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How to Enter into Gourmet Garlic Farming Now

Agricultural Business, Agriculture Business Plans, Building a profitable business, Farming Business Plans, Farming Plans, Farming Proposals, Garlic Farming, Garlic Farming Plans, Gourmet Garlic Farming /

                                              

Gourmet Garlic Farming is a booming business that is continuing to grow and there are many ways to profit from a garlic business. Although the crop can be grown successfully in a wide range of soil types and in almost any climate, it fares best in well-drained soils with a pH of between 6 and 7.5. Soils with high organic matter content are preferred, due to their increased moisture – and – nutrient – holding capacity.

Cultivars

Egyptian White, Egyptian Pink and Giant Garlic have been planted for many generations in South Africa and these cultivars have adapted well to local climates. For a better chance of a good crop, its important to stick to the correct planting time, from February to May. Good quality seeds forms the foundation of a good harvest.

Fertilizing

During its initial growth phase , as the plant emerges and spreads its leaves, the crop might require generous applications of nitrogen. Phosphorous should also be applied for optimal root development, and potassium added for leaf growth and healthy bulb formation.

                                                           

Harvesting

Garlic is ready to be harvested when 30% of the plants on a land have turned brown and started dying down. Harvesting can be carried out manually or mechanically but should be done carefully to prevent damaging the bulbs. After the plants have been pulled from the soil, they are laid out in bunches to dry for up to 3 days and then hung in a cool, well-ventilated place. Once the lobes have dried out, the leaves can be cut off and the garlic is ready to be marketed. A huge advantage of growing garlic is its long shelf life; it can be stored for months at room temperature.

If you want to make money by growing garlic you need to grow what people want to buy. Avoid the standard garlic you’ll find in every supermarket, and grow only gourmet varieties, like Rocambole or Elephant garlic.

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Alpaca Farming – How to start now?

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Alpaca farming has rapidly becoming one of the most successful and respected farming enterprises in the agriculture sector. Alpacas can provide healthy financial returns, a breeding challenge and a wonderful lifestyle. Alpacas offer an outstanding choice for livestock ownership. Alpacas have a charismatic manner, they do very well on small farms, and they produce a luxury product which is continually increasing in demand.
One of the many reasons why people love alpaca farming is because the camilids fiber are softer, warmer and lighter as compared to wool. Alpacas are also known to come in a wide range of colors which makes it so usable that dyeing is not needed for this product that has 22 shades of color to choose from. Also, alpaca farming in environmental friendly because alpacas do not have a significant impact on the landscape comparing to other animals. The alpacas only has 2 toes and they are very light on their feet.
When starting an alpaca farm, you will need to set up a section of land that will accommodate them. Depending on the farmer and the pack, an acre of land can accommodate from 10 – 15 alpacas comfortably if you are feeding hay and not expecting them to live off pasture. When they live off pastures, the number significantly decreases.
After the land is ready, you need to construct a barn that will act as a shelter for the alpacas. The barn will create a shelter that will keep them cool and away from direct sunlight, which can be uncomfortable for them. It will also keep them dry during the rain. They do not like getting wet, and it can ruin the fleece if it stays moist for a long period of time.
You also need to ensure that you have secured your land with the right fence. Alpacas behave like other animals, whereby they would walk out of the secluded zone if there is nothing to stop them. For that, you need to erect a fence around the land. The fence should be between 4 and a half feet tall. You can either use boards or woven wire, which should be no more than 4 inches apart.
Before starting your alpaca farm, you need to find a local veterinarian that have knowledge of alpacas. Ensure that the vet is close enough, for the sake of checkups, emergencies and other routine shots. When compared with other livestock, alpacas attract very few flies and have very little odor. They’ll typically establish between  two and four dung piles in their enclosure, taking up between 10% and 20% of their entire pasture area. This natural habit makes cleanup and parasite control very easy.

                

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How Profitable is Coconut Oil Production now?

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Coconuts , or cocos nucifera, are part of the palm tree family. Coconut trees come in 13 different varieties and can live anywhere from ten to hundred years, depending on type and growing condition. Coconuts grow from the seed. If you leave a coconut outside in shady conditions long enough it will begin to sprout a leaf from its hard shell in about 6 to 8 months.
Coconuts should be planted approximately ten to thirty feet apart depending on which type of tree you have. Dwarf coconuts are shorter and have thicker bases than other coconuts that grow tall and thin. Coconuts are in season all year long and grow in groups of 5 to 12 fruits each. A new group begins to grow every month. So, a bunch of coconuts mature once every month, with a coconut palm producing about 100 – 120 coconuts a year.
Coconut oil is an edible oil which is extracted from the copra. It provides the primary source of fat in the diet of millions of people. Important coconut manufacturing plant machines you will need to start a coconut oil manufacturing business include (but not limited to):
* Boiler.
* Copra Cutter.
* Copra Dyer.
* Cooker / Kettle.
* Copra Oil Expeller Machines.
* Crude Coconut Oil Storage Tanks.
* Oil Filter Press Machines.
* Bucket Elevator.
* Filtered Oil Storage Tanks.

