South Africa AGRICULTURE to benefit from EU trade agreement - La AGRICULTURA de Sudáfrica se beneficia de un acuerdo comercial con la UE

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A new trade deal will see improved market access for more than 30 South African agricultural products to the European Union (EU). The deal would also eventually see the phasing out of export subsidies for EU products heading to SA and four other Southern African countries that are, so far, part of the agreement.

A statement by the European Commission said Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, and SA, had ratified the Southern African Development Community – EU Economic Partnership Agreement (SADC-EU EPA). “The EPA takes into account the different levels of development of the partners. It gives Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and Swaziland duty-free, quota-free access to the European market. South Africa will also benefit from enhanced market access, going beyond its existing bilateral arrangement with the EU,” the European Commission said.

Sidwell Medupe, spokesperson for SA’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), said the SADC-EU EPA would give SA preferential access for about 99% of the products exported to the EU, of which 96% would be not be subject to customs duties or quantitative restrictions. SA gains improved EU access for wine, sugar, ethanol, flowers, some dairy products, fresh fruit, canned fruit, fruit juice, and yeast, and also has duty-free access for 150 000t of sugar, while the existing wine quota will increase from 50 million litres to 110 million litres with flexibility on size of the containers. 

A total of 80 000t of ethanol will also have duty-free access to this market, Medupe explained. In addition, he added that the SADC-EU EPA will improve the protection of geographical origin for products such as Rooibos, Honeybush, and Karoo Lamb. “The so-called cumulation of origin will, for example, make it possible to apply discount tariffs on the EU border for fruit harvested in one country of the [SADC] region and [has] then [been] preserved and canned in another,” the European Commission said. The preferential access which the EU currently has to the SA market will be extended to include agricultural products such as wheat, barley, cheese and pork.

Source: Lloyd Phillips (http://www.farmersweekly.co.za)

First commercially-grown BLACK TRUFFLES for KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) - Las primeras TRUFAS NEGRAS cultivadas comercialmente en KwaZulu-Natal (Sudáfrica)

The very first black Périgord truffle grown commercially in KwaZulu-Natal, a 97g specimen found on Max Bastard’s Willowdale Farm in the Kokstad area. Photo: Courtesy of Max Bastard 

There has been much excitement on Max Bastard’s Willowdale Farm near Kokstad in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), following the recent discovery of three black Périgord truffles (Tuber melanosporum). These were the first commercially-grown specimens in KZN.

The first-ever black Périgord truffle to be commercially-grown in South Africa was discovered on a farm near Dullstroom in Mpumalanga in August 2014. This was followed by a similar discovery on a Western Cape farm in August 2015. Bastard’s three truffles were produced in a 20 ha orchard of host trees inoculated with black Périgord truffle spores four-and-a-half years ago.

“Black Périgord truffles are prized for their unique, pungent, earthy aroma, and [are] utilised in the best kitchens and restaurants around the world. They are one of the most expensive culinary ingredients globally, fetching up to US$2,000/Kg (R30,700/Kg),” said Bastard.

Prof Alessandra Zambonelli of the University of Bologna in Italy, told Farmer’s Weekly when the first commercially-grown black truffle was discovered in South Africa, that successful commercial production could be achieved in this country if sufficient host tree orchards were planted. These host trees also needed to be of good quality, and the areas selected for truffle production had to be suitable.
Source: Lloyd Phillips (http://www.farmersweekly.co.za)

El mundo saborea FRUTILLAS originadas en Neuquén (Argentina) - The world enjoys STRAWBERRIES originated in Neuquén (Argentina)

El vivero Plantas del Sur produce plantines que se exportan.

                   

Desde la ciudad de Plottier (Neuquén, Argentina) este año partirán rumbo a todo el país, Brasil, Ecuador, Bolivia y hasta Asia y África unas 27 millones de plantas de frutilla. Para eso, cerca de 80 personas trabajan en plantar, cosechar, elegir y empaquetar esta producción que hoy se ve cercada por los loteos.

El vivero Plantas del Sur funciona desde 1999 en una chacra sobre la calle Candole, en el oeste, con 22 hectáreas de plantación. El trabajo dura todo el año. En octubre se planta, entre mayo y julio se cosecha y en agosto comienza nuevamente el ciclo con la preparación de la tierra. Nicolás del Sel es ingeniero agrónomo y como muchos comenzó a trabajar con vacas, maíz y trigo, hasta que casi por casualidad se topó con las plantas de frutillas.
Hoy cuenta con este vivero y otro en El Maitén, Chubut, desde donde sale la mayoría de las frutillas que se comen en todo el país.

El 4 de abril llegó al vivero la primera cosecha de plantines de Chubut, por lo que la chacra ya se ve colmada de cortadores. Ellos se encargan de elegir cada planta y de colocar unas 250 en cada canasto. La mayoría de los cortadores son bolivianos que viven en esta ciudad y en Senillosa. En cada cosecha llegan hombres y mujeres desde Mendoza y Tucumán.
La empresa tiene colectivos para traer a sus empleados cada día al trabajo. Como son muchas las mujeres, ya hace un tiempo se instaló una guardería para que mientras ellas trabajan, una niñera se encargue de los pequeños.

"Lo importante no es producir, sino vender las plantas. De nada me sirve tener miles de hectáreas si no puedo vender", dijo Del Sel. De la producción del vivero, un 70% se destina al mercado interno y el 30% restante tiene como destino la exportación. La unidad de venta es una caja que contiene unos mil plantines. Cada plantín cuesta $Arg 3,60 (unos USD 0,25). Si la compra es al por mayor en varias cajas, el valor del plantín puede bajar sensiblemente. Cada productor de frutillas saca varios frutos de una planta.

Compradores de todo el país

Los compradores de los plantines son los productores frutilleros. Las principales zonas son Tucumán, Jujuy, Santa Fe y Corrientes, a donde proveen de plantas desde el vivero de El Maitén. Las que se producen en Plottier van hacia Buenos Aires y Mar del Plata.
El grueso de la exportación tiene como destino Brasil, como también Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, República Dominicana, Panamá, y también llegaron a Asia y África.

"Llegamos a exportar hasta casi 9 millones de plantas. Este año, por la crisis de Brasil, las expectativas son malas, no creo que lleguemos a 3 millones", calculó Del Sel.
Las plantas de frutillas no nacen de semillas, sino de pequeñas plantas. Y para estar al día con todos los requisitos para exportar esos primeros plantines madre, los traen de Estados Unidos. "La planta de frutillas se hace en un laboratorio. Son muy caros y sofisticados los procesos, por eso nos conviene traerlas de allá y luego reproducirlas acá", concluyó.

Fuente: Georgina Gonzales (http://www.lmneuquen.com)

Adapting AHIPA in Africa - Adaptando la AHIPA en Africa

The CIP researchers are in Benin for a project designed to introduce ahipa, a highly nutritious root crop, as a promising food staple in drought-prone regions of Central and Western Africa. They are discovering that beyond its potential as a healthy food alternative for people, it may become valuable as livestock feed that not only improves farmers’ diets, but also their bottom line.

