Soil tillage has a huge influence on crop production, and is one of the most expensive input costs. Decisions about proper methods cannot, therefore, be hit or miss. A crop farmer’s decision about the correct tillage method to use should be based on information that leads to objectives – not…
Mechanisation costs money, which means it is part of a farmer’s production and overhead outlay, and that makes managing it very important. Mechanical resources include all the trucks, bakkies, tractors and equipment a farmer uses in his farming operations (they do not include vehicles or equipment for private use). And just…
Farming machinery is a significant financial investment. These guidelines will help you buy the best harvester for your operation. If you are in the business of harvesting grain, you will know that a harvester is an expensive piece of equipment. When you consider that a farmer’s livelihood depends on the…
It is both difficult and unwise to cut corners if you have to plant high-quality seed and make sure they receive proper irrigation. But mechanisation costs are often unnecessarily high and looking at these again could result in lower input costs and higher profits. The profit in a cash crop…
Farmers who protect their crops against weeds and pests by using a tractor-driven boom sprayer should ensure that it is set to spray the exact volume of chemical needed per hectare. Each season the availability and correct application of agricultural chemicals make the difference between crop failure and a profitable…
The effective use of pesticides and herbicides is important for good yields in any crop, and could save you money and/or increase yields. To understand the methodology of chemical spraying one has to look at the principles of the spraying technique. HOW DROPLETS ARE FORMED Droplets are formed when a…
For a crop farmer, planting is probably the most important management activity. This article provides guidelines on how to choose a good planter. Let’s say you want to plant 40 000 maize plants per hectare at a depth of 50 mm and would like to fertilise it with granular 2:3:2…
Before buying a tractor, you should first decide what it is going to be used for and whether you should rather consider purchasing a second-hand tractor. Thorough planning is the first step when buying expensive equipment and implements. Most commercial farmers need a tractor, but for many a newcomer, a…
Any new farmer should consider a number of aspects before deciding on a mechanisation package. Expert advice should be sought on soil conditions and the operations needed to plant a successful crop in that specific area. If a farmer knows which operations are needed on his land, he then knows…
Ghanaian mechanised agricultural equipment supplier AFGRI Ghana Limited says it has established 10 model farms to teach local farmers the correct ways of using mechanised equipment to maximise on crop yields per hectare. The company, which is a leading supplier of John Deere farm equipment in Ghana, also plans to…
The 2018 budget will especially benefit Zambian crop, livestock and fish farmers, said Zambian Finance Minister Felix Mutati. Mutati delivered his K71.6 billion budget on Friday, highlighting the improvement of agriculture market information systems and the development of functional markets. The focus will be on sustaining high production and enhancing…
A new project at the AGCO Future Farm in Zambia is going to assess the needs of smallholder farmers and agro-dealers to provide them profitable solutions. AGCO, a global provider of agricultural solutions to farmers, is leading an 18 month-long initiative for the Alliance for Green Revolution for Africa (AGRA),…
Proactive machine maintenance works better than dealing with breakdowns. Farm machinery and equipment is expensive so it’s worth looking around for decent second hand implements. Many second-hand tractors and pickup vehicles (bakkies) have given their owners years of reliable service. If you have a weakness for new machines and tools,…
The Zambian livestock business Agriserve Agro will now also provide mechanisation services to farmers, thanks to a deal signed with the Czech Republic during the recent Agritech Expo. According to Renier van Vuuren, managing director of Agriserve Agro, his company and several Czech machinery manufacturers sealed a deal for the…
Musika – a non-profit company that works to stimulate private sector investment in the smallholder market – has been a key partner of the Agritech Expo Zambia, since it started in 2014. We asked its Director of Strategy – Mr. Rob Munro – a few questions. How has Agritech Expo…
We spoke to Mr. Jakkie van Heerden of Trelleborg Tyres about the right choice of tyre and the habit of filling it with water. The purpose for which the tractor is used should also determine your choice of tyre. Jakkie says it’s no good putting cheap rubber on an expensive…
Tyres have become some of the most expensive and sophisticated pieces of equipment on a farm. Yet people are still quite uninformed about how tyre pressure has an effect on the bottom line of the business. You know how it goes: that ripper should have been running yesterday. When you…