                            

 

Coconut Oil is an edible oil derived from the wick, meat, and milk of the coconut palm fruit.
HOW IS COCONUT OIL MADE???
1. Boiling Method – This is the most recognized method of making coconut oil. It involves using heat to separate the oil from the coconut meat.
2. Cold Press Method – This method uses no heat, so it retains most of the nutrients found in the coconut oil.
3. Wet Milling Method – Refrigeration – This method extracts the oil from fresh coconut meat without drying or heating it.

                                                                       

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How to start organic coriander farming now?

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Coriander grows easily and quickly throughout South Africa as a summer annual. The coriander plant is an erect annual herb in the Apiaceae family. Coriander is also known as “Cilantro” and it is an annual herb that has been grown and eaten all around the world for a very long time. It has a wonderful tangy flavor and is the perfect herb plant for adding some zing to your cooking.
Coriander Uses
The fresh leaves and dried seeds of coriander are the parts most commonly used in cooking. But all parts of the coriander plant are edible and the roots are an important element of Thai cooking. Coriander is actually used in cuisines throughout the world.
Advantages of Coriander Farming:
  • Commercial production of coriander is very easy and simple. Even beginners can start this type of farming business without much efforts.
  • Large scale coriander farming is a very profitable business, and it is an excellent way of generating good profits.
  • Coriander plants grow rapidly and they are very strong and hardy. You will get back your invested money within a short period of time.
  • Both demand and value of coriander are good in the market. You will be able to make good profits from this business.
  • Commercial coriander production is highly profitable. So, it can be a great employment source for the unemployed.
  • Coriander is very nutritious and good for your health.
Site Selection
Coriander plants can be grown in almost all types of soil. But plants grow well in well drained and loamy soil. Ideal pH range of the soil should be between 8 and 10.
Variety
There are many local and hybrid varieties of coriander available to choose from. You can choose any variety depending upon it’s growing ability and availability in your specific area.
Planting
Optimum time for sowing coriander seeds for vegetable purposes is the first week of October. When you want to grow coriander seeds for seeds purposes, complete your sowing in the last week of October yo the first week of November. Keep 30cm spacing between row to row and 15cm spacing between plant to plant. Sowing depth should not more than 3cm.
Harvesting
You can start harvesting coriander when the crop attain 20 – 25cm height. 3- 4 cuttings can be taken. If you grow coriander for seed purposes, then it will be ready for harvesting in April month.

                              

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Why Start a Successful Lettuce Farming Operation Now?

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Lactuca sativa, commonly known as lettuce, is a member of the Asterateae family, grown as a leaf vegetable. The origins of lettuce can be traced to the Mediterranean basin from where it spread to the rest of the world. It has been cultivated as a food source for thousands of years and is popular as a salad ingredient all over the world.

Lettuce is grouped into four classes namely:

1. Crisphead or Iceberg Lettuce

This type is widely grown in the country and it is characterized by firm heads and crisp, curly leaves. The outer leaves are dark green, while the inner ones are pale and lack chlorophyll.

2. Butterhead Lettuce

The butterhead lettuce forms a head that is somehow similar to that of cabbage in shape and has soft, waxy, flexible leaves. It is sensitive to hot weather.

3. Loose – leaf Lettuce

This group does not form heads and is characterized by soft leaves. It grows well both in the open field and under protection and can be shipped over long distances.The cos lettuce has a loose head with narrow soft leaves.  The outer leaves are dark green, coarse and have heavy ribs while the inner is lighter.

Soil Requirements

The plant grows well on a wide variety of soils ranging from light sand to heavy clay, whoever, best results are obtained on fertile loam’s that are rich in organic matter. A pH between 5.5 and 7 is optimum. Lettuce should be grown on soils with a high water – holding capacity and proper drainage for good root growth and plant performance.

                                               

Planting

Lettuce is regularly sown directly in the field to a depth of 10 – 15mm. The seedlings are later thinned out to the desired spacing and they are sometimes used for transplanting. Seedlings for transplanting may also be raised in seed – trays or seedbeds and transplanted about five weeks after sowing.

