DAFF and DPW bring hope

DAFF

May 2013

Official newsletter of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Also in this issue: 3

DEPARTMENTAL Germany made undertaking to increase trade in Africa

4

DEPARTMENTAL CAADP recognising role players

5

DAFF and DPW bring hope

By Samuel Kgatla

DEPARTMENTAL Global Feed and Food congress

6

DEPARTMENTAL Record-keeping important in the dairy industry

8

SECTOR Mr Thulas Nxesi, Minister of Public Works and Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Outbreak of armyworms

9

SECTOR Animal Identification in Beef Cattle

11

SECTOR UN launches the International Year of Quinoa

12

SECTOR Monsanto and UP collaborative research programme

From now on, people in Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape believe that things will improve and change for the better.

This comes after successful site visits by ministers of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson and Department of Public Works (DPW), Mr Thulas Nxesi, to Mvenyane and Ntsizwa projects in Matatiele and Mount Ayliff in April. The main purpose of the trip was to visit and determine the conditions of the projects

and see how both ministers can assist. The visits were also part of the Working For Water Programme (WfW). The partnership is expected to benefit many communities and the above departments are expected to play a vital role to ensure that the WfW Programme works well and benefits all the people. WfW is a joint multidepartmental initiative between DAFF, DPW, Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and Department of Water Affairs (DWA) and it was to p 2

Departmental

CEO Forum meeting By Musa Khumalo

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in association with the CEOs of the different private sectors, held a meeting sponsored by the Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC) on issues that challenge both government and the private sector at the Saint Georges Hotel and Conference Centre on 24 April 2012.

The CEO Forum meeting is held twice every year and involves the partnership between government and the private sectors in agriculture, forestry and fisheries. The chairpersonship rotates between the industry and the department’s senior head, Acting Director-General Mr Sipho Ntombela. Decisions were taken during the meeting regarding the Land Audit and the uncertainty that surrounds land policies. It was

agreed that the Director-General or the Chief Land Surveyor of Rural Development and Land Reform would be present in the next meeting to present a comprehensive picture of their policy initiatives around land reform. With regard to the Strategic Infrastructure Project 11 (SIP 11) which addresses agro-logistics and rural infrastructure constraints in the country, the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) has been commissioned by the department to monitor and evaluate SIP 11, which is a partnership between the private and public sectors. Mr Sipho Ntombela suggested that the private sector, though it has self-funded projects, should report to the department on the progress. In this way, the department could assist them with

skills development and funding, among other things, so that the department can keep a record of job creation within the sector. The small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) from the West Coast rock lobster sector, represented by Ms Mymoena Poggenpoel, commented on the joys of working with the department and they were pleased with the way of addressing the issues of small-scale fisheries. There is an implementing body which meets every six weeks and serves as the arm of the forum. The steering committee oversees and reports to the plenary on implementations that were discussed and implemented. The next forum meeting will be held in October 2013.

DAFF and DPW bring hope from p 1

established many years ago. The WfW is a public funded national programme of DEA that aims at clearing, controlling and eradicating alien invasive plants. The WfW provides a vehicle for using the employment opportunities that arise from dealing with the environmental threat of invading alien plants. In the longer term, however, some cost-effective means must be found to prevent reinvasion of cleared areas. The programme also contributes to job creation for local communities, which includes processing the plant material which has been harvested. Minister Joemat-Pettersson said that they need to commit themselves to the projects

and see how they can improve the situation. “We must combine all our resources to make sure that our people are assisted. The government cannot do it alone, but we also need assistance from private companies. We must have a high-level management team to be involved in these projects. I am glad we are involved in this WfW programme. Together with DPW, we must provide fencing, seed, fertilisers and others. We are also planning to resuscitate the irrigation scheme around the uMzimvubu Dam. We must deal with the WfW programme first and then other projects can come in,” she said. The Minister also advised people to consider the issue of one family one food

DAFFnews is the newsletter of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Private Bag X250, PRETORIA 0001. It is published by the Directorate Communication Services, Private Bag X144, PRETORIA 0001. Opinions expressed in DAFFnews are not necessarily those of the editorial team. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without prior permission from the editor. DAFFnews is printed on triple green paper.