Ahipa is the legume root produced by the American yam bean (Pachyrhizus spp.). Shaped like a very large radish, there are two types. The low dry matter one has a crunchy, juicy texture and is usually eaten raw. It is a good source of protein, supplies potassium and vitamins C and K, and has a high water content that makes it easy to digest. There is another high dry matter type which is more suitable for cooking and processing.

“Ahipa is an excellent complement or alternative to other common staples. It offers more nutrients than cassava, and it pairs well with vitamin-A rich orange-fleshed varieties of sweet potato,” says Wolfgang Gruneberg, a CIP breeder and geneticist who leads the ahipa program. Ahipa will grow in dry, marginal conditions. And because the plant fixes nitrogen in the soil, it does not require nitrogen fertilizer. The result is a crop that is inexpensive to produce and well suited to the needs of small farmers as an integral part of a sustainable land-use system.

“But ahipa’s potential as livestock feed or for local processing may bring even greater value added to small-scale farmers,” notes Graham Thiele, an economist and Director of the CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers, and Bananas.

CIP is collaborating with agricultural research institutes in Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Benin, DR Congo, and the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium. They are combining research from Africa, Europe, and Latin America to increase the availability of yam bean collections and breeding lines, identify high-yielding varieties adapted to agro-forestry-based or maize-mixed farming systems, and develop its commercial potential. Impact assessment studies have been integrated, as well, to identify where resources can be used most effectively to maximize benefits and adoption.

What really excites Gruneberg, however, is the prospect of introducing a highly beneficial crop into a new region. “If we see local farmers in Africa adopting ahipa, adapting it to different uses, and benefitting from it, that will be an impressive success, indeed!” he concludes.

Source: http://192.156.137.121:8080/cipotato/press-room/press-releases/adapting-ahipa-in-africa

A year in the lives of smallholder families: Insights from Mozambique, Tanzania, and Pakistan. Un día en la vida de pequeños agricultores familiares

Join CGAP for an event on February 25 to learn and discuss the results of a year-long financial diaries study with smallholder households.

How do the estimated 500 million smallholder households worldwide manage their money and what kind of financial services would better serve this important group?

Until now, very little was known about how financial services could effectively respond to the varied needs of smallholder families around the world. In CGAP's year-long financial diaries study, researchers tracked the financial lives of 270 total smallholder households in Mozambique, Pakistan and Tanzania and came away with unique insights into how these families manage their income, plan for expenses and cope with the unpredictable nature of lives rooted in agriculture.

It is the first time the financial diaries methodology has been used to research the financial lives of smallholders.

Join CGAP on February 25 for an event featuring a panel of experts who will highlight key findings from the Smallholder Diaries and discuss opportunities to design and improve financial solutions for smallholder households.

Speakers:

Jamie Anderson, Financial Sector Specialist, CGAP
Daryl Collins, Managing Director, Bankable Frontier Associates
Wajiha Ahmed, Senior Associate, Bankable Frontier Associates
Henriqueta Hunguana, CEO, ICC Mozambique
Mwombeki Baregu, Head of Agriculture and Rural Finance, Financial Sector Deepening Trust Tanzania
Raheel Rasool, Deputy Director, Development Finance Support Department, State Bank of Pakistan

Event Details:
Date: February 25, 2016
Time: 10 AM - 12 PM EST
Location: World Bank "J" Building
Address: 701 18th Street, NW
Room: 1-050
Washington, DC

For more information visit, http://www.cgap.org/events/year-lives-smallholder-families

- See more at: http://agriprofocus.com/post/56b6321ca93f2577bb3a886e#sthash.19hyYBqf.dpuf

Growing CITRUS and GRAPES at the same farm - Produciendo CITRUS y UVAS en la misma finca

Photo source: http://www.freshfruitportal.com

The farm Matroozefontein has the most westerly citrus orchards and table grape vineyards in Southern Africa. In this arid area, farming under nets has proved a success. Italian consortium Unifrutti has been farming in Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape since 1998. In 2004, after considering whether to produce citrus for export to the US, it bought the 2200 ha farm a short distance inland from Elands Bay. Here, the company grows citrus and table grapes on 151 ha. The area under cultivation is limited by the availability of irrigation water.

Sandveld citrus production cycle

Simon Baty, farm manager and in charge of the citrus operation, recalls that the navels which were planted initially were unsuccessful in the arid Sandveld. “But we found that lemons, Clementines, mandarins, Midnight Valencias and Late Valencias did well. So we are in the process of topping many of the citrus orchards to some of these varieties. Ultimately, we plan to have 170ha of citrus – we’re now at 104 ha.” Citrus blooms later on the West Coast – in four to six weeks in September and October – than further north. The first fruit set is in mid-October, depending on the cultivar and its age. The second drop is in late November, continuing into early December. Fruit picking starts at the end of April, depending on the cultivar. “We start picking Clementines from the end of April until mid-June,” explains Simon. “Then we pick our early navels and move across to lemons from the last week of June until mid-July. After this we start picking late navels until mid-August. We also pick mandarins from the end of July until late August. As soon as we finish picking mandarins we start on our Midnight Valencias followed by the Late Valencia varieties. By mid-September, picking has been completed.”

Soil quality and fertilisation

The Sandveld has poor sandy soil that is low in nutrients and almost no carbon or humus. On Matroozefontein, they grow citrus mainly on the poorer and grapes on the better soil. “Oak leaf is one of our better soils, but the citrus is on the poorer-quality sand,” says Simon. “We feed these crops hydroponically and provide liquid fertiliser through the drip daily from August to the end of January.” All micro-sprinkler and drip-irrigated blocks receive a carbon-based product, Carbotech from Patensie, through the irrigation system. Composed of humic acid, fulvic acid and amino acids, it stimulates root growth and enhances bacterial and fungal soil micro-organisms in the soil. In addition, chemical fertiliser such as 2:3:4, LAN and potassium sulphate are applied monthly from August to January in the micro-irrigated blocks.

“Because nothing in the soil holds the fertiliser, we’re careful not to over-irrigate and leach it from the soil,” explains Simon. He stopped applying compost and pre-enriched chicken litter fertiliser to the older micro-irrigated citrus orchards a few years ago as this enhanced boron toxicity. He corrected the problem by changing the fertiliser programme. “Farming in sand is tricky. We can quickly correct a mistake, but sand has very low buffering capacity. So, if we make a mistake, the results are immediately evident, enabling us to manage fertiliser and irrigation precisely.

“The climate here is good for citrus but table grapes do even better. For this reason, we’re phasing out unproductive navel citrus varieties and expanding table grape production,” he explains. During picking season, approximately 120 workers are active in the citrus orchards. The yield depends on variables including the cultivar, age of the block and whether or not it is under netting.

Table grapes production cycle

Hein Koegelenberg, in charge of the table grape production, says that the vineyards cover 47 ha, all under shade netting. This will eventually be expanded to 80 ha. Currently, Red Globe covers 17 ha, Sugra One (white seedless) 8 ha, Crimson Seedless 5,2 ha, Autumn Royal 2,6 ha and Dan Ben Hannah (black-seeded) 2,6 ha. Young vines – Tawny Seedless, Sweet Celebration and Arra 15 – together contribute another 11 ha. Pruning starts early in July and is completed by mid-August. The grapes then grow until unwanted shoots are removed from the first week of September. Later in September and into October, surplus bunches are removed to leave 28 bunches per vine. Bunch preparation starts in early November and the grapes are picked from a week before Christmas until mid-February. Favourable conditions under shade netting enable a short growing season. About 120 workers are employed for bunch preparation and 165 for packing.

Climate for colour

This area of the semi-desert Sandveld is ideal for grapes due to its Mediterranean climate. It has a temperature range of 45°C during the day and 13°C at night in summer. In the evenings, the cooler air moves in from the sea, giving the grapes a good and uniform colour without enhancement. “In fact, our red varieties are sometimes almost too dark. Red Globe is ready for harvest for market from week one in January,” he explains.

In the Sandveld, areas with better soil ironically have poorer-quality water. On Matroozefontein, the poor-quality white sand has good-quality irrigation water, which is used to irrigate the vineyards. During hot spells, they are irrigated daily, while fertiliser is applied monthly from August to February.

Shade net success

In 2002, Simon attended a conference in Spain where he was inspired by a Moroccan delegate who successfully grew citrus under shade net and obtaining a higher yield while using 40% less water. “Our conditions here are similar: very dry and arid semi-desert, with an average annual rainfall of 200 mm to 250 mm, and this year just 130 mm,” he says. “When I arrived here in 2005, the first table grape crop was a disaster. We’re situated in a bird conservancy and the only large table grape grower within a 40km radius of the farm, so it was a shock to see half of our grapes destroyed by birds. “One of our former directors, Francesco de Nadia, has experience in using nets in Chile, so he suggested that we experimentally enclose a few blocks under shade netting. We netted a block of table grapes next to an unnetted control block of the same age, rootstock and growing conditions. Our production under the net was double that of the control block. The payback period on the netting was just over a year at the time. We immediately started expanding the area of table grapes under netting,” Simon explains.

Net advantages – grapes

Vines grow vigorously under the nets, while using less fertiliser and water. “Nets reduce the pest problem and wastage as the vines suffer little or no damage from sun, birds or wind. We get larger and more uniformly coloured berries. We need far less labour because the bunches need less preparation. When grapes get to the packhouse, they can be packed more quickly. As we produce more cartons with the same number of people, productivity is 20% to 50% higher than that of other growers in the area,” he explains.

Nets change the micro-climate beneath them

“The higher humidity leads to better shoot elongation, reducing the fertiliser need by 10% to 15%. Annual water use is reduced to about 5000 m³/ha on a mature block. The norm in the Berg River area is 6000 m³/ha to 6500 m³/ha, so a 20% to 30% saving on water is realistic under nets.” Grapes under nets also suffer fewer pest problems, he says. Snails, however, can become a factor, as birds cannot get in to eat them. Celebrex and monoxide are used as bait to kill them. “The main advantages are the saving on labour, growth beyond expectation due to reduced climatic stress, and reduced damage to the bunches. Within 18 months of planting grapes, depending on the variety, we pick and pack 1000 to 2000 export cartons per hectare (4,5 kg/carton) and the following year, 3000 to 4000 cartons. Under nets, we achieve at 30 months, the production that normally takes four years.”

Simon says that netting table grapes is profitable, whatever the cultivar. “We couldn’t produce table grapes here without nets. It took us three or four years to cover all the vineyards and we’ll recover our costs within four to five years.” Grapes do best under Crystal 20% net, which provides 8% shade. Netting also extends the productive life of a block of grapes. They come with an eight-year guarantee but, if well-maintained and properly tensioned for wind, will last for 15 years. Wind causes rubbing against the poles and wires, leading to premature wear.

Matroozefontein’s annual yield of grapes under netting (export cartons at 4,5kg and bunches 600g to 800g as packed) is 6000 cartons/ha for Red Globe, 6500 cartons/ha for Dan Ben Hannah, 5000 cartons/ha for Crimson Seedless, 4200 cartons/ha for Sugra One and 4500 cartons/ha for Autumn Royal. The rest of the vineyards are under still young vines. The farm exports grapes to the Middle East, UK, Europe and Russia.

Net advantages – citrus

In citrus, nets also reduce the leaf and fruit temperatures. “Because of our success with grapes, we cover a 2ha block of Lane Late navels on Carrizo rootstock with different colours of net,” Simon says. “Each colour transmits a unique wavelength of light which affects plant growth differently. After four to five months, the trees under netting were already larger and more luxuriant than those under the control block outside. When we analysed leaf samples after seven months, all the elements were in balance whereas the trees outside were low in nitrogen, calcium and some trace elements,” he explains. Measuring the leaf and fruit temperatures with an infrared thermometer showed an 8°C lower temperature under the nets on hot days (over 35°C). “This lower temperature enables leaves to transpire naturally and the tree to take up the necessary nutrients over a longer period during the day. The nets significantly reduced climatic stress.”

The ambient air temperature may be 35°C but the sand temperature can be 55°C or higher in summer, with heat also being radiated up from the sand. Under nets, sunburn on fruit was reduced from 10% to less than 1%. Additionally, fruit size is larger under nets, and yield up to 50% higher. The fruit count – number in a carton – peaked at 72 outside and 64 under the nets. Wind damage was also lower under the nets. The pest pressure under the net is higher as it excludes natural parasitoids. Some pests are more prolific than others – mealybug and thrips are more of a problem but bollworm and false codling moth are not a problem. Citrus in the Sandveld does best under 18% to 20% shade netting. Citrus is exported to the Middle East, Europe, US, Canada and Russia.

Costs (1 US dollar = R 15,87)

Simon admits that the cost of netting is significant. “When we started, it was R120000/ha for table grapes. Now it’s R150000/ha to R170000/ha for grapes and about R200000/ha for citrus. As for citrus in the Sandveld, the latter is only economically justifiable in the case of high-paying cultivars.” Citrus costs about R150000/ha to establish and netting costs a further R200000/ha. Simon adds that nets seem to work better in a Mediterranean climate of hot dry summers and mild wet winters. So, while they work well in the Sandveld, he advises citrus growers in other areas to conduct their own trials first.

Source: Jay Ferreira (http://farmersweekly.co.za)

Semblance of Ethiopian HORTICULTURAL sector, its great potential and opportunities - Semblanza del sector HORTÍCOLA etíope, su gran potencial y oportunidades

Photo source: https://www.kissfromtheworld.com

Ethiopia has strong potential and competitive edge in agriculture in general and horticulture in particular. The country has 12 major river basins with an annual runoff volume of 122 billion meter cubic of water and an estimated 2,6 – 6,5 billion meter cubic of ground water potential. It is often referred as the water tower of Africa. It has 4 million hectare irrigable land. The horticulture sector has shown rapid growth over the last five years, with cumulative growth of 22%. According to data from Central Statistical Authority (CSA) of Ethiopia fresh fruits and vegetables production in 2013 was estimated to be over 5 million MT.

The Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) of Ethiopia estimated that annual domestic market of horticultural products around US $ 900 Million. Smallholder farmers are the principal suppliers of fruits and vegetables, but the commercial horticultural production focusing on high value products is increasing fast. Fruits and vegetables production in the smallholders sector is mainly rain fed, while most commercial farmers use irrigation. According to a report by Ministry of Agriculture (2009), a total of close 0,8 million hectares land (including out grower schemes) has been identified for commercial investment in horticulture of which less than 10% is developed.

