Large maize harvests combined with large carry-over stock could mean South African grain farmers will have to turn to planting more groundnuts in the coming season. Higher yields and prices in the previous season can now stimulate local markets to explore historic markets and exploit new opportunities. Data from GrainSA…
The Ministry of Agriculture removed 20 000 so-called ghost farmers from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to eliminate malpractices. “Most of the people who benefit from FISP are not farmers, and this exercise is to ensure the programme benefits the intended smallholder farmers,” said Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya. Siliya…
The Zambian government has broadened the number of crops to be covered under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to accelerate crop diversification. Agricultural minister Dora Siliya said the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) will buy all crops produced by farmers under FISP. “FISP will now support about 10 crops to…
Soya production soared by 41 000 tons and groundnut production increased by 20 000 tons in 2016. According to the Indaba Agriculture Policy Institute (IAPRI) the rise in production is the result of crop diversification driven by government and other agriculture stakeholders. “Improving the performance of soya beans and groundnuts…
Simon Malambo, a local headman in the Southern Province's Monze area, runs his 25ha farm on traditional land in close co-operation with his wife and children. He believes in collective decision-making and follows an open book policy with the farm's finances. "If anything happens to me today, my daughter, my…
Since he started to practice conservation farming 11 years ago, Mr. Sinoya Phiri of Kafue’s Shimabala region, has gone from a struggling maize farmer to a profitable businessman. He could afford to build a comfortable family home complete with electricity on his 3,5ha farm and he doesn’t struggle to pay school…
