Consider digital agriculture

‰”‹…—Ž–—”‡ ”‹‰”ƒ‡…‹–•‘ƒ”–‹‘‡ȋ ‡”ƒȌŽ OOD ‹–•ƒ™Ž ƒƒ–‘‰‹”‹‰‹…–›‘——Ž…–Š‘—ƒ”•‡‹ƒ†ƒ†‡˜”‹†•‹‡–‰†‘Ǧ ‹ƒ‹•‰˜”‘‹Ǥ…Ž˜—‡Ž –—Š”‡‡›‘–‘—–ƒŠ‰ƒ”‘†–‘Ž‹—”Ǧ „‹Žƒ–‡•ƒ”ƒ‹†Ž –Š‡‹‡•–†‹—‰”‹™‰‹–Šƒ –—Š”‡‡ ƒ‹„‹—•–Ž‡ƒ”‘‹ ˆ Ž ‡‰”‹…‡—Ž–Ǧ ƒ„—œ•ƒ—Ǥ

’’‘”– Ž‘…ƒŽ ƒ‰Ǧ ”‹…—Ž–—”‡ǡ •–”‡‰–Š‡ ’•ƒ›‡•‘†–’‡†Ž‡‹˜‘•‡—”ƒ–•‹‘†ˆ›ˆ Š’Ž‡‘‘Ž˜…’ƒ‡”Ž–ˆ›‘‘„˜†›‡ •‘—”…‹‰ ˆ‘‘† ˆ‘” •…Š‘‘Ž Š‘‡Ž†ƒŽ‡•” ˆ”ƒ‘”‡Ž”‘•…Ǥ ƒŽ •ƒŽŽǦ ‹…ƒŽ–—‹ …†‹•—‰’–’Š‘‡ ”’–”‘” ‡˜…‹•‡‹‹‘˜‡‘†ˆǡ ‡•›“•—–‹‡’•‡ȋ––ǡ‘ˆ‘†‘‡†–‡…”‘–‹”‘‡Ž ƒ™ˆ‘‰‡‘”Ž†‹Ž…ƒ•—ƒ•Ž–ˆˆ‡—‘–””›‡…Ǥ•Ž–‹ƒ†ƒ–ƒ‡”†••Ȍǡƒƒ”•– ”‡“—‹”‡ ƒ Ž‘– ‘ˆ •—’’‘”– ƒˆ‘‰” ‹–ˆŠ‘‡‘†–”•ƒ›•–ˆ‡‘”•Ǥƒ–‹‘ ‘ˆ •‹•ǡ—ƒ‡……–‘”–†Š‹‡‰…Ž–‹‘ƒƒ–‡„—…œ”ƒ‹Ǧǡ

•—…”Šƒ‹ƒ• ˆ‘ƒ”‹œ…‘‡ƒ•—†„’‡–ƒ‹‘• –Š‡ …‘—–”› Šƒ• ‡š’‡”‹Ǧ

ˆ‡‘Ž…Ž‘‡™† ‡•†‡˜„‡›”‡ŠŠ‡‡ƒƒ˜–› ™”ƒ‹˜‡••ǡ

’ƒ””‡‘††•–—Š–‹…‡Ž–Žƒ‹‘„‹‡Ǥ‹‹•‰–‘‹‹’…‘”‡”–ƒ‡•†‡ ƒˆ”‘†–‡–Š…‡Š‘‹”…‰ƒŽ‰‹•—ƒ‹–†‹‘ƒ…‹‡•

—– –Š‡ ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ ’Žƒ …Š”‹ƒ–Ž‹Ž…‡ƒŽ‰‹‡•ƒˆ†ƒ†…”‡‡†•Ǥ•‹‰ –Š‡ Dz†—‡…–‡ǯdz• Ž‡ƒƒ—–™…ŠŠ‡ƒ†– ‹™‡ʹ’Ͳͳ”‘ͻǦǡ ‡”•Ž—‹•ǡ •–Š‡ƒŽ…ŽŠ‘‘—Ž†‡–”›ˆƒ•”–‹ŽǦŽ ’ƒ‹”‘†•—–…‘–‹‘’”‘Ǥ