Fruits and vegetables are strategic export commodities for Ethiopia. Over the last five years the country earned a total of US $ 170 million. Important export markets for fruits and vegetables are the surrounding countries as Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan. The main products to these countries were non-graded fresh fruit and vegetables such as onion, tomato, potato, banana, mango and avocado. High value graded prepacked vegetables and fresh herbs account for only 11% of the total export. Most of these products are exported to the United Kingdom (UK), United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Netherlands. During the last five years Ethiopia imported a total of over 148.000 MT processed horticultural products; import has shown a cumulative average growth of 33%. Tomato juice (35%), mixed juice (18%) and pineapple juice (18%) are the top three imported juices to Ethiopia.

The Oromia Regional State produced 42% of the total national horticultural products in 2013. The diverse agroecology, large surface and ground water potential and highly fertile land makes Oromia suitable for almost any type of fruit and vegetable products. Currently, the leading vegetable products in the region are onion, potato, tomato, cabbage and garlic. However production of high valued vegetables such as lettuce, eggplant, cherries, strawberry, fresh beans and peas is increasing with an increasing investment by international and domestic companies. The fruits produced in the region include citrus, grapes, mango, papaya, banana, guava and avocado. Apple is a recent introduction in the highlands of North Shewa. 

Oromia region horticulture matrix (Source: http://www.rvo.nl)

Source: Netherlands Enterprise Agency (http://www.rvo.nl/file/investmentguideoromiapdf)

Entomólogos descubren nuevas especies de MOSCA DE LA FRUTA - Entomologists discover new species of FRUIT FLY

Acanthiophilus minor (Foto Agencia de Noticias SINC)

Un equipo de investigadores de la Universidad de Tel Aviv, Israel, descubrió tres nuevas especies de mosca de la fruta, pertenecientes al género Acanthiophilus. Estos insectos habitan en África, Europa y Asia, y aunque algunos son un buen mecanismo de control contra el crecimiento excesivo de maleza, otros suponen una plaga seria que daña cultivos y ocasiona graves pérdidas económicas. En el estudio -publicado en Annals of the Entomological Society of America– se identifican tres especies: A. minor, A. summissus y A. unicus. Los científicos se centraron en este grupo de moscas para identificar su filogenia, es decir, las relaciones de parentesco con los distintos seres vivos, informa la agencia.

“Este descubrimiento es parte de un proyecto más grande: una revisión de Acanthiophilus y el género de la mosca de la fruta Tephritomyia“, afirma Elizabeth Morgulis, investigadora del departamento de Zoología de la Universidad de Tel Aviv (Israel) y coautora del trabajo. “Cuando comenzamos nuestra investigación, la hipótesis era que Acanthiophilus y Tephritomyia formaban un grupo monofilético. Algunas de las especies que fueron asignadas en un primer momento a Acanthiophilus en realidad pertenecían a otros géneros y descubrimos tres especies no descritas de este tipo de moscas de la fruta”, explicó la científica.

Los siguientes pasos del estudio según Morgulis, serían un análisis cladístico a gran escala y otro filogenético molecular que incluya al género y a otros relacionados. De acuerdo a lo informado, el objetivo de la investigación es obtener un mayor conocimiento respecto a este grupo de moscas para llegar a comprenderlo como un todo, así como verificar el estatus de las plantas huéspedes e identificar otras especies de este género ya que el equipo considera que aún quedan moscas sin descubrir.

Fuente: www.portalfruticola.com

A robust trellis reduces labour and improves quality in APPLES - Un sistema de conducción robusto reduce la mano de obra y mejora la calidad en MANZANAS

Photo source: http://farmersweekly.co.za

In the past, apple farmers were able to get away with paying less attention to the type of trellis systems they erected in orchards. However, orchards that follow the new trend of higher density in which trees are planted as close as 0,75m apart in the row, are less forgiving.

This is according to Willie Kotze, research and development manager at Dutoit Group. Kotze recently spoke at the Hortgro Science Symposium near Franschhoek on methods to extend the lifespan of a trellis system in a high-density apple orchard. Up till fairly recently, the main function of a trellis has been to support young trees in medium-density plantings. After a few years, the trees become less dependent on support.

The trellises help the trees to reach their optimal height faster and prevent the development of basal dominance (vigorous side-shoots near the base). Trees with basal dominance require considerable inputs to boost leader growth and in some cases these trees never reach their full production potential. According to Kotze, medium-density trees planted in a trellis system can produce up to 30% more fruit during the first five years than trees without support.

High-density planting and crop weight
With high-density planting, the trellis system has to support growth and be strong enough to support the crop weight during the productive life of the tree. Kotze explains that these trees develop trunks and branches that are too thin to support the crop, resulting in the need for a trellis system. In addition, trees planted on dwarfing rootstocks, such as M9, M26 and MM106, produce root systems that are not as strongly anchored as those of other more traditional rootstocks.

Long rows need strong anchors
As the end-post and anchors combination have to carry all the weight, Kotze advises farmers to consider soil type and row length when selecting a trellis system. In sandy soil, base plates should be larger than those used in heavier soil, and the longer the row, the stronger the anchor should be. Provision should also be made for wind impact, as the wind force can double the load on a system, according to a study by Cornell University in the US.

In South Africa, the box and slant brace are the two most popular anchoring systems. Farmers also use a slant and tieback combination. The box system is more expensive, because three poles are used in the anchor section, whereas only two are used in the slant brace, explains Kotze. While both worked well in the past with more vigorous rootstocks, Kotze feels that tie-backs will be better able to carry the weight in a high-density system.

“On less vigorous rootstocks, you cannot have trellises supporting trees halfway, as strain will damage the trees. They simply cannot support themselves.” It is calculated that trees will reach a height of between 80% and 100% of the distance between the rows in the orchard, which in this case, varies between 3,5m to 4m.

Searching for the right angle
According to research undertaken by New Mexico State University in the US, the strongest system is one in which the end-post leans away from the anchor wire at a 60° angle. In this way, both end-post and anchor wire carry the force. “If the pole is planted too upright, the load will become unequally distributed and this could result in the collapse of an anchor,” Kotze explains.

The longer the post, the greater the anchor pole’s diameter needs to be.“The anchor post should preferably have a diameter of more than 100mm. The pole should be sunk into the ground between 0,8m and 1m deep. By increasing the planting by a third, resistance to overturning is almost doubled,” he says.

Previously, in-line posts (used inside the rows) had to support only the weight of young trees in medium-density plantings. In high-density systems they also serve as a counterweight. The poles should therefore not be planted further than 12m apart, and the distance between them should decrease as the rows become longer.

The diameter of the poles should be between 80mm and 100mm. Higher trees need thicker posts and upgrading the poles by a single class could increase stress resistance by as much as 40%, according to Kotze. Planting the poles deeper into the ground will also reduce the chances of their leaning sideways. The impact of the wind should also be taken into account when choosing poles and planning where to plant them.

Correct wire application
The total breaking strength of the wires used in the trellis – whether four or five – has to be equal to the breaking strength of the tie-back wires connecting the anchor to the end-poles. Various types of wire are available; Kotze recommends high tensile steel wire that does not stretch too easily. The yield strength (the point at which the wire will not return to its original length), and breaking strength of the wire need to be considered before an informed decision can be made.

