Zambian Minister of Agriculture Dora Siliya said K1.7 billion will be released next week for the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), which this year runs on a full electronic voucher (e-voucher) system. “By the end of November, government will release the money to pay farmers under the e-voucher system,” Siliya…
Seasonal outlooks show that South African farmers can expect a midsummer dry spell, despite an expected weak La Niña phenomenon. Southern Africa can still expect a weak La Niña phenomenon this summer. This usually means that most of the summer rainfall regions can expect above average rainfall, says prof. Willem Landman…
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…
This week crop farmer Michris Janse van Rensburg from South Africa shows African farmers how he made a plan to take the back-breaking labour out of top dressing fertiliser while getting the measurement right at the same time. Michris designed a hand-held fertiliser applicator for small-scale commercial farmers calibrated to…
Monoculture cropping, by its nature, exposes communities and makes them vulnerable to the dire consequences of crop failure. Drought, floods and disease can cause crop wipe-out and spell bankruptcy and hunger for farmers and their families and reduced food security for the country. As one Zambian agriculturalist puts it: “Monoculture…
Poor pasture management and overgrazing can seriously damage a farm’s profit margins. Here are some tips to ensure optimal pasture and veld production. Good management is essential to improve the quality and quantity of pastures. But before you can decide on a strategy, it’s essential to know what your resources…
Once the soil and beds have been prepared, you can begin sowing seeds and planting seedlings. Organic grower Jane Griffiths shares her tips and techniques. A vegetable farmer’s livelihood depends on a good harvest, so it’s important to ensure seeds and seedlings have the best possible chance of survival. Planting…
Cowpea is really a key crop in the dry (arid) regions of central, south and western Africa, extending from the northern areas of South Africa through the Savannah and into the Sahel zone. It does well in the tropics and subtropics and is part of the diet of millions of…
Properly dried onions have a good storage life and the robust onion is easy to transport over long distances. The grower can hold his produce while he (or she) waits for a flat market to pick up. SOIL AND CLIMATE Tough and adaptable, onions grow in most soils. But for…
Justine Mukota wrote to us: Good afternoon, please send info on conservation farming with no-till. Will appreciate your feedback. Dear Justine It is not possible to give a comprehensive guide on conservation agriculture and minimum tillage in one article, but here are some pointers and web-sites that will get you started.…
Smallholder farmers have warned of a poor harvest in the coming season, lamenting what they have described as the ‘disastrous’ management and distribution of this year’s Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). “Farmers have been left stranded without seed or fertiliser,” said Dr Frank Kayule, president of the National Union for…
