SA agribusiness confidence shoots to six-year high
The latest results from the quarterly Agribusiness Confidence Index are a reflection of the general sense of optimism in the farming sector following a year of favourable production conditions for grain producers in the summer and winter rainfall regions.
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Building vineyard biodiversity to combat climate emergency
“Climate change is such a big issue, more extreme events are happening more regularly,” says Stuart Proud, viticulturalist and winemaker at Thousand Candles Winery, in Australia’s Yarra Valley. “After the recent summer of bushfires in Australia, I hope people realise how bad things could get.”
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Solution to water shortages: Reuse of sewage for groundwater fed irrigation
At the same time, wastewater treatment plants discharge large volumes of water that diminish the quality of the limited freshwater resources.
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Nature-friendly farming reduces costs for potato farmer
Managing plant health and strict water monitoring have paved the way to success for AL 3 Boerdery in Dendron, Limpopo. CT van der Merwe spoke to Lindi Botha about the production practices that keep his farming business profitable.
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World’s biggest drip irrigation project in India
Built at INR 3.81 billion (USD $ 52 million), the project will provide irrigation services to 24,000 hectares (60,000 acres) of drought-hit Hungund in the Ramthal Marola area.
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New irrigation systems: making do with less
With dwindling water supplies and a greater emphasis on efficient use of resources, irrigation technology is evolving to make do with less. While the initial capital costs of the latest equipment and software may be high, its increased efficiency, higher yield and reduced water usage cannot be beaten. Lindi Botha spoke to experts about the latest advances in irrigation.
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R100m Covid-19 grant funding set aside for smallholder farmers
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has set aside R100m for a Covid-19 grant scheme, which has been made available through Land Bank to smallholder farmers who have loans to pay, and experience financial distress resulting from the impact of Covid-19 and related interventions, such as the effects of the protracted Lockdown regulations, on their businesses.
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Latest research: Macadamias need less water than you think!
With a looming water crisis and an expanding macadamia industry, the obvious question arises: where will the water for the new orchards come from? A recent groundbreaking study shows that farmers have been grossly over-irrigating and that dryland macadamias in high-rainfall areas actually provide better yields. Lindi Botha spoke to Theunis and Armand Smit, specialists in irrigation and optimal water usage.
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COVID-19 ‘perfect storm’ for African food security
COVID-19’s arrival in Africa has exacerbated pre-existing major challenges to the continent’s food production and nutrition security. These include droughts, floods, extreme temperatures, outbreaks of crop and livestock pests and diseases, and generally low economic growth. This was according to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, during her presentation to…
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Water rights trading ‘discriminatory’, rules high court
Full bench rules that the sale or trading of water rights discriminates against those who can’t afford it
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