‘–‡ „‡––‡” ‰”‘—’ ‘ˆ ›˜‘‹•—‹–‰‡†ˆƒ”ƒˆƒ‡”• ‹‘–™Š‡…‡‘†—„›–”›ƒ

ƒ† ƒ††‹™‰Š‘˜ƒŽ”—‡‡’–Š”‘”‘†—‰…Š‹’‰”„‘‡…‡ƒ•••‹ƒ‰Ǥ† Š‡ƒ‡‹œ‡Ǧ

’–‡””‘’˜”‹‹†•‡•ǡ …’ƒ”Ž‘Ž‡†—…‡ —‹Ž‹†‰‡–”Š–”Š‘‡—Œ‰‘Š‹–ƒ”‹Ǧ ‰ǡ ‘ƒ”Ž•Ž†‘

‘‡‘‡†‹”‰‘’‰”ƒ‘Œ‡…–‡ǡ ™ȋ Š‹…ŠȌ•—‘’’‡‘”–”•‘•™…Š‘‘…ŠŽ•‘–‘‘Ž

’”‘˜‹†‡ —–”‹–‹‘—• ‡ƒŽ• –‘ •–—†‡–•ǡ ƒ†

ˆ’ƒ””‘…—‡”‡••Ǥ …‘‘†‹–‹‡• ˆ”‘ Ž‘…ƒŽ •ƒŽŽŠ‘Ž†‡” ™‹–—Š”‹–Š‰‡–Š›‡‘˜—‹•‹‰–ǡ ƒ–Š‰‡”‹’‹”‡…–‘‡”—”•‡ǡ‹‡”…ƒŽ—•’†‘‹‰‡ ƒ†‘•–”‡ƒ’‹Šƒ‡›†‘ˆ‘‘ƒ†•›…ƒ‹‡–•‹–ǡ ‹ƒ•–ʹǤ ͹Ǧ›‡ƒ”Ǧ‘Ž† ˆƒ”‡” –‘ Š‡‡‡–‹”›‡‘…–—‘–”Š ™‡Š‡‘”ƒŽ”‡•ƒ’‹†ƒ•Š•‡‹‘™ƒ•–‡’Žƒ‡„ƒ‘•‡—†– …–”‘ƒ–•”ˆ‹‘„”—–‹ƒ‰”–‹‘ˆ‘–‘Š†‡•‰›Ž•‘–„‡ƒŽ •…ƒˆ‘ŽŽ”ˆ„‘‡”––Š‡‡” ’”‡‘‡†—–…‘Ǧ

–ƒ‹‘†ƒǡ „‡––‡”Ž‹ˆ—‡–Ǥ”‹–‡‹‘ƒŽ•ǡ‘ƒ’„”‘‡˜––‹‡†”‡†‡‰˜—‹”†‘ƒ…‡‡‘– ’Š‘”‘™–‡–‹Š‡Ǧ”ˆ‹ƒ…”Š„‡”ƒ•…Œ‘ƒ—Ž†ƒˆ—†”–‘Š–‡Š”‡†”‡’˜”‡‘Ž†‘—’…––Š•‡–‹‘”

‡”‡Ǧ…ƒ‘…Š ‡‡™”…‡Ǥ ƒ”†‡‡–”•ǡ–‹Š‡…Ž—‘†‹‡‰ –”ƒ‘’™’‹‰…‹Š‘–‘‘Ž –‡…‡Š†‹‹…‰ƒŽȋ•—’’‘Ȍ”’– ”ƒ‘‰†”ƒ–”ƒ‹‹‡ǡ‰ –‘ –Š’‡”‘•˜‹†ƒ‡ŽŽ†Ǧ

Š™‘ŠŽ‹†Ž‡” ˆƒ”’‡—”•”ǡ…ƒŠ•ƒ™• ‡†ŽŽ –ƒŠ•‡ƒ‰’”‹‘…†——Ž–…—‡”ƒŽ‹†’’—”–‘•Ǧǡ

ˆ˜ƒ‹…†‹‡Ž‹†–ƒ‹–‹–‘‰ –ƒŠ‡ ’ƒ”ƒ”‡–‹–…Ž‹‹’ƒ–Ǥ‹‰ •…Š‘‘Ž• –Š‡”‡„›

F‘‡S‘uˆ p–Šp‡o’r”t‘‰”ƒǦ

D‘‘‹‰ ƒ– –Š‡ •‹–—ƒ–‹‘ ‹•ƒ‹–†Šǣ‡Dz …–‘‹—•‹–”’›ǡ‘”–‘ƒ‰–›–—‘ …–—‘”‡•ǡ ‹–†Š‡‹•” ‹†• ‹ƒ‰‹–ƒ”Ž‡ƒ‰™”‹Š…‡—”Ž‡Ǧ ˜–Šƒ‡”…‡ ǡ‹•‹’˜‘–Ž‡˜‡––‹Šƒ‡Ž –›‘‘—ƒ†–ŠǦ ƒ‰”†‘–Ž‘‹—”‹•ƒ‰”Ǥdz‹…—Ž–—”‡ –‘ …—ŽŠ–—”‘”‡—ǡ‰ˆŠƒ”†‹‡‰”‹–•ƒ”Ž‡ƒŽ›‰”‘‹Ǧ …‰‹—‡–•––‹‘ ‰…‘Ǧ ‡ŽŽ†‡…‰–‡ƒ–‡†…ƒŠƒ‘Ž›Ž ‘•‡Ǧ †ƒƒ–šƒ‹ˆ”‹‘•‡ ––Š‡‡‹‹””Šˆƒ”˜‡• –•‘Ǥ ‘‹‰Ž‘‹–‰ƒ‹Ž‡ƒ•‰…”ƒ‹…—Ž–‘—”‹ƒ–Ž‘–”‡ˆ…ƒŠ…Ǧ –‘”• •—…Š ƒ•Ǣ ‘‹•–—”‡ǡ —–”‹‡– –”‡†•ǡ •‘‹Ž …‘Ǧ –’‡‘”•‹•–‹‘ˆƒǡ”ƒ„†Ž‡™Žƒ‹†Ǥ ’ƒ–Ǧ •›•Š–‡†‹…‰‘‹–ŽƒŽ‡Ž …ƒ–‰•”†‹…ƒ—–Žƒ–—ƒ”…‡Ǧ …—”ƒ–‡Ž› ȋ•—…Š ƒ• ™‡ƒ–Š‡” ‹ƒˆŽ‘•”‘—ƒ”–…‹‡‘•ǤȌ —•‹‰ ‡š–‡”Ǧ

