Category: CROPS

Sclerotinia white mold has a wide range of host crops: canola, soya beans, sunflowers, beans, cabbage, lettuces, chicory, carrots, and so on.Each attack is an opportunity for the disease to rebuild a stock of sclerotia in infected crop residues and to replenish the soil with inoculum. Understanding the Sclerotinia Life Cycle Sclerotinia originates from the…

On his farm Alpat, near Keimoes in the Northern Cape, Albertus van der Merwe’s raisin vineyards are a study in control and precision. The vines are uniform and perfectly balanced, cover crops between the rows look combed into place, and the soil is clean, even and weed-free. Every element reflects deliberate decision-making, where nothing is…

According to figures published by the National Agricultural Marketing Council in 2023, global tomato production exceeded 180 million tons, with China dominating output at more than 70 million tons. India, Türkiye and the US follow as major producers, reflecting the tomato’s importance as both a fresh-market product and a processed ingredient. Globally, tomatoes are traded…

Hydroponic farming is all about finding the sweet spot within the matrix of factors that influence plant growth – temperature, light, water, and nutrition. High-end greenhouses are designed to manipulate all these variables according to the plant’s needs. Leafy green and vegetable producer Cultura Fresh, however, runs its hydroponic operation outdoors, with only shade netting…

Cameroonian company Vision Global and its American partner plan to invest XAF500 billion in the construction of two organic and chemical fertilizer manufacturing plants.  According to Acting Minister of Industry Fuh Calistus Gentry (photo), who disclosed the information before the parliament on June 30, 2023, the plants will be built in Limbé (Southwest Cameroon) and…

On discovering a problem with their crop, many farmers panic and call in a consultant. This can produce good results, but sometimes even a professional cannot identify the problem and ends up offering a calculated guess. A client of mine once transplanted a land of cabbages, but they failed to grow. We examined the roots…

This comes after the Department of Home Affairs extended the validity of exemption permits from the end of June until 31 December 2023, due an influx of up to 1 500 visa and waiver applications a day from affected Zimbabweans since the start of June. Christo van der Rheede, CEO of Agri SA, said the organisation…

African countries have made remarkable investments to keep their economies afloat and protect the lives and livelihoods of their people over the past year, according to Albert G. Zeufack, World Bank chief economist for Africa. “Ambitious reforms that support job creation strengthened equitable growth. The protection of the vulnerable and contribution to environmental sustainability will…

ntroduction: Potatoes are a versatile crop that are grown worldwide and form an essential part of the human diet. They are a staple food that can be consumed in various forms such as mashed potatoes, French fries, potato chips, or baked potatoes. Potato farming can be a profitable venture if the right agronomic practices are followed.…

The internationally known JOSKIN company proposes a wide range of products, from slurry tankers and muck spreaders to tipping trailers. Among those last, the Trans-PALM model is particularly popular in Africa. Let’s see why. The Trans-PALM are monocoque agricultural tipping trailers specialised in the transport of goods loaded by mini-loaders or by hand. Their low…