The longer the land reform process takes, the less successful it will be, says former Zimbabwean Minister of Finance Simba Makoni. He formed part of a discussion panel on policy matters and scenarios at this year’s Grain SA Nampo Harvest Day in Bothaville, South Africa. The discussion was led by…
Cosmas Dumezweni Xaba (50) is a family man with a wife, 7 children and 1 grandchild. He retired from the mines in 2008 to come and farm, growing crops and rearing livestock. He strongly believes in doing things for the well-being of his family. He is a pastor at a…
Phumelele Thembisile Hlongwane is a mother of 6 from Ezibomvini village in the Bergville area of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Province. She is one of about 400 smallholder farmers experimenting with conservation agriculture as part of Grain SA’s Smallholder Farmer Innovation Programme with the Mahlathini Development Foundation. Phumelele says her passion stems…
Syngenta and Grain SA, in partnership with the University of the Free State Business School in South Africa (SA), offers the Grain Academy, a tailored leadership programme to equip young SA farmers with the necessary tools to grow. The academy launched in 2013 and is a platform where commercial grain…
The Farmers Development team of Grain SA held its annual Day of Celebration in Bloemfontein, South Africa. The Day of Celebration, established in 2009, was created to recognise excellence in the field, acknowledge transformation in grain production. The awards included the following: Grain SA Subsistence Farmer of the year, Grain…
According to logistics, South African maize exports are doing well this month. However, it is problematic that there is not enough orders, said Hampie Lourens, Managing Director of South African Bulk Terminals, which handles most of the country’s exports. “The prices are too high to get greater exports and the…
It looks like the fall armyworm (FAW) is now developing an appetite for wheat after already causing serious damage to southern African summer crops earlier this year. The pest (Spodoptera frugiperda) which damaged crops like maize, sweet corn and sorghum was also seen in wheat production areas in Zimbabwe. Grain…
The South African farmers union - Agri SA - has started conversations between industry groups, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, as well as stakeholders like agricultural businesses, banks and insurance companies to establish greater cooperation on development projects. Work sessions started last week with a report on Grain…
Jannie de Villiers, chief executive officer of Grain SA, said the maize price in South Africa will most likely worsen before it shows improvement. “It would require something dramatic like bad weather forecasts, a stronger rand or limitations on the finances of farmers to give it a boost.” He said – according…
Senzeni Zokwana, South African Minster of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries recently told the news agency Reuters that government is considering using a strategic grain reserve as a possible cushion against shortages. He said it is a possibility the inter-ministerial committee should consider. CEO of Grain SA Jannie de Villiers, however,…
South Africa will have to do everything possible to sharpen its biosecurity to prevent Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN), a virus which can destroy whole maize harvests, from crossing its borders. Addressing delegates at the annual Grain SA Congress, Dr Marinda Visser, Grain SA Manager of Research and Grain Policy, said…