2

May 2013 DAFFnews No. 5

Editor Reporters

Piwe Mbiko Thuli Dube Samuel Kgatla Innocent Mhlanga Rony Moremi Mercia Smith

Interns Elias Sekgwele Zwiswa Mulaudzi Subeditors Lerato Mofokeng Willie de Jager Distribution Pam Sutherland Website: www.daff.gov.za

garden and one school one garden to eradicate hunger. Minister Nxesi outlined that they will only be prosperous if they can continue to work together and reiterated that their visits should yield positive results. He continued that they want the WfW programme to work effectively. “People must be trained in this project so that they start working on their own. There is sufficient water from rivers flowing to the sea and this can be stopped by building a dam. We must also remove the middlemen who are impeding service delivery. We will continue to collaborate with DAFF to fast-track service delivery,” concluded Nxesi. (012) (012) (012) (012) (012) (012)

319 319 319 319 319 319

6936 7929 7181 7827 6622 6666

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

(012) 319 7819 (012) 319 6958

[email protected] [email protected]

(012) 319 7927 (012) 319 6636 (012) 319 7104

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Departmental

Germany made undertaking to increase trade in Africa The South African Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, held a bilateral meeting with the German Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, Ms Ilse Aigner, recently.

The two ministers had discussions on issues relating to current agricultural and trade policies, world food security and cooperation in vocational training. Last week, Germany made an undertaking to increase trade in Africa, and South Africa in particular. South Africa exports close to R3 billion of fresh citrus fruit annually to the European Union. Germany is one of the major markets for South African citrus in the off-season of EU producers which includes mainly Spain, Italy and Greece. Approximately 40% of SA citrus exports go to the EU. The meeting culminated in the signing of a statement of intent regarding cooperation in the field of initial and continuing vocational training for favourable economic development of an agricultural holding and for providing the population with safe food. Minister Joemat-Pettersson highlighted some of these issues, among others, South African citrus exports to the EU. South Africa mainly exports wines, paper and processed fruit and vegetables, including fresh grapes and other products to Germany. As part of the trade partnership between the two countries, South Africa is looking at an agreement for the protection of Geographical Indications (GIs) with regard to agricultural products such as cheese, meat products, olive oil, etc. The EU has a well-developed GI protection system. South Africa has just started with products like rooibos and honeybush tea. To date Germany has signed the following agreements with South Africa: • Declaration of Intent to Cooperation in the fields of Assistance to Cooperative, Legislation on Cooperation and Assistance to Directorate Business

Ms Ilse Aigner, German Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, with Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, after signing the statement of intent regarding cooperation in the field of initial and continuing vocational training.

and Industrial Development signed 10 October 1999. • Agreement with SA regarding the Development of Advisory Services in the Northern Province signed 10 December 1999. • A Cooperation Agreement was signed between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of South Africa on Cooperation in the Field of Veterinary Affairs on 26 September 2008. • A Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the Field of Initial and Continu-

ing Vocational Training was signed 26 September 2008. Says Minister Joemat-Pettersson: “South Africa’s partnership with Germany has historical roots. Moreover, our partnership since the advent of democracy has gone from strength to strength. Today’s bilateral will enhance the skills of our officials. This has major benefits not only for the department but for the general South African public. We welcome this move and look forward to even more investment opportunities.”

No. 5 DAFFnews May 2013

3

Departmental

CAADP recognising role players By Rony Moremi

In recognition of the central role played by agriculture in alleviating poverty and hunger and its contribution towards realising the Millennium Development Goals, the African Heads of State endorsed the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) in July 2003.