For 2mm diameter wire, the range is 350kg and 500kg, depending on the type of wire used. As a rule of thumb, the wire should be tensioned to about 50% of the yield strength during construction. This will help to keep the wire from sagging once the crop is established.

The wire connected to the end-post should be taut, and not simply tied around the post; this will not provide any control over the tension required. Kotze emphasises that the leader support should not carry any weight, but only guide leader growth. It should be able to resist the wind and not slide along the trellis wire.

Staple requirements
Staples are used to affix the wire to the poles and end-poles. Most growers use the smallest staples they can find to save costs. However, this could lead to problems: the staples could be ripped out of the poles when the load becomes too heavy, causing the wires to sag. mIn addition, the staples should not be driven too deeply into a pole, as this will damage the galvanising of the wires and compromise the life-expectancy of the entire system. It could also cause stress points on the wire.
“Use a slash-cut points; it gives you a better grip when inserting the staples,” advises Kotze.

The staples should be placed at a 45° angle to split the grain. If you place them in a straight line, they will create a groove along the grain of the pole and pull out more easily.” The wire should also be installed on the upwind side of an in-line post to prevent the wind from pushing the wire away from the post. It is not a good idea to have a wire running at the top of the posts, as staples have very little grip on the pole-ends and the wires could cut into the posts.

Money well spent – if the job is well done
Kotze advises producers to budget properly when planning a trellis system of this nature, as it can increase the cost of establishing a new orchard by R60 000/ha to R70 000/ ha, which is about three times that of a conventional trellis system. However, he feels that improved quality, higher yield and reduced labour costs once the orchard is well-established, could make up for this, provided the job is done properly.

Source: Glenneis Kriel (http://farmersweekly.co.za)

BATATAS: Naturalmente transgénicas - SWEET POTATOES: Naturally transgenic

Foto de: http://www.todoagro.com.ar

Un grupo de científicos del Centro Internacional de la Papa (CIP, por sus siglas en inglés), una de las mayores entidades de mundo dedicadas a la investigación sobre tubérculos, con sede en Lima, Perú, encontró genes provenientes de bacterias del suelo insertados en el genoma de 291 variedades de batatas cultivadas en América del Norte y Sur, Europa, Indonesia, China y África.

El hallazgo, según publicó la FAUBA, significaría que las batatas que consumimos a diario serían transgénicas desde incluso mucho antes de que la humanidad comenzara a alimentarse con esta especie. El trabajo fue publicado en la revista científica Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, de Estados Unidos. Allí se explica que los genes encontrados en las batatas fueron originados en dos bacterias del suelo (Agrobacterium tumefaciens y A. rizogenes) que, curiosamente, en la actualidad son utilizadas regularmente como vectores biológicos por los biotecnólogos para obtener plantas transgénicas en condiciones controladas.

“La evolución de las especies fue planteada por Charles Darwin como una selección natural. En ese contexto, la transgénesis siempre pareció algo contranatura y, por lo tanto, peligroso. No obstante, ahora sabemos que la evolución es mediada por procesos complejos a nivel molecular. El hallazgo de fragmentos de ADN bacterianos insertados en el genoma de algunos vegetales da cuenta de lo dinámico del proceso de intercambio de material genético entre distintos organismos”, sostuvo Raúl Lavado, profesor titular consulto de la Facultad de Agronomía de la UBA (FAUBA), al sitio de divulgación http://sobrelatierra.agro.uba.ar/

Los autores de la publicación consideran que ese ADN de origen bacteriano ayudó en el proceso de domesticación de la batata, debido a que codifica para enzimas que participan de la síntesis de hormonas vegetales. Gracias a estas hormonas, las raíces fueron seleccionadas para el consumo humano, quizás por su mayor tamaño y vigor. De acuerdo al trabajo del CIP, Lavado explicó que “cuando las poblaciones ancestrales de América comenzaron a cultivar batata habrían notado ventajas en esas raíces y seleccionaron las plantas que tenían los genes bacterianos. Desde ese momento comenzó la difusión del cultivo transgénico a través de la Polinesia y el sudeste de Asia, y después hacia el resto del mundo”.

Fernando Carrari, docente de la cátedra de Genética de la FAUBA e investigador del INTA y del Conicet, explicó a SLT que, al igual que ocurre con los transgenes, los genes encontrados en las batatas son funcionales: “Es decir que se expresan igual que cualquier otro gen de la misma planta. Además, parte de ellos fueron encontrados sólo en las batatas cultivadas y no en sus parientes silvestres”. “Estas revelaciones sugieren que, quienes consumimos batatas, venimos comiendo transgénicas naturales mucho antes de que el hombre haya obtenido la primer planta genéticamente modificada en forma artificial”, agregó Gustavo Schrauf, profesor a cargo de Genética de la FAUBA.

Por otra parte, Carrari sostuvo que “estos hallazgos no resultan extraños porque se sabe que bacterias del género Agrobacterium pueden transferir parte de su ADN a células vegetales de distintas especies de cultivos. A su vez, otros microorganismos también interactúan con las células vegetales a partir del intercambio de material genético. Por esto, sería esperable que a partir del conocimiento de los genomas completos de un gran número de seres vivos, comencemos a develar procesos y mecanismos de intercambio de ADN que hasta el momento parecen controversiales”, concluyó.

Fuente: http://www.todoagro.com.ar

Yield improvement of CASSAVA in Malawi - Mejoran el rendimiento de la MANDIOCA (YUCA) en Malawi

Photo: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/90/aa/5b/90aa5bff06ad3228124659c2a2b9c51a.jpg

In Malawi (Africa), increasing human population and low productivity of cassava (Manihot esculenta), the second most important food crop after maize, necessitate the intensification of agronomic options for cassava production. Leo Mathias and Vernon H. Kabambe, with Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, conducted a study to evaluate the effects of inorganic fertilizer and cattle manure on cassava growth and yield in Central Malawi. 

The sweet variety Mbundumali with 9-15 months maturity and potential yield of 25 t/ha was used. From the results, tuber fresh yield was significantly increased by application of both cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer, while there was no significant manure x inorganic fertilizer interaction. 

Tuber fresh yield was maximum at 27.6 t/ha with application of cattle manure at 5 t ha-1, however increasing the rate of cattle manure to 10 tha-1 did not increase the tuber yield further. Fresh tuber yield increased from 22.8 to 29.2 t ha-1 with inorganic fertilizer application. Yield without fertility amendments was 21 t ha-1, suggesting that appropriate amendments may raise yields above potential. There were also significant effects of inorganic fertilizer on branches per plant, tubers per plant and tuber length, while manure had no effect on these variables.

