This week we’re talking food security. Now, despite being one of the poorest regions in the country, Limpopo is actually the most food-secure province in the Mzansi. In today’s episode, we chat to Joshua Kwapa, a spokesperson for the Limpopo department of agriculture and rural development.

Plus, Food For Mzansi journalist Duncan Masiwa chats to Emerentia Patientia. She is the senior project officer of Dignity for All Wine, a Fairtrade Africa initiative, that seeks to address the living and working conditions and the standard living conditions of agricultural workers in the country.

South Africa has the most unique endemic flowers - the proteas. Our diverse climate provides excellent flower growing regions for almost any type of flower. This week on Farmer’s Inside Track we share a guide to starting a flower farm in Mzansi! 

Any new farmer understands that unlocking their growth potential through technology is vital. FarmSol boss Aron Koleunpacks this in our farmer development segment. 

In its seasonal climate watch for August to December 2021, the South African Weather Service predicts above-normal minimum and maximum temperatures across the country. Independent climatologist and weather expert Johan van den Berg share vital tips for farmer’s to deal with this!  

This week's #SoilSista powered by Food For Mzansi and Corteva Agriscience is Khethiwe Maseko, the founder of Gugulam Poultry House in Gauteng. She’s a farmer who started out as a domestic worker and today, she is a proud ambassador for the agricultural sector. 

On the top of our reading list this week is, Billion Dollar Burger by Chase Purdy… a food-business reporter provides a good overview in cell-based meat developments. And, our farmer tip of the week comes from Agricultural Research Council’s crop scientist, Boitumelo Mhlanga…

In this week’s episode we share some highligths from one our recent #FarmSpaces sessions about beekeeping!  Food For Mzansi’s FarmSpaces host Gugulethu Mahlangu chats to a number of experts show share’s some tips on how to get started.

Before we let you go this week, new farmer’s ever heard about Rift Valley Fever? It affects mainly sheep, cattle and buffalo. Symptoms include abortion storms and sudden death in young animals. 

Dr Didi Claassen Afrivet’s technical and marketing executive highlights some of the preventative measures farmer’s should be aware of.

Craft beer popularity has skyrocketed over the past few years. If you want to get in on the craft beer trend we share a guide to getting started as a beer brewer on Farmer’s Inside Track this week!

FarmSol farming mentor Barry Nel, advises new farmers to be honest and hardworking to survive in the agri industry in our farmer development segment. 

Ever heard of the Rift Valley Fever? Well, it affects mainly sheep, cattle and buffalo. Dr Didi Claassen Afrivet’s technical and marketing executive joins us to share insights on how to deal with it. 

When Dipitseng Manamela’s environmental consultation business came to a standstill during covid-19 she chose to farm and this week she wears the crown as our #SoilSista, powered by Corteva Agriscience and Food For Mzansi.

On the top of our reading list this week is, For the Love of Soil: Strategies to Regenerate our Food Production Systemby Nicole Masters. And, our farmer tip of the week comes from Western Cape crop farmer Sinethemba Botha…

In this week’s episode we share some highligths from “The good, the bad and the ugly of food security in South Africa”, webinar presented by FairPlay in partnership with Food For Mzansi recently. 

South Africa is regarded as food secure at a national level, but not at a household level. Experts sharing their points, include FairPlay founder François Baird and development studies lecturer Dr Marc Wegerif, Mervyn Abrahams, the programme coordinator at the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group and Hamlet Hlomendlini, a senior agricultural economist.

Citrus is one of South Africa top agricultural exports, in fact our citrus industry is expected to break all the export records this year. This week on Farmer’s Inside Track we share a guide to farming with naartjies and oranges in Mzansi, especially if you’re a new farmer! 

In our farmer development segment we meet Nobantu Radebe. She worked as a nurse for most of her life, until 2016, when she started farming with her husband in Gauteng.

You don’t want to miss Dr Francois van de Vyver, National Technical Manager at Voermol Feeds. He highlights some of the challenges and solutions new livestock farmers face during winter in our Animal Nutrition segment.

Nthakheni Netshirembe has been farming as a side hustle for about 10 years. This Limpopo mixed farmer is particularly interested in building agricultural networks with other women in the sector and wears the crown as this week’s #SoilSista, powered by Corteva Agriscience and Food For Mzansi. 

We catch up with Dr Hlami Ngwenya, the new pair of eyes overseeing the Western Cape department of agriculture’s service delivery system. She has more than 25 years experience in agri assignments in over 50 countries.

On the top of our reading list this week is,“Personal branding for Entrepreneurs: Actions and insights to build brand YOU, the foundation of your business” by Donna Rachelson. And, our farmer tip of the week comes from North West rabbit farmer, Thusoetsile Lobaleng…

So, new farmers listen up! Have you ever heard of the Khula app. Well, this South African agri-tech startup has completed an intensive three-year pilot phase. 

They’ve worked with farmers of all scales across Mzansi and are set to grow their digital trading space even further. Journalist Duncan Masiwa now chats to Khula co-founder Karidas Tshintsholo about this exciting app!

We've added a bonus to this week’s podcast. We share few highlights from our recent #FarmSpaces session about farming off the grid! Our # FarmSpaces host, Gugulethu Mahlangu, North West vegetable farmer and Food For Mzansi journalist Sinesipho Tom hosted the event. 

They were joined by Ted Blom, energy expert and mining consultant and Chris Schutte the director of SONFIN, an independent company specialising in structuring green power plants across the country…

Beekeeping, also called apiculture, can be done as a hobby, on a small-scale as a backyard business, or even as a larger, commercial enterprise. This week on Farmer’s Inside Track we share a guide to beekeeping in Mzansi! 

In our farmer development segment we meet Njabulo Mbokane, 2019 SAB-FarmSol Young Emerging Farmer of the Year. She shares some practical advice for new farmers!

On the top of our reading list this week is, Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by legendary entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel. And, our farmer tip of the week comes from FarmSol managing director Aron Kole…

In the spirit of Women’s Month we kick of this week, sharing some hightlights from our #FarmSpaces session celebrating South Africa’s dynamic women in agriculture!...

The Jobs Fund boss Najwah Allie-Edries believes “women are catalysts of positive change in society; they are a force for social stability and inclusive development.” She joins us this week to unpack this! 

South Africa is home of two world-renowned types of tea: rooibos and honeybush. This week on Farmer’s Inside Track we explore how to start a tea farm in Mzansi. From growing to harvesting and even exporting these indigenous crops!

As a lifelong farmer, Johnny Pietersen from Mpumalanga believes in the efficacy of using voermol’s protein block. 

Dr Francois van de Vyver, National Technical Manager at Voermol Feeds advises farmers how to use this hazzle free option to overwinter cattle or sheep in our “Animal nutrition powered by Voermol Feeds” segment.

FarmSol managing director Aron Kole advises new farmers to actively look for partners throughout the supply chain in our farmer development segment. 

Women farmers face many challenges in the agricultural sector, but those challenges are simply fuel for a passionate veggie farmer like Mandisa Bell, this week’s #SoilSista, powered by Corteva Agriscience and Food For Mzansi. 

The Jobs Fund boss Najwah Allie-Edries believes “women are catalysts of positive change in society; they are a force for social stability and inclusive development.” She joins us this week to unpack this! 

On the top of our reading list this week is Lift As You Rise: Speeches and Thoughts on Leadership by South African businessman Bonang Mohale. 

 And, Mpumalanga vegetable farmer Gugulethu Mahlangu’s farming mantra is “Diversify and plan ahead!” She shares this weeks farming tip!