The main focus of CAADP is to encourage increased public investment in agriculture (by 10%) to reach a target goal of 6% in the sector. Since the endorsement, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) together with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) National Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) hosted a Stakeholder Sensitisation Seminar in October 2012 to evaluate existing South African policies and identify avenues to effectively implement CAADP in South Africa. A need to establish a national CAADP country team emanated as a resolution from the Stakeholder Sensitisation Seminar. The country team is formed by DAFF, Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRLD), National

Treasury, the Presidency (Monitoring and Evaluation), Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz),Transvaal Agricultural Union of South Africa (TAU SA), Agri SA, Food and Allied Workers’ Union (FAWU), NAFU (National African Farmers’ Union) and AFASA (African Farmers’ Association of South Africa). As a continuation of stakeholder engagement, DAFF together with the NPCA and FAO, hosted another workshop in February 2013. The aim of the workshop was to provide a platform for dialogue and come up with priorities and a commitment to develop a shared roadmap for the implementation of CAADP. During his opening remarks Mr Andile Hawes, DDG for Policy Planning and Monitoring and Evaluation, said it is very important for programmes to make a meaningful contribution to communities through social mobilisation. He emphasised that programmes should have a positive impact on the economic growth of the country. In agreement with Mr Hawes, the FAO Representative in South Africa, Dr Tobias Takavarasha, said the days of planning for the mere sake of planning are over. He

Winston Makabanyane interacting with stakeholders during one the four consultative group sessions.

4


said 40 countries have already launched CAADP and 30 compacts have been signed; he further explained that signing the compact is like making marriage vows. A compact is a strategic benchmark in the country roundtable process. It is signed by key stakeholders and players in the country to demonstrate commitment to a shared vision and emerging strategies to collectively address the country’s agricultural development agenda. This endorsement puts a seal on the commitment of all parties to support and work towards increasing investment in the Agriculture sector. He also informed the delegates that ten countries which signed the compact have reached and surpassed the 10% budget target and reached a growth rate of 4,5% per annum in 2003 to 2009. The FAO has committed US$96,661 to the RSA for the review and alignment of Agricultural Policies with the CAADP pillars. The four CAADP pillars are: Sustainable land and water management (including reliable water control systems); improving rural infrastructure and trade related capacities for market access; increasing food supply, reducing hunger and improving responses to food emergencies; and improving agriculture research, technology dissemination and adoption. One of the most important factors of CAADP implementation is operationalisation at provincial level by the provincial departments of agriculture. Provincial consultations are under way and so far the North West provincial consultation has been held in August 2012. These provincial consultations will culminate in the national and provincial specific priorities and strategies, which will assist in designing investment plans and they will be aligned to the national government priorities. It is anticipated that the South African compact will be signed this year by the Minister of DAFF, Minister of Finance, the Presidents of the agricultural unions as well as the President of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and representatives of the private sector.

Departmental

Global Feed and Food Congress By Samuel Kgatla

Sun City International was abuzz with global feed and food value experts for a good cause. The 650 global leaders from various parts of the world converged for the 4th Global Feed and Food Congress (GFFC) in North West, South Africa from 10 to 12 April 2013. This was the first time it was held on African soil after it had been hosted in Brazil in 2005 and 2007, as well as in Mexico in 2010.

The theme for the 4th GFFC, which is “Safe Feed and Food for All” links to the global challenge to feed 9 billion people by 2050 and to do so sustainably. The theme further reflects the aspirations of the entire feed and food value chain. The main aim of the event organised by the Animal Feed Manufacturers’ Association (AFMA), International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has always been to provide a global platform for the industry, experts and governments to come together to discuss critical issues of food and feed safety, technology and sustainability. Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, represented the South African government and said that South Africa is proud to be hosting the 4th GFFC. “In South Africa, when we talk about food security we also include the issue of land reform. Even our President, Jacob Zuma, alluded to that during his State of the Nation Address this year. Agriculture remains one of the most important drivers of our economy. Our small-scale farmers

must be assisted so that our land can be more productive. This congress affords us the opportunity to review the key legislative, trade and practical aspects of a sector that plays a key role in food safety and security,” she said. She further urged delegates to learn from one another and to recognise the importance of transfer of technology and partnerships, which are the key to increasing global feed and food production and food security worldwide. Mario Sergio Cutait, Chairperson of IFIF thanked the people of Africa, especially South Africans, for their hospitality. He also added that that the congress was first class in terms of organisation. “I think the feed and food industry does not know how strong and powerful we are. We must be proud of what we did in South Africa. I close the congress with more energy than that which I had when I was opening it. The congress was the best and we had many good speakers. I want to thank you all and I hope to see you soon at our next meeting,” he concluded. Meanwhile, international delegates also proved that they can excel in dancing. This was noticed during the beach party at the Valley of the Waves at Sun City. The party also presented to everyo n e