Š‹• …‘„‹‡† †ƒ–ƒǡ ‹Š‡–•‡ƒ”›’•”ǡ‡‹–•‡‡†šƒ–‘Š‹‡‡Ž†’ ƒ–Š†‡ ˆƒ”‡” ƒ‡ „‡––‡” †‡Ǧ …‹•‹‘•Ǥ

‘„‘–‹…• ƒ† ƒ†˜ƒ…‡† ‡“—‹’‡– “—‹…Ž› ’—– –Š‹‘‡•‡™†‹–‡Š…‹‰•‹”‘‡ƒ•–‡‹”–ƒ‘……ƒ—…Ǧ ”ƒ…›ǡ ƒ† ˆƒ”‡”• …ƒ ”‡Ǧ ‘…‡‹˜–‡Š”‡‡ƒ‡ŽˆǦˆ–‡‹… –‡• ˆ‘‡‡ˆ †–„Šƒ‡…‹” ƒ…–Š‹‘‹••ƒǤ†‘’–‹‘ ‘ˆ †‹‰‹–ƒŽ ƒ‰”‹…—Ž–—”‡ǡ ™‹ŽŽ ‹ –—” „‡ ‘ˆ ƒ••‹•–ƒ…‡ ‹ –Š‡ ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ ’Žƒ –‘ ‹’”‘˜‡ –’Š”ƒ‘–†‹—–…™–‹ƒ‘•ƒǡ ƒ‡†š…‡Ž‘Ž–‡‡†– ‘‡šƒ›ƒ’Ž†‡ ‘…‘ˆ —…‹Ž”†…•—ŠŽƒ‘”™‡…’‘•Ǧ ‹–‹˜Š‡‡”ˆ‡‘•‘—†Ž–‘•”Ǥ ‰ƒ‹•ƒ–‹‘ ‹• –™‘‹ŽˆŽƒ‹”‰ ‡–‘”•‰™‹˜Š‡‘ƒ™••‹‹Ž•Ž‹–ƒ‰…–‘‡ ƒDz„†ƒ‘’•‡– †‹‘‰‹–ƒ‰Ž‘ƒ˜‰‡”‹”…—Ž–—‡”‡–ǡ ’–‘”‹‘”‹–Ǥdz‹‡• ƒ† ”‡“—‡•–•

ADVANCED

Beans, green

Beetroot

Broccoli

Cabbage

Carrot

Cauliflower

Cucumber

Eggplant

Garlic

Leek

Lettuce

Melons

Onion, winter

Onion, summer

Peas

Potato

Pumpkin

Radish

Squash

Sweet com

Swisschard

Tomato

Strawberry ++ + + ++ ++ + + + + ++ ++ ++ + + ++ ++ - - + + + + + + ++ + + ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ + ++ ++ + ++ ++ ++ -

Pepper ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ + ++ ++ ++

›‘— ƒ‘Ž ™Ž –Šƒ– –™‘ ‘ˆ –Š‡ –ƒ‘•––ƒ‹•’’‡‘…–”•Ǧ ‘ˆ ˆƒ”‹‰ ƒ”‡ ‘™‹‰ ƒ™Š†‡™–‘Š’ƒŽ–ƒ–‘– ’Žƒ‘ǡ–‰Ǥ‘ ƒŠ‡ƒ† –ƒŽ‘Š‘‹•††–‹Šƒƒ”›‘˜—ƒ‡‰†Šƒ •›‹‘•—–‡™†‹Ž‹Ž„‡–Šƒƒ•–Ǧ ƒ•’‡…–Ǥ ‡‡”†‘–’‘•’Ž™ƒ‡– ˆ‘” –Š‡ ‘–Š ‘ˆ ƒ—ƒ”›Ǥ

ΪΪ ‡•– –‹‡ ˆ‘Ϊ” ’Žƒ—–‹‹–‰ƒ Ǧ „Ž‡ –‹‡ ˆ‘” ’Žƒ–‹‰

Ǧ ‘– ”‡…‘Ǧ ’Žƒ‡–†‹‡‰† ˆ‘”

A SKEY:

QUOTES: "Not a moment of life is wasted on a farm. Others may have been more places, but haven't outlived me." - Jim Fisher

"To me, there’s nothing more special than providing food for other families, and that’s what we do out here." - Wanda Patsche

FAO) FAO Director General QU Dongyu (L) during a bilateral meeting with Minister of Agriculture Jabulani Clement Mabuza.(Pic: