Deep in the bowels of an icy mountain on an island above the Arctic Circle between Norway and the North Pole lies a resource of vital importance for the future of humankind. It’s not coal, oil or precious minerals, but seeds. Millions of these tiny brown specks, from more than 930,000 varieties of food crops, are stored in the Global Seed Vault on Spitsbergen, part of … [Read more...]
ZNFU: “Zero rate agriculture needed to make Zambia breadbasket”
“The only way we can achieve the status of being a breadbasket is to zero rate agriculture” says Mr Jervis Zimba, President of the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU), the owners of the upcoming Agritech Expo Zambia, in Chisamba from 27-29 April. In the run-up to the fourth edition of the massive open air farming exhibition in the heart of Zambia’s farming hub, Mr Zimba … [Read more...]
Rooftop garden plants seeds of success
Working with the Johannesburg Housing Company and other partners, the JDA has planted a useful garden on the roof of a building in the inner city. Here, herbal remedies are grown alongside vegetables. While food security is on the agenda internationally, in its National Development Plan, or Vision 2030, the South African government has made clear its intention to alleviate … [Read more...]
Farms could slash pesticide use without losses, research reveals
Virtually all farms could significantly cut their pesticide use while still producing as much food, according to a major new study. The research also shows chemical treatments could be cut without affecting farm profits on over three-quarters of farms. The scientists said that many farmers wanted to reduce pesticide use, partly due to concerns for their own health. But … [Read more...]
South Africa’s “aspirational goal” on adaptation
South Africa’s goal on adaptation is to build resilience and adaptive capacity to respond to climate change risk and vulnerability; whilst providing guidance on the integration of climate change responses into current and future development objectives; through optimising policy, planning, and implementation coherence of climate change adaptation actions. The draft National … [Read more...]
Stop destroying the Philippi Horticulture Area
The Philippi Horticulture Area (PHA), the unique 3,000ha farmlands located within the city of Cape Town and in the heart of the Cape Flats has been the city’s breadbasket since 1885. The City of Cape Town is processing developments of 50,000 houses, 2 shopping centres, a private prison, private school. This will delete the farmlands and destroy the Cape Flats … [Read more...]
SA still spraying their staple food with glyphosate
South Africa's staple food is maize; most of it is genetically modified and sprayed with the weed killer glyphosate. There is an ongoing dispute over whether or not the pesticide is healthy for people and the planet. Maize is South Africa's staple food and some people eat it up to three times a day. According to the South African Department of Science and Technology, 86 … [Read more...]
Green bank safeguarding the future
What is our green bank and valued partner up to in their quest to "futureproof society?" Did you know the Nedbank Fair Share 2030 programme includes supporting farmers, housing, renewable energy, resilient communities, education, water infrastructure, food security, sustainable agriculture and much more. With an eagle eye on greenhouse gas emissions they have been carbon … [Read more...]
Stellies farm workers turn carbon credits into cash
How do carbon credits benefit workers on an organic farm and the environment? Twenty-seven employees of the Spier wine estate, in Stellenbosch, have, through a climate change mitigation initiative, shared half the R204 000 paid out from carbon credits – derived from practicing regenerative farming on a section of the organically certified wine farm. An average of R4 000 … [Read more...]
Three councils ‘drought disasters’ in Western Cape
A state of disaster has been declared in three Western Cape municipalities as South Africa continues to battle its worst drought since 1992. The affected municipalities are the Central Karoo, Eden and the West Coast. The drought has also led to a state of disaster being declared in the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, the Northern Cape and the … [Read more...]
Win a floating edible island and fight the drought
Water shortage? How to use what you have and thrive. List as many benefits as possible to this home-made system and stand a chance to win one floating island, worth R1200. PS the floating islands are vegetated with edible plants. Food. Make your list in the comment space below this story. Entries close 31 October. … [Read more...]
SA farmers must embrace the new, water-constrained normal
As the impact of an extended period of drought across much of South Africa and the Southern African Region continues to be felt, the realisation is setting in amongst both commercial and small-scale farmers that a water-constrained environment is no longer a short-term challenge; but could in fact become their new normal. While this realisation is also dawning amongst … [Read more...]
Thousands of bees wiped out by crop sprayer in Tulbagh
A bee farmer in Tulbagh is counting the cost after thousands of his bees were wiped out when an aerial crop sprayer sprayed nearby canola fields with pesticide. Residents of the Cape Winelands town are angry about the potential health impacts on them and also the noise caused by the planes flying low over residential areas for up to 11 hours a day for the past three … [Read more...]
