AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WEEK PROJECT … Site Visit Project Profiles 13... · Cedara project ... Chemistry in Natal; ... was developed into a dairy farm, planting maize, soya beans,

AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

WEEK

PROJECT PROFILES

NOVEMBER

EXTENSION

PROJECT PROFILES

01

NOVEMBER

2017

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Contents

1. Simbamabhele Piggery ............................................................................................................ 2

2. Cedara project ......................................................................................................................... 6

3. Denleigh (Stubbs farming) .................................................................................................... 10

4. A: Lungisisa Indlela Village (LIV) Agricultural Project ............................................................. 13

B: Cappeny estates ................................................................................................................. 18

5. SASRI (South African Sugar Research Institute) .................................................................... 21

DATE TRIP PROJECT SITES LOCATION

01 November 2017 1 Simbamabhele Piggery Bhethani : Port Shepstone

2 Cedara Research Facility Pietermaritzburg: Cedara

3 Denleigh (Stubbs Farm) Karkloof : Howick

4 Lungisisa Indlela Village (LIV)

Agricultural Project

&

Cappeny Estates

Cottonlands: Verulam

Ballito

5 SASRI (South African Sugar Research

Institute)

Flanders Drive (Mount

Edgecombe)

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1. SIMBAMABHELE PIGGERY

Location : Ugu District Municipality / Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality

Traditional Authority: Ndwalane

Approximate Distance : Distance: 135km

Estimate travel time: 1h 20min

Profile

The family bought the smallholding out of their own saving and money from their previous property.

Mrs Mbalo had to resign from her nursing profession to run the farm.

The farm is 45 ha in total, 35ha of sugarcane, the farm house and broiler production units producing 1500

birds per month

The farms started a pig production unit with 5 sows, which progressed over the year into a 120 sow unit

presently.

The farm now produces 3000 birds per month.

Project Scope (Overview)

The purpose of the project is to produce high quality pork to supply the demand in the district and supplying

them to Fresh Meat, one of the biggest butcheries in the South coast and produce healthy broilers for the local

market.

Current Status/Activities

The 130 sow unit piggery.

Job Creation

45 people employed permanently

Workers increase during harvesting of sugarcane.

Marketing

1500 live birds sold-monthly to informal trades within the area.

55 porker’s supplied every Thursday to Fresh Meat butchery.

Agricultural/Business Support

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Currently the Department of Agriculture and Rural development provide extension support. Financial support

to the project is in planning stages business plan approved for construction of a 50 sow unit.

Contribution to Community Development

The farm/project allows local students the opportunity for in-service training in fields like business

management and Farming.

It also allows prospective pig farmers to visit and take tours.

Contribution towards Research/Technology/ Science / Extension

South African Pork Producers(SAPPO), Department of Agriculture and Rural development prove extension

support to the farm.

Forms part of the provincial pork producers study group.

Other Interventions

The project supplies carcasses to Fresh Meat at a price per Kg, which yields more returns than sending pigs to

the abattoir.

Future Business Plans

The farm plans to have their own abattoir in the near future and increase the customer base.

Thematic Focus/Linkage

The Project is managed by a lady Mrs. Mbalo, who is also a co-owner.

Youth members are also co-owners of the project as it is a family business.

The project sends workers to Bensfield academy for more knowledge in piggery.

Visit Requirements

For the reason of Bio-security, the project will open up the curtains for visitors will observe the project from

the outside.

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50 sow’s unit with automated water and feeds

Border piglet house

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Selling stage of pigs

Finisher Pigs: Ready for Marketing, the farmers have a contract with Fresh meat, 55 carcasses per week

Sow after giving birth on the farm

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2. CEDARA PROJECT

Location : uMgungundlovu Municipality

Approximate Distance : Distance: 94 km

Estimate travel time: 1 hr

Profile

THE PAST

The land upon which the Cedara Research Station was developed was acquired by the Natal Government in

1902, “to establish a Central Experimental Farm and Agricultural College for the training of young men and

women intending to go farming”. It was under the control of the Director of Agricultural Experiments and

Chemistry in Natal; the Director also acted as Principal of the College. At this time the property was not

fenced, there were few trees and no buildings.