Full report: http://www.academicjournals.org/journal/AJPS/article-abstract/55B5C1C53409

Source: http://www.academicjournals.org/journal/AJPS 

Combating FRESH AGRIFOOD waste in sub-Saharan Africa - Combatiendo el desperdicio de AGROALIMENTOS FRESCOS en África subsahariana

"Though the mangos have come directly from the farms where they were grown, many of them are bruised. The damage is almost all a result of how the fruit was transported: packed as tightly as possible into thin bags and crammed into trucks that offer no padding as they race over Tanzania's bumpy rural roads"

Photo: africaunchained.blogspot.com

At the bustling Kilombero wholesale produce market in the town of Arusha, Tanzania, traders sort hundreds of pounds of mangos that have just been unloaded from trucks. Traders separate the mangos they'll have to discard or, if they're lucky, sell at a discount to buyers who may be able to turn them into juice. A sprawling, three-foot-high mound of rejected mangos grows by the minute. Brown and black spots speckle the fruits' green skin, orange flesh oozing out through cracks. 

Like much of sub-Saharan Africa, Tanzania produces all kinds of food for local consumption as well as export. Yet here, in the part of the world that can arguably least afford to waste food, a good portion of these crops are lost. Much of the loss happens before the food can be eaten, during the so-called "post-harvest" phase between harvest and the point of sale or consumption. The problem is that the equipment and methods that many small-scale farmers use to process and store their crops are inadequate, so months after the harvest, tons of corn might be infested with insects or contaminated with toxic mold. More perishable crops like fruits and vegetables may become inedible in a matter of days. Long a neglected aspect of the agricultural system in developing countries, this waste stream of food is starting to attract attention from global agriculture organizations and financial institutions, offering hope that the losses can be reduced, and with them rates of rural hunger and malnutrition. 

Food waste in Africa and other developing nations is an entirely different problem than it is in developed regions. In developing regions, often the biggest chunk of food loss — more than 40 percent — occurs during the post-harvest phase, according to a 2011 U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report. But in developed regions, the biggest chunk — again more than 40 percent — occurs at the retail and consumer levels. 

Across sub-Saharan Africa, more than a third of fruits, vegetables, roots, and tubers are lost by the time they are processed or packaged, according to the FAO report, the most recent comprehensive estimate available. More precise estimates vary from year to year and from country to country. In Kenya, pests destroy up to 30 percent of all maize harvested — a total loss of about 162 million tons, according to the government-run Kenya Agricultural Research Institute. Ghana, meanwhile, loses up to 50 % of its main crops of vegetables, fruits, cereals, roots, and tubers, said Joe Oteng-Adjei, the country's Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, according to the news service GhanaWeb. 

The food waste problem has been neglected for so long that there's no long-term data to show whether these figures have changed over time. In fact, the FAO and other organizations have acknowledged that even existing estimates are not particularly reliable, because the measurement methods are haphazard at best. What's clear is that food in sub-Saharan Africa is being wasted on a large scale, and any progress in reducing that waste should benefit the region — and even the global food supply — significantly. A World Bank report, also issued in 2011, stated that even a 1 percent reduction in post-harvest losses could lead to annual economic gains of $40 million, much of it going directly to farmers. 

The waste is an economic loss, but it is also a loss of precious nutrition and calories. The World Bank report estimated that the value of annual losses, $4 billion, exceeds the total value of food aid sent to sub-Saharan Africa in the decade up to 2008. Even as international efforts to reduce hunger in the region have increased, most of the dollars spent have focused on boosting crop yields, despite the lack of means for storing extra crops. "More production is not going to be able to fill that gap that we're worried about to feed the world in the future. What we have to do is reduce losses," said Lisa Kitinoja, founder of the Oregon-based, nonprofit Postharvest Education Foundation. 

That is slowly starting to happen. The release of the two 2011 reports by international institutions as influential as the World Bank and FAO served as an indication of the growing interest in solving this problem — and also as a rallying cry that motivated other organizations to get involved. Agriculture research organizations across Africa, including several members of the respected global research consortium CGIAR, have started focusing on ways to reduce crop losses. The Seattle-based Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the New York-based Rockefeller Foundation have funded initiatives to study and reduce food waste in developing countries, as have organizations in Europe and elsewhere. 

Just outside Arusha, a women's group is learning to make and can a variety of jams that they can sell in nearby markets: mango and guava, but also more experimental flavors like banana-ginger and even an onion marmalade. It's a sharp learning curve for them. To be able to sell commercially, they have to learn about health and sanitation (for a food-safety certification) in addition to perfecting their jam recipes. On a recent Saturday afternoon, a batch of the banana-ginger jam stewed on a freestanding gas burner in a nondescript church-owned building. The women boiled and sterilized jars as black clouds of bees swarmed the room. Lesson learned: close the windows before making banana jam. 

Ultimately, the women hope to preserve more of their crops to eat throughout the year, and earn a bit of income in the process. The training they received from a local post-harvest consultant is just the kind of thing a growing number of organizations working with rural communities to reduce food waste intends to do. The Postharvest Education Foundation, for example, works with farmers and other agricultural workers around the world to identify projects that can help them make a better living by preserving more of their crops. 

Because people are accustomed to losing so much of their harvest, they often need some kind of inspiration, or motivation, before they even consider trying to reduce waste. For example, the group making jam had seen that another group of women making jam across town was able to sell to the local upscale supermarket. The potential for such a lucrative market made them eager to try it for themselves. "Farmers harvest and they don't store. They want to market and sell and get cash straight away," said Ngoni Nenguwo, post-harvest specialist at the Arusha office of the World Vegetable Center, or AVRDC, an international agricultural-research nonprofit that trained the jam-making women. "It just never seemed an option to preserve better. Waste is just a part of agriculture."  

Faraji Msechu, who farms a small plot a few hours to the south of Arusha, said he never thought about trying to reduce the amount of corn he lost to poor storage. That changed when an organization reached out to him to participate in research on storage gear that could improve upon the polypropylene bags he and most other farmers stored their corn in. "I never had that thinking. I just used the polypropylene bags to store maize, and it was business as usual," he said. As important as the need to transform old habits is the need to improve the storage and processing equipment available in sub-Saharan Africa. There is a quickly-growing array of tools, from forced-air cooling rooms to solar dryers, that can help farmers and processors preserve their harvest in the absence of the grain elevators, refrigerators, and freezers that developed countries rely on so heavily. 

AVRDC has a department devoted to post-harvest research and operates a training center in Arusha to demonstrate equipment for local farmers. One promising example on offer is plastic crates for transportation. AVRDC research has shown that switching from wood-slat to plastic crates can reduce the percentage of tomatoes lost during transport from 53 to 22. Because the plastic crates are smoother and have more even walls, the tomatoes inside don't get scratched, squeezed, or smashed as easily as they do in the wooden ones. Even so, the crates are a tough sell. They are much more expensive than the wooden crates, so they must be shipped back to the farmer for reuse, whereas the wooden crates are used once then broken down for, say, firewood at the end of the journey. 

Compatible Technology International, a Minnesota-based nonprofit, has designed and tested several products to reduce crop losses in various African countries in recent years. The organization recently introduced equipment for processing millet in Senegal that it says captures more than 90 percent of the grain — up from roughly half using traditional methods — while also nearly eliminating contaminants like dirt and debris. But equipment alone isn't the solution, said executive director Alexandra Spieldoch. Also essential is leadership and financial training to help farmers adopt the equipment —something the organization tries to achieve through partnerships with local groups and government agencies. 

Other researchers in Tanzania, Kenya, and a few other countries are studying the potential of plant materials to serve as pesticides during crop storage. If they prove successful, the plant materials may save farmers money while also eliminating the need for potentially harmful synthetic chemicals. 
Efforts like these are all so new that it remains unclear which are likely to be the most effective or easily adopted. What is clear is that in countries like Tanzania, where malnutrition and hunger are as persistent as ever, every ounce of wasted food could have provided beneficial calories for someone. 

In February, during a training course in Arusha for agriculture workers learning to teach farmers better crop storage and processing methods, Kitinoja focused part of a morning on emerging opportunities for post-harvest work. There is a lot of potential throughout sub-Saharan Africa right now, not only for reducing the amount of food that gets wasted, but also for people to make careers out of doing so, she said. "I've been working on this for 30 years," she said. "Three years ago, I couldn't have made this presentation. No one was talking about postharvest." 

Source:Rachel Cernansky (http://news.mongabay.com)

Marruecos juega fuerte como competidor entre los países productores de ARÁNDANO en el segmento abril-junio - Morocco plays hard as a competitor among BLUEBERRY-producing countries in the segment April-June

Los arándanos están causando furor en Marruecos, donde los productores lo están plantando agresivamente. Pero para alejarse de las caídas de precios, necesitarán evitar una cosecha pesada entre abril y junio.

Arándanos/Archivo/Shutterstock.com

El país del norte de África es el último miembro de la Organización Internacional del Arándano (International Blueberry Organization-IBO), entidad que realizará su cumbre anual en Coffs Harbour, Australia, del 7 al 9 de septiembre.

Los productores marroquíes han notado el potencial lucrativo de los arándanos en Europa, sin embargo, tendrán que evitar saturar el mercado para obtener buenos precios.

Dos miembros de la delegación marroquí del IBO ven una gran promesa en el potencial de la industria, pero advirtieron de las implicancias de sembrar demasiadas variedades con cosechas concentradas entre abril y junio.

“Marruecos es un país donde la plantación dearándanos es cada vez mayor, pero lo que es problemático es que también está aumentando mucho en España y la producción se concentra a partir de mediados de abril hasta finales de mayo”, dijo el presidente de S.A.T. Royal José Gandia, cuya compañía cultiva el fruto en ambos países.

“En este período hay un peak y estamos un poco preocupados de si el mercado va a responder a esos grandes aumentos de la superficie plantada”, comentó. “La cuestión es encontrar el equilibrio entre el aumento del consumo y no tener plantaciones excesivas”, añadió. El presidente de African Blue, Avi Weizman, hizo eco de los comentarios de Gandia, poniendo énfasis en que el sector de arándanos marroquí está tomando fuerza. “Algunas personas están plantando agresivamente y con variedades que no están haciendo ninguna diferencia en el mercado; la única diferencia que estas variedades podrían hacer es que continúan disminuyendo los precios en el mercado cuando España tiene grandes volúmenes”, dijo Weizman.

“En realidad muchas de las personas que están plantando no tienen los materiales adecuados para hacerlo, pero así es como están actuando a raíz de lo que han escuchado y lo que está sucediendo en nuestra zona”, comentó. African Blue utiliza variedades de la australiana Costa Group, que posee el 49% de la compañía; el resto pertenece a Weizman, mientras que la irlandesa Total Produce tiene una participación del 10%. “Tenemos acceso a esas variedades y tenemos una filial plantándolas. Esto es diferente porque estamos empezando muy temprano y estamos teniendo una buena parte del mercado al comienzo”, dijo.

“Tenemos variedades que este año empezamos a cosechar en enero y tuvimos una gran cosecha en marzo y abril”, detalló. El ejecutivo dijo que African Blue tiene alrededor de 300 hectáreas de arándanos plantados en Marruecos de las cuales 200 hectáreas están en producción. Asimismo, cree que el volumen total de arándanos del país se duplicará en los próximos dos a tres años.

Efectos del embargo ruso

Gandia indicó que el embargo ruso sobre la fruta cultivada en la Unión Europea es preocupante para la producción europea de verano que va desde finales de junio a septiembre. “Rusia era un mercado incipiente en cultivo de arándanos y fundamentalmente era suministrado por productores de arándanos polacos que tenían una presencia masiva allí”, dijo. “Para el consumo de Rusia, Polonia ofreció el fruto a precios que eran muy razonables y en cantidades adecuadas”, detalló. “El hecho de que esta posibilidad de exportación de los países de Europa del Este a Rusia ya no existe, dificultará el cultivo de arándanos en Rusia, lo que reducirá mucho el consumo”, añadió. En el lado positivo, mientras que países como Polonia y España ya no pueden enviar sus arándanos a Rusia, Marruecos sí puede. “Marruecos también puede exportar a otros países fuera de la comunidad de la Unión Europea, como Turquía, y en general la tasa de consumo en Europa está aumentando”, señaló Gandia.

Mejor oferta gracias a la colaboración

Gandia dijo que el IBO ofrece un foro atractivo para conocer el estado de las plantaciones de arándanos y el comercio en todo el mundo, además de fortalecer lazos con productores extranjeros. “Como estamos posicionados en los supermercados europeos, en la temporada de septiembre hasta mediados de enero -cuando no tenemos producción propia- colaboramos con Chile, Argentina, y más recientemente con Perú, que cada vez tienen una mayor producción. No podemos cubrir la temporada sin ellos”, aseveró. “Todo lo que ordena la oferta y fomenta el conocimiento de la oferta y la demanda, es importante. Estamos orientados hacia el mercado europeo, pero el mercado europeo se ve afectado en ese periodo por el Hemisferio Sur”, añadió. Y agregó que “no conozco la industria australiana muy bien en términos de producción de su temporada. No sabía que Australia estaba produciendo arándanos todo el año tampoco”.

Fuente: www.portalfruticola.com

Good point: Can the FRESH PRODUCE markets survive? - Buen punto: Pueden sobrevivir las ferias FRUTIHORTÍCOLAS minoristas?

Small municipal markets are not supported by their local councils, and unless some serious ‘repair work’ is done they will continue down the slippery slope to oblivion.

 

Fresh produce market in Durban (http://opencityprojects.com)

 

In the 1940s, there were about 135 fresh produce markets scattered around South Africa. Almost every dorp had a market.

With improved roads, farmers and buyers could travel further afield to reach the larger urban markets, which offered more variety.

Today, there are only 24 markets in the country, some small and other very large. But the practice of bypassing the smaller markets and focusing on the larger ones continues apace. Another challenge faced by local fresh produce markets is that supermarkets and other major buyers tend to buy as much of their produce as possible directly from farmers.

No simple answer

Despite this, markets still reflected a turnover of almost R14 billion in their last financial year. But given the state of modern fresh produce marketing, the question is, can the smaller markets survive?

There is no simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. Some of the smaller municipal markets clearly do not have a bright future. In general, they are not supported by their local councils, and unless some serious ‘repair work’ is done they will continue down the slippery slope to oblivion.

On the other hand, there are one or two privately owned markets that are surviving and even growing. Some, like the George Market in the south-western Cape, are strategically located and should flourish in the years ahead. The recent launch of two regional markets in Limpopo – one near Polokwane and one at Mooketsi – injects another dynamic into the marketing mix. Both are doing well and look set to go from strength to strength.

