Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
Farmers’ insights show importance of technology and shared knowledge
Farmers in South Africa have to overcome an array of challenges and obstacles, such as infrastructure problems, the inconsistency and often even lack of power and water supply, the demands of international market requirements, logistical issues, and environmental and weather fluctuations.
Yet, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent challenging economic environment, the agriculture sector in South Africa was one of the few that kept the economy afloat while it was able to ensure the nation’s food security. This had been due largely to advancements in the industry, such as improvements in yields and favourable weather conditions over the past few season.
Corné Louw, senior economist at Grain SA, speaking at the recent Grain SA Congress held at Nampo Park in Bothaville, said that for farmers to continue this positive trend, they needed to embrace technology and focus on the training of their farmworkers to keep their operations running profitably over the long term.
Louw led a panel discussion that focused on what farmers could learn from fellow producers. The panel comprised Giovanni Parzianello, a maize farmer from Brazil; André Brink, Grain SA Farmer of the Year 2022; and AC van Wyk, Grain SA Farmer of the YearȲ2017. Van Wyk, who farmed in the central Free State, said that farmers needed to learn from the past, but to do this, they needed “true” data.
“[To]manage your risk profile, you need information to base your profile on. You must know what the risks are, what the scale of the risks are or will be. True data is needed for risk management.”
He added that a successful farmer also needed to be able to adapt. “Things and circumstances change, and if you’re not able to adapt, you’ll be left behind. This also applies to technology.”
Brink, who farmed near Durbanville in the Western Cape, said scaling up and diversifying their operations would allow farmers to invest in mechanisation and other technology, and to spread costs across a larger base. This allowed for greater risk mitigation and calculation.
He added that every aspect of the business needed to be sustainable over the long term.
“Begin conservatively and know and understand your business. Agriculture is cyclical; it offers the possibility to change things that didn’t work and offers the opportunity to improve.
“Make small adjustments. It’s also important to empower your workers and staff. Help them be the best they can be and together you’ll create a formidable team.”
Parzianello said that to be successful, farmers needed to do things at a more rapid pace, aim for higher goals, and work together with other farmers in their communities.