Due to the poor grazing, the outspan that existed on the property was not popular with the transport riders. In

fact, it is said that the name Cedara means “Bleak and Barren”.

The farm buildings were built first, followed in 1905, by the erection of the College and hostel complex, and

the launching of Cedara’s Agricultural Diploma Course in April of 1906. Attention was given to the

development of the property for research purposes and 1907 saw the introduction of the first dairy nutrition

experiments. Sheep and poultry were also introduced and in time, Cedara poultry gained an enviable

reputation at the national shows and in egg laying tests.

Hundreds of experimental plots were prepared and plant introductory work, fertilizer studies, and pasture and

veld management studies were initiated. Maize and other crops were tested with varying experiments and

under different treatments. An important activity on Cedara at that time was the testing and demonstration

of agricultural implements.

A forestry nursery was established at an early date and over 90 000 trees (gums, pines and wattles) were

planted. The potential for the establishment of a wattle industry was investigated as early as 1913

NATURAL RESOURCE INFORMATION

The climate is temperate: the summers are warm to hot and the winters cold, with frost. Cedara is situated

entirely in the Moist Midlands Mistbelt BioResource Group (BRG) 5. This BRG falls in the 900 – 1 400m above

sea level range and is generally a hilly, rolling country with a high percentage of arable land, where 47% is

suitable for cropping.

Mean annual rainfall for this area ranges from 838 – 1140 mm.

Mean maximum January temperature for the research station is 25°C, while mean minimum July temperature

is 4°C. Frost severity is recognized as light to moderate where, depending on the altitude, an average of 3 - 9

days of frost can occur over a 35 – 70 day period.

This BRG is generally rich in water resources. Soils are relatively deep, highly leached and strongly acid.

Fertility is low, but physical properties are favourable. The topography of Cedara is rolling to flat with gradients

varying from 7 to 16 %. It includes a fairly large area of wetland.

Cedara is an important source of information for the high rainfall BRGs of the Province.

The natural grazing is characterised by the prevalence of “Ngongoni” grass (Aristida junciformis) and is

relatively sour in type. Provision has therefore to be made for the carrying of livestock through the winter

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months. Climatic conditions favour the establishment of cultivated pastures, both for hay-making and grazing

purposes.


RESEARCH STATION PROGRAMME

The research components at Cedara include agronomy, animal science, crop protection, biochemistry,

biometrical services, horticulture, grassland science, and soil science and farm services (who provide services

to all other sections).

The Cedara soil, feed, water, plant and plant health laboratories serve research and farmers throughout the

province.

The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and Universities also use Cedara for their research programmes as

guest researchers.

More detail is supplied under the relevant research directorates.


NITROGEN RESPONSE OF MAIZE SILAGE FOLLOWING RAINFED WINTER COVER CROPS

AD Manson, AJ Arathoon, CM Stevens, HE de Jager and AJ Kent

KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, P/Bag X9059, Pietermaritzburg, 3200

Email: [email protected]

INTRODUCTION

Production of maize silage leaves little residue for farmers that wish to practice no-till. In 2003 a cover-crop

trial was initiated at Cedara Research Farm (near Pietermaritzburg) to investigate the consequences of winter

cover crops in systems where silage maize is grown every summer season. In the 2011/12, 2012/13 and

2013/14 seasons, the plots were split for nitrogen.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The trial is at Cedara Research Farm near Pietermaritzburg. It consists of 27 main plots (9 treatments and 3

replicates). Split-plots received either zero nitrogen or 120 kg N/ha in January. Winter cover crops were

planted in April and were: black oats (var. Saia); black oats and grazing vetch (var. Max); stooling rye (var.

Trojan); stooling rye and grazing vetch; grazing vetch; white clover (var. Haifa); white clover and black

oats. There were two control plots per replicate (winter weeds were allowed to grow). No-till maize was

planted in November. Above-ground dry-matter (DM) yield of the maize and cover crops were measured

(harvested in March).

RESULTS

The use of vetch as a cover crop, either alone, or planted with a temperate grass, can allow N fertilizer savings,

even if grown in winter without supplementary irrigation. In both years, above-ground N uptake for the vetch

treatment at 0 N was similar to that of the control at 120 kg N/ha. The vetch-grass mixtures, however, had

much smaller effects on above-ground N uptake.

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Research and Technology Development performs one of the line functions of the KwaZulu-Natal Department

of Agriculture and Rural Development within the vision and mission of the Department.

KwaZulu-Natal has vast agricultural potential, challenging agricultural Agriculture Research, Development and

Training Institute components to respond by providing essential technology and information needed:

• to improve food security

• to address malnutrition

• to reduce poverty

• to contribute to the expansion of high value crops within sustainable systems

• to promote sustainable economic and environmentally sound development

• to support departmental programs with technical advice and research as required

• to add to the pool of knowledge


Cedara Research Station promotes Climate Smart Agriculture.

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Cedara cover crop trial

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3. DENLEIGH (STUBBS FARMING)

Location : Karkloof : uMngeni Municipality.

Approximate Distance : Distance: 103km

Estimate travel time: 1hr 30min

Profile

The Past

Britt and Rene Stubbs moved to Karkloof valley in 1986. Denleigh was a beef and maize farm at the time, but

was developed into a dairy farm, planting maize, soya beans, potatoes and carrots using conventional

methods.

This type of land use was leading to severe erosion, soil pests and serious wear and tear on equipment. A

decision was made to convert to No-till for the maize silage, cover crops and autumn pasture establishment.


Mr Rene Stubbs has been doing conservation till on maize and soybeans for the last 21 years

He has been planting ryegrass pastures under conservation tillage for the last 10 years.

Area of farm: 790 ha – 540 usable and balance veld and wetland.


Milk 1100 cows and have 890 young cattle as well.

Produce 24000lts milk / day.

The focus point is the use of conservation tillage and the benefits there off.

Job Creation

46 employees

Marketing

Milk supplied to Dairy Day

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The business has benefitted from research outputs of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

This includes pastures and climate smart agriculture.


Milk donation to school feeding schemes via the involvement with other business partners.


Some of the trials conducted in Cedara (e.g. NITROGEN RESPONSE OF MAIZE SILAGE FOLLOWING RAINFED

WINTER COVER CROPS) are as a result of questions asked by dairy farmers like Stubbs Farming


All activities of Denleigh farm are about climate smart agriculture

Healthy Soils Reading to Healthy Outcomes

Dairy manure

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Wailing wall separating manure solids from liquid before solids are spread with Muck Spreader

and liquid pumped through centre pivot into the pastures. (Waste recycling)

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4. (A) LUNGISISA INDLELA VILLAGE (LIV) AGRICULTURAL

PROJECT

Location : Ethekwini District, North

Local Municipality. Ward 60, Verulam

Approximate Distance : Distance : 45 km

Estimate travel time: 25 minutes

Profile

Lungisisa Indlela Village (LIV) is a non-profit organisation committed to uplifting the lives of orphans and

vulnerable children in partnership with government and businesses. This organisation caters for the social and

educational needs of approximately 160 children.

This organisation has undertaken public, private partnerships and received financial support from various

government departments including The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and has

successfully completed a number of projects, namely,

• Construction of housing facilities

• Food security and commercial agriculture projects

• Sporting facilities

• Construction of school.


The establishment of a food security garden and hydroponic tunnels to produce fruit and vegetables to feed

the orphaned children and the sale of surplus produce to generate income to sustain the village.


Cucumbers at various stages of growth are under cultivation in the hydroponic growing facility which has a

dedicated project manager.

The pack house and cold storage facilities are used for value adding and ensure that produce meet with the

desired quality assurance standards.

Also of interest, LIV management have made substantial efforts in water harvesting and water purification.

The borehole water was found to be unsuitable for irrigation, however, the water is treated at a purification

plant before being used in the fertigation system.

Another venture, involves the production of moringa on marginal lands for the production of leaf powder and

capsules which are sold at leading supermarkets and pharmacies.

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Job Creation

The agricultural project has 20 permanent staff employed. Participants have been trained in vegetable and

fruit production by KZNDARD Advisors.

Marketing

Freshmark who are the buyers for Shoprite Checkers and the Spar Group of chain stores.


This Department of Agriculture and Rural Development been closely associated with LIV since 2012 and have

successfully implemented the following projects with a total investment of R1.6 million:

• Mechanization services for 3Ha

• Establishment of 1.5 ha banana orchard

• Establishment of 0.5 ha vegetable garden

• Fencing of 1.7km

• Drilling of borehole and supply of water storage tanks hydroponics

The most recent project was the establishment of a hydroponic growing facility which cost R2.5million and was

completed in in September 2015. This project was planned and implemented in line with the Department’s

Agrarian transformation strategy using the 50:50 funding model. As a joint venture, LIV contributed

R1.3million towards the completion of the hydroponic project which included the construction of a pack-

house.

The hydroponic project is designed for the commercial production of cucumbers in 10 tunnels and LIV has

secured markets at Checkers and Pick and Pay. The first crop was established in September 2015 and the

project is currently fully operational.


The creation of both permanent and contract employment. The housing and provision of educational needs to

orphaned children.


The construction of a Moringa Processing Plant


The project produces vegetables that are grown hydroponically in multi-span tunnel structures that enables

production throughout the year. Water is harvested from a borehole and then undergoes treatment via a

purification system where excessive salts are removed. Leachate from the tunnels are collected and used to

irrigate crops that are grown conventionally. Rain water harvesting is done on all the building roof surfaces and

used for various activities in the village.

Cucumber Production:

Hydroponic Multi-span tunnels grown to English Cucumbers

Cucumber Seedlings

an tunnels grown to English Cucumbers

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Moringa Leaf Powder

Pack house

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4 (B) CAPPENY ESTATES

Location : D176 District Road, Off Esenembe Rd, Compensation, Ballito

GPS co-ordinates: 29°28'41.49"S; 31°10'20.73"E

Approximate Distance : Distance: 49.8km


Profile / Project Scope

Cappeny Estates is a commercial strawberry farm that was built from scratch in 2013. This followed a research

period of 18 months that included technical tours to other commercial strawberry farms in Europe and the

Middle East.

The farm is 100% Black African owned and managed. It has 8.5ha production footprint and is 17.8 ha in total


Current operations include growing and harvesting of strawberries as well as providing value-added strawberry

products such as strawberry jam, strawberry dried fruit, Baked granola with strawberries

Job Creation

The existing staff compliment consists of approximately 80 people of which 30 are permanent and the balance

seasonal

Marketing

Fresh fruit is supplied to most major retailers with access to more than 500 stores.


Department of Agriculture grant funding support has been provided via the Agribusiness Development Agency

(ADA). This was towards additional plant material, equipment and specialised implements including a high-

clearance tractor.


Cappeny Estates continues to provide opportunities to young ‘future’ farmers to gain practical work

experience. This is a 12 month programme that encompasses all the aspects of production at Cappeny Estates.

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Cappeny Estates through its membership to the Strawberry Growers Association is widening the body of

knowledge in growing strawberries in an atypical growing region.

Other Interventions

Processing of strawberry products.


The business is currently pursuing plans to expand its processing infrastructure in order to respond to the

demand for these value-added products.


• Integrating youth and women in CSA – Cappeny Estates employs 90% women of which 50% are youth

• Scaling up ICT innovations for CSA – Cappeny Estates is pioneering a cloud-based farm-management

system for all the aspects of business

• Scalable CSA technologies and innovations – Hand held devices for real-time farm management

• Capacity development for scaling up CSA innovations – Teaming up with CSA experts to pilot and

pioneer new methodologies such as aeroponics and real-time digital checklist

• Knowledge management for CSA – Cappeny Estates documents its operations incrementally innovates

all entrenched practices

• Innovation for entrepreneurship – Pioneering innovating growing methods and management systems

Visit Requirements

None

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5. SASRI (SOUTH AFRICAN SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE)

Location : Mount Edgecombe, Durban

Approximate Distance : Distance: 18.5km


Profile / Project Scope

The South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI) is a leading agricultural research institute in Africa,

established in 1925 to serve the sugar industry. It is world renowned for its research into the development of

new sugarcane varieties and improvement of crop management and farming systems to enhance profitability.

