buildings. It can thus be deduced that the energy savings are an economic value as well as a landscape one. WIND Trees have the added value of being effective windbreaks. They are more efficient than solid barriers as solid barriers cause the wind to tumble and have little effect in reducing the velocity of the wind, whereas trees allow the wind to pass through them thus reducing the wind velocity and affording more protection. Strategically placed trees can greatly reduce the impact of wind in an urban landscape, reducing the wind velocity and thus protecting gardens and buildings. SCREENING AND NOISE REDUCTION Trees provide a means of screening, both light and sunlight. Another obvious screening benefit is that of privacy. Trees also have the ability to screen out noise. Dense stands of trees will break down and filter noise pollution. EROSION PROTECTION The roots of trees bind the earth. They also reduce the velocity of water run-off. In an urban environment concrete and asphalt concentrate water run-off and catchment, concentrating water flow into drains and channels, and ultimately rivers. Trees help bind the river banks and the presence of trees reduces intensive water
flows during times of flooding. POLLUTION REDUCTION AND AIR QUALITY Trees are important in the conversion of carbon dioxide into oxygen. The carbon and other gaseous toxins are absorbed by the trees. During 1994 New York City trees absorbed 1 821 metric tonnes of air pollutants - this had an estimated economic benefit of $9.5million. Large healthy trees with a trunk diameter exceeding 77cm remove about 1.4kg of air pollutants annually. HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH An obvious advantage of trees for health is the production of oxygen as well as filtering and purifying the air. Not so well known are the mental benefits: stress reduction and the increase of dopamine levels when we are in a park or natural environment. RECREATION Parks and open spaces provide areas for recreational activities such as picnics, hiking and camping. SOCIAL ADHESION Days like arbor day not only celebrate trees, but bring communities together in the process of planting trees. Communities, friends, sport teams, children, pensioners, couples – they all come together under trees. ANIMAL HABITATS Urban trees provide a habitat for birds, insects, and small animals. This in turn fosters natural ecosystems and biodiversity in our urban forests. PROPERTY VALUES It is a fact that people are prepared to pay higher prices for properties in well established, leafy suburbs. CITY OF TAMPA URBAN ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT The City of Tampa 2011 Urban Forest Analysis provided a detailed scientific look into the economic and ecological values of the City of Tampa’s urban forest. Through this study it was able to calculate the annual economic benefits of the trees in the City Of Tampa, which added up to approximately $34.6 million a year. • Pollution removal by trees and shrubs was 1 163 tons/year and valued at $9.9 million/year. Pollutants include carbon monoxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter less than 10 microns. Values
estimated include health effects and externality costs associated with pollutants. • Carbon storage was 619 000 tons and valued at $44.1 million. This includes the amount of carbon bound up in the above-ground and below-ground parts of woody vegetation. • Carbon sequestration rate was 52 600 tons/year and valued at $3.7 million/year. This is the annual removal of carbon dioxide from the air by vegetation. • Oxygen production was 127 000 tons/year. A specific monetary value is not calculated, but oxygen is obviously important. • Building energy savings was valued at $4.7 million/year and the associated avoided carbon emissions were valued at $578 thousand/year. This includes only residential energy savings resulting from shade provided by trees. • Avoided cost of storm water management was $10.8 million/year as a result of the estimated interception of 162 million cubic feet/year of rainfall by leaves of trees. • Compensatory value was $1.83 billion. The compensatory value is an estimate of the amount of money it would cost to replace the trees in the City of Tampa if they were removed (e.g. deliberately or due to a storm). • The overall annual value of all of the benefits mentioned above is approximately $34.6 million/year. Source: https://bit.ly/2KAovAR Urban forests and landscapes have become an integral part of daily living in our towns and cities, adding both aesthetically and economically to the communities in which we live. Whilst it is true that opinions of trees might differ from person to person in that a stately Plane Tree might offer peace and serenity to some, but might be a blight or burden to those that only see the leaf litter, root damage, and blocked drains. Hopefully these people can see beyond the inconvenience and develop an appreciation for these gentle giants of our world. As our ever increasing numbers spread across the earth and eradicate natural forests and floral kingdoms, it is of the utmost importance that we replace these lost resources to try and mitigate our impact on our planet. It is our responsibility to protect and foster these urban forests. P
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By Linda Henderson
46 Plaastoe! Desember & Januarie 2018-2019 50
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For most Karoo farm children boarding school is a non-negotiable reality that looms like a big scary ogre in the dark. At a too early age they have to bid their carefree, shoeless days goodbye as they exchange their toys for pencils and books. Armed only with a tuck box and paltry pocket money to cure homesickness at the tuck shop, our children bravely face the onslaughts of education many kilometres from home with very few home comforts. For a six year old this prospect can be very daunting. Unlike their peers in the city they have to fight their own battles and dig their own trenches without parental advice or comfort to survive the demands of growing up in the rough and tumble of boarding school life. For some the efforts of mom’s baking skills offer some comfort and racing to the tuck box after an uncomfortable encounter is often the only plaster they can count on so far away from home. Boarding school food, although it has improved by leaps and bounds since my first exposure to it, is by design not effective against homesickness. (Even today my recollections of boarding school menus call up images of tasteless depravity and soulless comfort!) Our daughter, Donna, like many of her peers spent many happy and successful years at the Union High School in Graaff-Reinet and while she revered her school days her longing for home cooked food often emerged in conversations with her cousins. ‘One day we must start a company called Soul Food. We will make our mother’s food and sell it to the hungry children far away from home,’ is a conversation I remember overhearing often as they discussed their future dreams. And then life happened. 52 Plaastoe! Desember & Januarie 2018-2019
Donna’s dreams dissolved before she could give them wings when her life ended in a tragic cycle accident at the age of twenty four. Years later, when my husband, Blair and I moved from the farm to Steytlerville to make space for our son Ross, we decided to walk this journey for her. (After all you cannot live in Steytlerville and not be busy!)
Armed with recipe books that date back several generations and knowledge of meat that comes from years of living off the land, we gingerly set about recreating. Donna’s idea of heaven. The problem about dreams is that they are often very impractical and ethereal and sometimes just not feasible. Where to start in a country that has so many competitive fast and convenience food outlets? Where would I find Donna’s hungry children? What would I feed them? I wondered. Why would people buy my food if they could make their own? Would it even be profitable, considering the distances from the market and the small profit margins on food? There were so many unanswered questions and so many doubts, but I felt I owed Donna a stout effort before throwing in the towel. After some thought it made sense to utilise the natural resource-meat-from our area and to add value to it by converting it to comforting ready-made meals that could be frozen and reheated for easy use. The hungry children’s mothers, who have no time to make time consuming nutritious meals, would be my customers! Those hungry children also attend university and they have grandparents who live on their own who don’t feel like cooking…! Suddenly I felt inspired and trusted that I would find enough customers to feed. I know from previous experience that transforming inspiration into action can be quite daunting. I also realised that the once spirited body was getting a bit long in the tooth for this. Common sense should have reduced my enthusiasm but the recollection of a dream
unrealised and a challenge unmatched prompted me to trudge ahead. There were several obvious obstacles to overcome. I realised that my market lay beyond the immediate economy. Steytlerville is 180 km from the nearest market. Skilled and trained labour to transform the product from raw to cook is not plentiful. In addition the envisaged product has several limitations. To reach the market it has to be cooked and frozen with a successful defrosting and heating cycle that would not affect the quality of the product or influence its flavour. Plaastoe! Edition 23 53
Although the market is populated by other entrepreneurs with similar visions we hold the advantage that the meat is sourced locally and most of it comes directly from the farm (with kind considerations on price from my son). Adding value to the chain seemed to make economic sense.
‘…Yogurt mom, it’s healthier!’
So, armed with several unanswered questions but a resolute promise to Donna to find and to feed her hungry children, I set about transforming a small outbuilding on our property in Steytlerville into something that resembled a commercial kitchen. I painted it grey and hoped it would inspire my culinary passions!
Karoo food is about using real food. I don’t use premixed spices or concoctions as I believe the meat has its own unique flavour and should only be enhanced by fresh herbs and real spices, creams or yogurts, where applicable.
Buying the equipment for a kitchen and products for an untested market was another free fall into faith. It was the egg and chicken scenario. Without the equipment I couldn’t make the food and with no secure market it was a huge fiscal risk. My friends looked in polite but muted disbelief as the kitchen started taking shape. How to control and manage a 80 L steam pot and what to do with a bowl cutter kept me awake and on my knees for several days. I still see my newly employed chef running out of the kitchen when the 80 L monster released its steam for the first time! But fortune smiled on us as I set about teaching my staff the rudimentary skills of cooking. Initially we started with the recipe possibilities for minced venison, the cheapest available red meat and for the first couple of months; we layered it between pasta, stuffed it into tubes or covered it with white sauce and cheddar. We explored many flavour possibilities including curry, chillies and several up to then slightly foreign spices including cardamom, fenugreek and star aniseed. We were determined to add flavour to our dishes. The mutton I could source from my son was the culled Merino ewes that had done their reproductive best. It suited my concept of slow roasting perfectly since I felt that lamb was too expensive to rework into product and that it should be slightly underdone to be at its culinary best, so it did not suit my product profile anyway. So we set about turning mutton into Indian Curries, Moroccan slow roasts and Karoo casseroles. Not every recipe is suitable for freezing and reheating,so the family had to endure several trials before dishes became a marketable item. Donna, like a cuisine guardian angel, played her role. Every time I had to choose between enriching the sauce with either yogurt or cream, I could hear her whisper 54 Plaastoe! Desember & Januarie 2018-2019
I think I saw her flinch when we had to add 500g of butter to the authentic Indian Butter Chicken recipe. We have since altered the recipe and I think she would have approved!
Calculating costs and working out profits is quite a daunting task and remains a big obstacle when you consider the long distances from the market and the competition from the big corporates. My aim has never been to pursuit the mass market. I do believe that there is a market for people out there who enjoy quality and don’t mind paying a bit extra to get it. I have found that clients will come back after a pleasant experience, but you will struggle to get them around a second time if their first flavour exposure was not good. My two stalwart assistants, Fereda and Marilyn, are an indispensable part of the small successful team. Together we have tried and experienced several flavour combinations and cooking styles, some with very, very strange results! (A word of caution to fellow chefs…don’t trust all the recipes you pick up on the Internet. I’m sure there is evil intent in folk who share their best kept secrets!) Our menu now includes soups, desserts and several meat and chicken dishes in flavours from mild to strong. The meals are all oven ready or cooked and ready for microwaving. They are packaged into three portion sizes. Family size, two-man portions or single helpings. We have several commercial outlets and clients often leave their containers here to be filled with the goodies that can take them through several meals a month. Our services are also popular with mothers who have to feed their independent but hungry and incapable university children! We have reached quite a few hungry children and I hope that this goes some way to fulfilling Donna’s dream. For more info visit our website at : karooflavours@igen.co.za P
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
1,5 kg mutton shanks cut up in smaller portions 5 cardomon seeds 2 black peppercorns 2 bay leaves Twig of fresh rosemary 1 finely chopped onion 350 g raw mushrooms 15 ml oil for browning 250 ml mutton stock 10 ml salt 5 ml mustard 60 ml cake flour Dough topping 250 ml milk 250 ml sunflower oil 2 eggs 430 ml cake flour 20 ml baking powder 2,5 ml salt 1 onion
Brown onions. Season meat with salt and pepper, dust with flour and brown in skillet. Pack meat in saucepan and add all the seasoning. Add the stock and allow to simmer gently for 90 minutes until meat is very tender. Add mushrooms and simmer for another 10 minutes. Taste and season accordingly. To make good gravy, mix cake flour and mustard powder in one cup of milk to make a thick paste and add to the saucepan. Simmer gently until the meat is soft. Dish meat into serving casserole. TOPPING Beat eggs, milk and oil. Add the cake flour and salt. It will be a soft dough mix. Spread over contents in casserole dish. Put onion rings into dough. Bake at 180â °C for about 30 to 45 minutes until the dough is brown and cooked. Plaastoe! Edition 23 55