Farmers across South Africa are losing livestock due to the current drought which may force government to import maize and wheat into the country, Agriculture Minister Senzeni Zokwana said on Friday. “Stats SA notes that the sector contracted by 17 percent quarter on quarter largely due to drought conditions in 2015. The weather forecast (is) that significant rainfall may … [Read more...]
US agribusiness giant buys major stake in SA firm
US agribusiness giants are taking advantage of the weak rand and depressed farm economy in SA to expand their footprint through tie-ups with local companies with the expertise and customer networks they need to penetrate promising regional markets. Land O’Lakes, a Fortune 500 member-owned co-operative based in Minnesota, posting $15bn in sales last year, is the latest to … [Read more...]
Banks for bean counters
In the early 1970s Asia’s rice farmers faced ruin. The brown planthopper, an insect up till then found mostly in Japan, began to appear across the region. It fed on young plants and transmitted grassy stunt virus, causing crops to shrivel and brown. As it swept through Asia’s paddy fields, yields crashed. By the end of the decade it had caused damage costing over $300m—more … [Read more...]
If you ate today, thank a farmer
‘If you ate today, thank a farmer.’ It goes without saying that it doesn’t matter who you are, we all need farmers to survive. We may have different eating habits and preferences; some are vegans, whilst others cannot do without their steak. On the other hand some need their organic tea, whilst others have to have their daily dose of caffeine. The clothes on your back made … [Read more...]
Southern African leaders meet as region faces food crisis
The leaders of 15 southern African countries gathered last week for an annual summit as the region grapples with serious food shortages that have left a record number of people needing aid. A toxic mix of erratic rains, abnormally high temperatures and floods have wreaked havoc on farming, writing off the bulk of this year’s crop. An estimated 27.4-million people out of … [Read more...]
Food prices to rise amid SA’s worst drought in 20 years
A devastating drought in key agricultural provinces of South Africa has left farms in ruin and affected crop production leading to fears of an imminent hike in food prices and inflation. The drought, the worst in more than 20 years, has pushed most productive farms in Mpumalanga, Free State and North West into despair and forced farmers there to cut back on jobs. Industry … [Read more...]
Autism study shows links to pesticides and other toxic chemicals
The cause of autism is still unknown, but we are definitely closer to figuring it out. A new study published in the journalPLOS Computational Biology, from researchers at the University of Chicago revealed that autism and intellectual disability (ID) rates are linked with exposure to harmful environmental factors during congenital development. “Essentially what happens is … [Read more...]
One last chance to thwart the great African seed grab
Nineteen African nations met this week in Arusha, Tanzania, to finalise a 'plant protection' protocol that would open up the continent's seeds to corporate interests, taking away farmers' rights to grow, improve, sell and exchange their traditional seeds, while allowing commercial breeders to make free use of the biodiversity they embody, to sell them back to farmers in … [Read more...]
Visionary new African network for green women leaders launched
Sunday was Women's Day and here is good news regarding women leadership in the environmental field: Women ministers and leaders from Africa, meeting at the Africa Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) launched a new network, that aims at enhancing representation and involvement of women in decision-making in areas related to the environment and sustainable … [Read more...]
Spray drift in Eastern Cape: fifty shades of green
During the week people outside of our community realized that the SAPS were spraying cannabis crops using helicopters. Marijuana, dagga, weed, pot, ganja, Mary Jane, call it what you want but the ‘green grass’ were suddenly not so green anymore. The entire incident managed to achieve what weed allegedly didn’t do – it energized and aggravated everyone all at once. This is … [Read more...]
Half of all children autistic by 2050 from Roundup?
Senior researcher, Dr. Stephanie Seneff, from MIT suspects that glyphosate toxicity from the overuse of Monsanto's pesticide Roundup on our food supply will result in half of the children population having autism by the year 2050. If you’re not aware of Monsanto and their dirty dealings by now, it’s time to catch up. Not only is the big-agricultural company responsible for … [Read more...]
Humble spud poised to launch world food revolution
In a small army field-hut Dr Arjen de Vos shows off his irrigation machine with pride. Pipes lead out to several acres of muddy field, where only a few stragglers from the autumn harvest of potatoes, salads, carrots and onions are left. The tubes are lined with copper to stop corrosion because – in a move that defies everything we think we know about farming – de Vos is … [Read more...]
New study proves: Livestock is safer from predators with guardian animals
Guardian animals offer far better livestock protection than lethal methods, according to new research. They’re more effective, need less work, and are cheaper. A formal study of eleven South African livestock farms has revealed that lethal methods to combat livestock losses to predators are not only less practical but more costly than non-lethal methods. The report, by … [Read more...]