an opportunity to network and exchange contacts. It was agreed that poverty, conflicts, starvation, corruption and HIV/AIDS are some of the challenges facing the feed and food business in Africa. It was also agreed that African agriculture is at the turning point and must adopt more “market friendly” policies. African governments must also recognise the crucial role played by the private sector in investing more for “food security” in Africa. The committee for GFFC will decide on the venue for the 5th GFFC in the coming months.


5

Sector

Record-keeping important in the dairy industry By Lelanie Metaxas Glen Agricultural Institute

When visiting dairy farms, Extension Officers or other Specialists often ask production questions to ascertain which aspect of the dairy producer’s production system needs to be improved.

Often the records kept by these producers are totally absent or very sketchy, and they are therefore unable to provide the Extension Officer or Subject Matter Specialists with good and reliable information. This severely restricts the assistance the Extension Officer or Subject Matter Specialist can give the producer, as he/she cannot quickly see where improvements can be made to dairy farm management. On a dairy farm the herd structure, reproduction records, health records, milk production records and nutritional records are very important. Let us handle each of these records separately to illustrate why they are important for a farmer to manage his dairy operation, as well as to provide information to Extension Officers or Subject Matter Specialists assisting the dairy producer. Herd structure records: The herd structure of a dairy herd is important because it tells you: • How many cows are in the various production stages: Early in milk; mid lactation; late lactation; dry. This is an indication of how sustainable the milk production is throughout the year. There should be cows in every stage, indicating a sustained breeding process throughout the year with the goal of providing enough milk for all the months in the year. Dairy processing companies prefer constant milk production, as this helps with production targets in the factories. • It also indicates the age structure in the herd. A dairy herd should have cows being milked for their third or more lactation cycle, second lactation cows and first lactation cows. This shows that the cows

6


are well looked after and that replacement heifers are joining the herd regularly. If there are only young cows in the herd, the farmer should improve the health and general management programme, and if there are very few first lactation cows joining the herd, the farmer should investigate the reproduction programme on the farm for problems. Reproduction records: The reproduction records on a dairy farm are very important because they provide information on: • The bull used to inseminate the cows and heifers (AI or natural mating). This is very important as breeding the daughter (or another genetic relationship) with the same bull as the mother causes serious inbreeding. Inbreeding is a big problem in the dairy industry, and help from professionals (like officials from semen companies or Herd Improvement Scheme officials (ARC, breed societies, Stamboek) when selecting semen for artificial insemination is very important. For this reason the pedigree of the cow and the resultant calf is vital. From this information professionals can determine to what degree a certain bull will lead to inbreeding or not. • Records The farmer should always have records of which cow calved down when, which bull’s semen resulted in successful conception, and what the resultant calf’s records are (ease of calving, birth weight, etc.). This also gives an indication of bulls that might breed big calves and might lead to calving problems, or if a specific cow has a tendency towards calving problems. • The reproduction records provide an indication of the success of the reproduction plan on the farm. 1. Are the cows taking a long time to conceive? Are there specific cows that take a long time to conceive or is it a general problem?

2. Is there a difference in the conception success rates between the different inseminators? 3. Are there variations in the conception success rates between seasons and / or weather patterns? 4. Did the conception rates suddenly drop? All these figures can give an indication of whether the difference in conception rates are management related (heat detection, inseminator skill, nutritional problems), if they are specific to certain animals, or if they are climate related. The conception rate of cows tend to decrease if it gets very hot (heat stress), during very bad weather periods (also stress related), and the natural fertility of the cows also vary with seasons. These are aspects that the farmer does not have any control over. However the farmer can improve heat detection and inseminator skill by looking at the work procedure of staff on the farm and can cull inherently infertile cows. He can also solve nutritional problems with expert help or with greater diligence in nutrition management on the farm. Health records Health records are an important indicator of management practices on the farm. Regular vaccination and dosing of cattle is important to manage the incidence of certain diseases on the farm. This is specific to the area, and assistance from the local veterinarians to formulate these plans is very important. The vaccination and dosing plan for a farm close to the ocean in KwaZulu-Natal will be very different from the plan in the Free State area. From the records it is also possible to determine if there is a specific management problem on the farm. If there is a high incidence of metabolic disturbances like milk fever, bloat, acidosis, this would indicate that the nutritional programme should be adapted to elimito p 7

Sector from p 7

nate the problems. If there a high incidence of mastitis, this might indicate hygiene problems in the dairy itself, or in the camps where the cows are kept throughout the day. A high incidence of diarrhoea among the calves might indicate a problem with the health programme of the cows or the calves (as the immunity status of the cow can influence the immunity of the calf through collostrum), or it could be a problem with the nutrition or environment that the calf is subjected to. There are also legislatory requirements if the farmer has a dairy and is supplying milk to the public. • The herd must be certified to be brucellosis and tuberculosis free yearly, as these diseases can also infect humans through the milk. These tests must be done by a Veterinarian, and the herd must be certified free from these diseases. This certificate must be supplied to the dairy processing company, or be freely available if there should be any enquiry about the safety of a producers’ milk. The State Veterinarians and Animal Health Technicians can also be approached to assist with these tests. • The dairy parlour must pass a health inspection from the local municipal health department, certifying that the dairy produces hygienic and healthy milk to the public. In this inspection the facility itself is inspected, and various samples are taken to ascertain whether any harmful bacteria are present in the milk or on the equipment used to milk the cows and store the milk. The water used in the dairy must also be of an extremely high quality and should be fit for human consumption. These records can even give an indication if specific problems occur in specific areas on the farm, or during specific seasons. Poisonous plants in specific camps can poison animals during spring (when these plants are the first to show green and therefore attract animals), but cause no problems during other periods of the year. This would help the farmer determine his grazing programme, or determine whether steps should be taken to eradicate specific plants. Milk production records These are the most likely records for a

farmer to keep, but the farmers do not always understand how much information can be extracted only from these records. The best producing cows can be determined from these records, and this is what most farmers use these records for. Good milk production is not just about a high peak of milk production. The subsistence (for how long she produces a lot of milk and if her milk drops slowly or quickly throughout her lactation cycle) of a cow is also important. The volume of milk she produces over her entire lactation cycle, and if she had a normal or short lactation cycle, is actually the more important information that can be obtained from the milk production records. The milk production records can also be used to determine if there are management or health problems on the farm. A sudden drop in production can be an immediate indication of feed problems, that the cow is ill, or that the conditions in the camps have deteriorated. It is a management tool, indicating that there is a serious problem and that the farmer should investigate the cause immediately. On the milk production record sheet (cow byre sheet) important management information should also be recorded. The cows’ calving dates (indicating in which stage of their lactation cycle they are), health problems, insemination attempts (with which bull) and any significant event that would influence the production of the cows should be recorded. This can give a quick overview of the state of the herd in

a specific month. This would also help the staff to determine if the milk can be used or should be discarded, for example if the cow had been treated with antibiotics. Nutritional records It is important for a farmer to keep record of how much of what is fed to the cows, as this information will be vital if a Specialist must try and determine where nutritional problems started. This would help the Specialist to determine if low milk production or problems with the quality of the milk could be related to problems with fibre quantity or quality, energy or protein ratios in the rations, mineral deficiencies etc. Information on specific feed sources could also assist in determining if there were quality problems with specific batches of feed. The cost of feeding the cows versus the income received through the milk is also of utmost importance, as a farming operation that runs at a loss cannot be sustainable. Conclusion Though keeping these records can be seen as a lot of work, if the regular recordkeeping procedure is incorporated into the daily routine of the dairy farm, it is easy to implement. The information supplied by these records is priceless, as it assists the farmer with his daily management tasks, AND can help the Extension Officer or Subject Matter Specialist to assist the manager when and if problems do occur.


7

Departmental

Phytosanitary import measures for fresh citrus fruit Citrus black spot (CBS) is caused by the fungus Guignardia citricarpa and results in superficial blemishes on fruit, affecting the cosmetic appeal of the fruit.

Within the global trade environment, the introduction and spread of plant pests are managed through the application of phytosanitary measures, provided that such measures are scientifically justifiable. In 1992 the European Economic Community and in 2000 the European Union (EU) implemented phytosanitary measures to prevent the entry of CBS infected fruit into their territory. Considering that the disease occurs in certain parts of SA and that the EU is an important export market for South African citrus, the department as well as key industry partners has engaged the relevant EU authorities over a number

of years. From South Africa’s perspective, the phytosanitary import measure in question in respect of Citrus Black Spot disease is more stringent than can be scientifically justified. Despite protracted engagements, the EU’s stance in this regard has not changed. South Africa has continued to recognise the necessity to comply with the relevant import conditions as determined by the EU legislation. This has been achieved through strengthening phytosanitary systems within the country. In October 2012, SA received further notification that the EU will be imposing a threshold of not more than five interceptions for CBS in one trading season. This means that after the occurrence of five interceptions in the current export season, the EU will initiate processes to institute stricter measures, which could

include a ban on further imports of citrus fruit from South Africa. Based on a growing international body of scientific evidence, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) continues to uphold the opinion that the EU phytosanitary import requirements in respect of CBS are more stringent than can be technically justified for protecting the health of potential hosts of the relevant pathogen in EU Member States. Within the international trade environment, there are several dispute resolution mechanisms available to address this matter. We have gone some way in following the consensual dispute resolution processes but because of the seriousness of this matter, the DAFF and other key government departments are considering initiating other parallel dispute resolution processes.

Outbreak of armyworms The armyworm is not a registered pest in terms of the Agricultural Pests Act, 1983 as it is the case with locusts and redbilled quelea, so the government does not provide chemicals or financial aid to farmers for the veld damage.

However, Agri SA in collaboration with the Directorates Agricultural Inputs Control and Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, succeeded to secure funding to supply chemicals, spraying equipment to combat the pest, owing to the high costs of insecticide and the labour required. Training of farmers and farm workers as to the spraying methods were given as well. This

8


assistance from the department is truly appreciated. New outbreaks of armyworms are quite possible and farmers are requested to contact their nearest extension office or provincial department of agriculture should it happen. As reported at meeting of the Commercial Policy Committee of Agri SA on 13 March 2013, the intention was given that as soon as the survey on the magnitude of the outbreak of the armyworms and damage done has been completed, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will be approached to declare armyworm as a pest in terms of the Agricultural Pests Act, 1983

Sector

Animal Identification in Beef Cattle Mohlapo Teboho Daniel Animal Scientist

Decision making about which cattle to retain as breeding stock or to dispose of by selling has been a problem not only to emerging farmer but also professionals offering them technical advice.

This problem is commonly due to lack of proper animal identification and performance record keeping. Consequently, cattle with good performance have been selected against due to their temporary short falls during selection e.g. they may be sick at time of selection. Therefore, good genetic material may be lost due to uninformed selection practices. First step to proper animal performance record keeping is animal identification. This can be done in number of ways i.e. Ear notching, ear tagging, branding, tattooing etc. However, the most commonly used methods in cattle are ear notching and ear tagging.

Ear clipping

If the calf is the first to be born during a particular year, it will be clipped once on the top edge of the left ear.

Livestock imports from Namibia The Red Meat Industry Forum calls all industry role-players to action to adhere to the agreement reached in the recent past between South Africa and Namibia on trading of livestock between the two countries.

Ear notching In this method, calves ears are clipped on the edges at specific areas to resemble a certain number.

Ear tagging

Ear notch numbers

Even though this method gives an animal a permanent mark, it does not provide complete information to identify animal. Thus, a year in which calf was born is not included, hence necessitates insertion of ear tags.

It is therefore important to give your cattle identity at birth in order to have a track record of its performance from birth. Thus, the decision to keep or sell will be based on known performance information of individual animal.