Going full circle?

Can this model be repeated successfully elsewhere? And if so, does that mean the wheel is turning full circle and we’re going back to the heydays of 70 years ago? It’s unlikely that we’ll reach 135 markets again, but we might see a clutch of these regional markets opening in strategic areas.

Markets have been with mankind since the dawn of time and I have no doubt they will be around for many years yet, but we must expect them to change as circumstances dictate.

Source:Mike Cordes ( http://www.farmersweekly.co.za) and http://www.freshplaza.com

 

Alta tecnología al rescate de pequeños agricultores en África - High technology to rescue small farmers in Africa

La agricultura es uno de los sectores que más personas emplea en África austral y también constituye un pilar para muchas de sus economías. Pero las áreas rurales, donde se sustenta un modo de vida basado en la actividad agropecuaria para la mayoría de los casi 270 millones de habitantes de la región, suelen ser frágiles.

Dube AgriZone cuenta con 16 hectáreas de invernaderos, la mayor extensión cultivada bajo un techo de vidrio y con un clima controlado de África. Crédito: FAO

Los países deben hacer frente a varios desafíos en materia de desarrollo. El sector está dominado por el cultivo de la tierra, aunque la cría de animales de granja y otras prácticas agrícolas aumentan paulatinamente. La inseguridad alimentaria aguda y crónica sigue siendo uno de los mayores peligros, y África austral debe hacer frente a enormes desafíos para tratar de transformar y comercializar sus sistemas agrícolas basados en la pequeña agricultura mediante su acelerada integración a los mercados competitivos en un mundo globalizado.

Ese y otros desafíos que afronta el sector fueron el centro del debate de una reunión de tres días que tuvo lugar del 10 al 12 de este mes en la ciudad sudafricana de Durban y que reunió a autoridades y expertos de la Organización para la Alimentación y la Agricultura (FAO). El encuentro terminó con un llamado a priorizar la asociación amplia y a construir sinergias para ofrecer a los países un apoyo efectivo y eficiente para la actividad agrícola.

El coordinador para África austral de la FAO, David Phiri, reiteró la importancia de que los distintos sectores trabajen juntos, aprovechando el encuentro anual que procura ofrecer una plataforma de debate e intercambio de información sobre buenas prácticas y el desarrollo general de los programas de la agencia en la región. “Lograr la seguridad alimentaria y nutricional en África austral es un gran desafío, demasiado grande para que lo afronte solo cualquier gobierno o la FAO”, señaló. “Así como los gobiernos de los países en desarrollo y ricos deben involucrarse, también deben hacerlo la sociedad civil, el sector privado y las agencias internacionales”. “Por encima de todo, es necesario empoderar a la gente misma para que gestione su propio desarrollo”, subrayó.

Como ejemplo de las mejores prácticas que analizó el foro, los participantes realizaron una visita de campo a las instalaciones de Dube AgriZone, una iniciativa de desarrollo agrícola de alta tecnología, promovida por el gobierno de la provincia sudafricana de KwaZulu-Natal. El proyecto procura estimular el crecimiento de los productos perecederos y lograr una mejor producción agrícola, de calidad consistente, todo el año, así como mejorar la gestión de enfermedades y pestes. Las instalaciones, ubicadas estratégicamente 30 kilómetros al norte de esta ciudad costera, actualmente cuentan con 16 hectáreas de invernaderos, lo que la convierte en la mayor extensión cultivada bajo un techo de vidrio y con un clima controlado en África.

El principal objetivo es la producción de verduras y flores que duran poco en los puestos de venta y que requieren un transporte inmediato tras la cosecha para su distribución, tanto en el mercado interno como en el externo. Además de los invernaderos, el recinto ofrece almacenes para empaquetar después de la cosecha, un centro de empaquetado y distribución, un vivero y el Dube AgriLab, un laboratorio complejo para el cultivo de tejido vegetal.

En Dube AgriZone se procura proteger el ambiente mediante prácticas “verdes” para disminuir su impacto ambiental como la cosecha de agua de lluvia, el uso de energía solar, la gestión de residuos in-situ y el cultivo de plantas autóctonas para los esfuerzos de rehabilitación. Además, ofrece a los cultivadores la posibilidad de lograr una mejor cosecha, una calidad consistente, gestión de enfermedades y pestes y una producción a lo largo de todo el año con la perspectiva de mejorar la sostenibilidad y mejorar la competitividad agrícola.

“Nunca hubiera podido montar un lugar así y producir a la escala actual de no haber sido por la innovadora AgriZone”, destacó Derrik Baird, propietario de Qutom Farms, que actualmente produce 150.000 pepinos en el invernadero arrendado a AgriZone. “El centro de alta tecnología con varias instalaciones necesarias, como el transporte y el flete, nos permitió concentrarnos en la producción de pepinos a un costo mucho menor que en los otros lugares que habíamos probado”, explicó.

La asociación entre el gobierno provincial y el sector privado que permitió esta iniciativa recibió elogios como un ejemplo exitoso del que se pueden extraer varias lecciones para trasladar a otros lugares de África austral. “Podemos aprender muchas cosas de esto y quizá una de las más importantes sea la de formar alianzas y asociaciones”, destacó Tobias Takavarasha, representante de la FAO en Sudáfrica. “Tenemos que crear capacidades sobre lo que ya funciona, adoptando y adaptando las tecnologías a la situación local y luego expandéndolas a lo largo y ancho para lograr mejores resultados”, añadió.
Fuente: Kwame Buist (http://mundoagropecuario.com)

African youths prepared for horticulture - Jóvenes africanos preparados para la horticultura

“The programme seeks to create jobs for youths who are coming out of university and are currently jobless, but who are willing to learn about agriculture and become entrepreneurs of the future,” says Dr Victor Manyong’, IITA regional director for East Africa.

The Africa Development Bank (AfDB) will fund a 16 million dollar project in Kenya that seeks to attract graduates from all over Africa into horticulture and agribusiness. The project will be run by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The Universities of Nairobi (UON), Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Organisation (KALRO) and Makueni County in the Eastern part of the country will work with the Makueni Youth Agripreneurs (MYA) project to stimulate horticulture and agri-business. Similar projects have already taken off in DR Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Nigeria. According  to IITA director general, Dr Nteranya Sanginga, it's the objective to roll it out all over Africa.
“The project aims to inspire the youth to create their own jobs to a level where they can make 700 US Dollars per month within three years,” says Sanginga. “But it is not just about jobs, it's about the making of youth led institutions that grow into profit making companies.” Studies show that youths between the ages of 15 and 24 represent about 64 per cent of the population in Africa, where most of them are jobless. IITA officials say the programme will be using science based solutions to initiate businesses. “We believe that the rate of success will be high and we expect them to reach very profitable ventures, because this programme is using the best available knowledge from science to develop the youth into the business of  'agriprenuer',” adds Manyong’.
The project will also tap into technologies that ensure a higher production and are  resistant to pests and diseases. “My expectation is that this project will show the youth that farming is not a dirty occupation but one that uses science based intelligence to grow as an agri entrepreneur,” says a beneficiary.

Source : Frans van den Houdt. Photo: Catolicsun.org. http://www.hortibiz.com