Research at SASRI is clustered within four multidisciplinary programmes, namely Variety Improvement, Crop

Protection, Crop Performance & Management, and Systems Design & Optimisation.

An Extension Service provides the essential link between researchers and sugarcane farmers and makes a

significant contribution to the sustainability of the industry through effective technology development and

knowledge exchange.

SASRI’s Biosecurity function aims to manage and protect the industry from known biosecurity threats and

monitors for potential incursion from new pests and diseases.

SASRI also offers a range of services including fertilizer advice, disease diagnoses and education courses.


The SASRI research site at Mount Edgecombe is the home to the Plant Breeding Glasshouse, a facility built to

enable plant breeders to make crosses between a wide variety of parents, enabling conventional breeding of

new sugarcane varieties.

Delegates will have an opportunity to see the oldest experimental trial site in southern Africa (BT1) and then

to wander through the shade house and weed biocontrol facilities where pot trials are conducted and insect

biocontrol agents are reared. The tour concludes with a visit to the NovaCane® facility (SASRI’s newest facility)

to gain an insight into sugarcane tissue culture.

Job Creation

SASRI currently employs around 625 staff who operate out of seven sites around the industry.

Marketing

SASRI serves South African growers and millers through the provision of research and specialist services. The

support to SADC countries is provided through a user-pays Specialist Advisory Service.

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The SASRI Extension Service is engaged with the KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

(DARD) through an Extension Venture Agreement (EVA) that is renewable after five years. This Extension

Venture Agreement has its own Programme of Work that gets monitored quarterly by DARD Senior

Management. The primary objective of the programme is to upskill the Government Agricultural Advisors in

sugarcane husbandry to be able to advise farmers in sugarcane production.

The Mass Rearing of Biological Control Agents facility at SASRI is funded by the Department of Environmental

Affairs, Working for Water Programme.


SASRI’s Extension department contributes to building sustainable communities through supporting

development projects. This support is in the form of well-planned farmer training events such as study groups,

farmer days and field days. Skills development is achieved through hands-on training, using SASA’s Shukela

Training Centre to provide on-farm training without interfering with a farmer’s production.


SASRI contributes directly to the research of sugarcane agriculture through its four research focus areas. In

addition to research projects, the focus is on technology development to support decision-making. The joint

Government/SASRI Extension partnership contributes to uplifting and sustaining the industry.


The theme of the 2017 conference is SCALING UP CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE: INTEGRATING YOUTH,

WOMEN, AND THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION.

• Integrating youth and women in CSA

• Scaling up ICT innovations for CSA

• Scalable CSA technologies and innovations

• Capacity development for scaling up CSA innovations

• Knowledge management for CSA

• Innovation for entrepreneurship

One of the key areas in the SASRI Programme of Work is focused on “Climate Proofing Sugarcane Agriculture”.

This project portfolio addresses drought adaptation-related issues including:

� assessment of the potential impacts of predicted climate change scenarios on sugarcane cultivation;

� breeding of varieties with improved water-deficit stress tolerance;

� developing technology systems to enable the more effective management of water during periods of

heightened water scarcity; and

� partnering with growers in knowledge exchange interventions to promote the adoption of technologies to

improve crop resilience to stress and the efficiency of on-farm water use.

The Institute further undertakes bioenergy-related research

� to investigate possible means to mitigate drivers of climate change.

SASRI’s first smartphone app called PurEst® will be demonstrated. This tool assists with ripener and harvest

recommendations and is an effective tool in enabling profitable production.

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SASRI provides access to real-time and historical weather data through an on-line site called WeatherWeb.

Real-time weather information is useful for decision making regarding irrigation, chemical application and

harvesting operations. This site will be demonstrated to tour participants.

Visit Requirements

Comfortable clothing, hat, flat shoes, raincoat or umbrella if inclement weather.

NovaCane®

Tissue culture and micro propagation facility

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Plant Breeding & Selection

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Weed Biocontrol

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BT1 – Burning and Trashing trial

Rain shelter

Documents

AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WEEK PROJECT … Site Visit Project Profiles 13... · Cedara project ... Chemistry in Natal; ... was developed into a dairy farm, planting maize, soya beans,