Ear tags provide complete information about the animal i.e. a year in which animal was born and the calf number for that particular year can be written on ear tags. The other positive thing about ear tags is that the information can be read from a distance without invading animal’s flight zone. However, this identification method is best applied together with ear notching, since ear tags can easily be lost when animals are in bushy camps or veld.

The South African Red Meat Industry, representatives from the Namibian Meat Board, Namibian Agricultural Union and the Livestock Producers Organisation agreed that livestock destined for South Africa could only be exported to one of three destinations: • directly to an abattoir for immediate slaughter • directly to a recognized feedlot for eventual slaughter or • as breeding stock for livestock improvement, if accompanied by the correct stud stock documentation During recent months livestock with the Namibian ‘N’ brand mark on the neck, but with the traceability ear tags removed, are appearing on South African livestock sales in ever increasing numbers in various Northern Provinces.


9

Sector

Red meat research and development The livestock sector is often attacked by the media, especially regarding environmental and sustainability concerns.

The livestock industries in South Africa recognize the effect of livestock on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) production and climate change of between 4 and 8%. The livestock industries met recently to interrogate current research commissioned as well as relevant projects and programs by other role players regarding climate change. The most prominent researchers in South Africa and industry partners were engaged. The aim of the workshop was to establish a centre for excellence in the livestock industry of South Africa for climate and the environment. They have the following objectives: • Share available information and dissemination of information • Collate other information regarding studies conducted as well as current initiatives • Study and contribute to the “Climate sector plan for Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries” as published on 7-1-2013 for comment by 7-4-2013 • Build and secure an information centre and data bank • Build and secure Research and Development capacity • Identify areas of risk and potential risks, as well as prioritization thereof • Conduct Research and Development studies The above should be done in close liaison with participating industries so as to

10


effectively address the special challenges facing each industry. Important factors that must be considered: • The nutritional value of meat, dairy and products thereof, its function in a sustainable diet and the implications of reductions in meat consumption in the health status of a society where micro-nutrient deficiencies are increasingly prevalent; • The multidimensional role of livestock in a sustainable food, leather and fibre system; • Possible adaptive responses to reduce vulnerability of the emerging sector to climate risks; • The noteworthy progress made by the meat industry in an effort for continu-

ous improvement. The workshop was concluded with a concept R&D plan for the Climate Change and Water Footprint research focus area. The following challenges facing the industry are to be addressed: • Restoring the value of grasslands / rangelands • Pastoral risk management and decision support systems • Improved production efficiency • Global warming and sustainable livestock production • The disconnection between food and nutrition needs • Greenhouse gasses from South African livestock, carbon sequestration and water footprint (Measuring techniques and Database of national and regional figures) • Greenhouse gas, water and waste management • Emerging sector • Food security The meat sector considers it vital to have a balanced perception of how products are produced and consumed and best contributes to a sustainable food system. It is encouraging that other industries contribute resources to RMRD SA to manage the process. Liaison will be coordinated by Prof Hettie Schönfeldt, RMRD SA Research Manager and Dr Giel Scholtz, Subject Working Group Coordinator For further information contact send an email to [email protected]

Sector

UN launches the International Year of Quinoa By Rony Moremi

The United Nations (UN) launched the International Year of Quinoa and the aim of declaring 2013, International Year of Quinoa is to raise awareness of the nutritional, economic, environmental and cultural values of quinoa.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General, Graziano José da Silva said, “Today we are here to recruit a new ally in the fight against hunger and food insecurity --quinoa”. It is estimated that 1 billion people were affected by malnutrition in 2010 according to FAO reports. The recognition forms part of the FAO strategy to promote traditional and forgotten foods in order to promote food security and will also contribute to efforts of attaining the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty by 2014. This also forms part of a broader strategy to encourage the utilisation of indigenous knowledge as a solution to modern-day challenges, especially in food security. At the launch, the Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon said “I hope this International Year will be a catalyst for learning about the potential of quinoa for food and nutrition security, for reducing poverty, especially among the world’s small farmers—and for environmentally sustainable agriculture.” He also emphasised the contribution quinoa will make towards the zero hunger challenge, which aims to provide adequate nutrition to all people. He further added that quinoa holds a promise of improved income for small-scale farmers. Quinoa is a grain-like crop which is grown for its edible seeds, it is a pseudocereal, meaning that it is not necessarily a cereal. It has been grown in the Andes, in North America, and because of its versatility, it can be grown in arid areas; it so versatile that it can be grown in areas experiencing temperatures of 8 to 38 0C. It has been part of the staple diet of the Andes for centuries. This superfood has been referred to as the Andes’ ancestral gift and is the only plant food packed with all the good nutrients such as amino acids

and vitamins. Cultivation of the crop has been expanded to Kenya, North India, North America and Europe and it is already showing high yields according to da Silva. Studies by the FAO indicate that quinoa production could also be developed in the Himalayas, the plains of northern India, the Sahel, Yemen and other arid regions of the world. As a way of promoting food security through consumption of indigenous foods, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) developed a national strategy on indigenous food crops. Indigenous crops are crops that

have their origin in South Africa or Africa, crops such as sorghum, cow pea, millet and amaranth. The purpose of the strategy is to lay a foundation and framework for the development of the indigenous crop sector through supporting research and technology development of indigenous crops, promoting sustainable production practices and promoting consumption of these crops to create a demand on both the local and export markets. DAFF also hosted a consultative workshop to solicit inputs from stakeholders regarding the strategy last year. The strategy has been submitted for internal approval.


11

Sector

SA’s foot-and-mouth disease application rejected The OIE has rejected South Africa’s application to be decared free of footand-mouth disease.

The OIE questioned certain technical details regarding the Directorate Animal Welfare’s testing procedures. South Africa will be able to again apply in September 2013, but this application will only be considered in May 2014. Pork producers

are, however fortunate in that they can still export pork if they are compartmentalised. This is, however, not true for other red meat species.  Imports Significant drop in imports in February There was a significant drop in imports in February compared to the previous year. It seems that the weakening Rand is

having an effect on imports. A total of 33 314 tons of pork were imported in 2012. This is the highest import figure ever. The main exporting countries so far this year are Germany, Canada and Spain. Imports from Germany alone represent more than 37% of total imports. Ribs constitute 58% of the total figure and other cuts, 39%.

Monsanto and UP collaborative research programme A media breakfast and information session held in Pretoria served to inform media role players of the agricultural sector about the nature and scope of the Monsanto - BE at UP Collaborative Research Programme.

Monsanto SA contracted BE at UP (Pty) Ltd in the second half of 2012 to undertake a research and development programme aimed at investigating weed resistance for the broader South African farming community and to undertake the promotion of good agricultural practices (GAPs) in

this regard. The project also aims to build capacity and generate new scientific knowledge and under the leadership of Professor Charlie Reinhardt, extraordinary Professor to the Department of Plant Production Soil Science, a team of postgraduate students will complete masters and Ph.D. qualifications respectively, investigating the optimisation of integrated modes of action for weed control in the South African context. “One of the main objectives of Mon-

santo in contracting the University to do research on this subject, is to be proactive and we see this as part of our product stewardship in South Africa,” says Kobus Steenekamp, Business Leader for Monsanto South Africa. The programme in its current form is dedicated to finding effective ways for dealing with weeds’ resistance to glyphosate in South Africa as well as to advocate effective weed management practices. The programme will run for three years.

Water quality for intensive pig production systems Dr James Meyer, Premier Pork Producer’s Consultant on water affairs and a member of PPP’s Water Committee, says that producers should take the environmental legislation on water seriously, as many do not comply with these.

The stipulations of the National Water Act (NWA) and the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA)

12


are especially important when farmers want to expand their piggeries. The major question that has to be answered in terms of these acts is if water usage is legal, Dr Meyer says. He points out that the agricultural sector, especially intensive industries such as the pig industry, would be in the spotlight in future and would be easy targets

for environmentalists. “Even if you do everything right, you will still have to prove your farming operation has no impact on the environment. And be assured that you will be inspected. Start by monitoring your water usage so that you know what the situation on your farm is,” Dr Meyer says.