Irrigation

Lettuce has a shallow root system and as such requires frequent but lighter irrigation’s. The roots penetrate the soil to a depth of only 300mm. Water should be applied throughout the growing period and reduced when the heads become full. A water shortage tends to promote bolting.

Harvesting

Lettuce is harvested by hand by cutting off the plant just above the soil surface to keep most of the outer leaves around the head. Harvesting should be done very early in the morning because lettuce wilts rapidly.

                                                                    

 

 

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How to Start a Sustainable Timber Farming Operation now?

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” Commercial Forestry” is much like any other farming practice. The crops are considered a renewable resource, used to make sawn timber, pulp, paper, poles, mining timber , matches, charcoal and cellulose – based  products. Specific species of trees are planted, harvested and replanted in sustainable rotation. This ensures that there are trees at various stages of growth and maturity, ready to harvest for generations to come.

Forestry is more than the science of planting, managing and caring for timber plantations. It’s also about looking after the landscape which timber share with other animal and plant species as well as the people and communities that the Foresting and Forest Products Industries touches.

LOGGING

Logging is the process of cutting down and removing trees from the forest. In forestry, the phrase is used to describe log making, which includes cutting the branches off, removing the bark and cutting trees into parts. In some cases, logging may refer to the whole logistical process of felling, processing, removing and transporting trees from the forest to the sawmill.

LOGGING IMPORTANCE

Below are reasons why logging is important:

1. Minimizes competition for resources – Logging is important because it reduces crowding in the forest. Crowded trees must compete for nutrients such as sunlight and water. The younger and shorter trees may not receive the sunlight they need because of the overcrowding of the older trees.

2. Boosts the health of the trees –  Logging can keep trees healthy. When logging, the parts of trees that have diseases are removed and the remaining trees can grow without the threat of any disease.

3. Provides necessary raw materials – Trees are a raw material and is important for our survival. They are useful in making furniture, supply materials for building homes, and are useful for making many everyday items. All of these things require logging.

4. Reduces forest fires – Logging helps to reduce forest fires. If there’s a lightning – triggered fire in a crowded forest, fire will spread rapidly, unlike when the trees have been thinned.

5. Enhances undergrowth – Selective logging is important, as it allows more sunlight and air to reach the forest floor, encouraging the growth of vegetation under larger trees.

Assistance for small – scale timber operations

The timber industry falls under the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Daff), and to assist small – scale timber operations, the department has established the Forestry Enterprise Development (FED) Programme. The aim of the FED programme is to create opportunities for people to utilize forests indigenous forests, woodlands and plantations and forest – based resources for economic growth, income generation/ job creation in a manner that will take people from a subsistence livelihood system into the market economy

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WHY START A SUCCESSFUL DATES FRUIT FARMING NOW?

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                                                         c

Commercial dates farming business is growing day by day. “Phoenix dactylifera” known as date or date palm, is actually a flowering plant species in the palm family, Arecaceae. It is cultivated for it’s edible sweet fruit. Dates are the biggest oasis and desert cash crop. They are harvested from the palm trees and dried out in the sun and stored for the wintertime when they supply food for a family and assist herds of camels, goats and sheep.
Date palm is the oldest tree cultivated on earth. They are a excellent source of calcium, sugar, iron and potassium. They are also used in many social and religious festivals. They have many health benefits like relive constipation, reduce heart disease, control diarrhea and help in pregnancy. It is also used for making different products such as chutney, pickles, jam, juice, and other bakery items.

SOIL

It can be cultivated in any soil, don’t have any specific requirement. But for good growth and yield, it required well drained, deep sandy loam soil with a pH in the range of 7-8. Avoid soils having a hard pan up to 2meter below soil layer. Saline and alkaline soils are also suitable for cultivation but yield obtained is low.

PROPAGATION

Propagation of the date palm is done with the help of suckers as propagation with seeds is impractical. Select suckers or offshoots from the mother plant. Suckers are obtained from 4 or 5th year after planting. Ideal weight of suckers should be 15 – 20kg.

DATE CULTIVARS

The most popular variety in South Africa is the “Medjool Date”. Other popular varieties are Barhi, Deglet Noor, Sayer and Zahdi.

GROWTH

It normally take a date palm almost 2 years to be ready to plant out into the field. Another 4 years to produce a reasonable crop and up to 12 years to reach full production of 80kg and more per tree. Production can go on for 100 years but does decline around 50 years.
NEED TO KNOW MORE OR NEED HELP WITH A PROFESSIONAL FARMING BUSINESS PLAN CONTACT US NOW AT: (27) 84 583 3143 OR EMAIL US AT – money@global.co.za.

                                                                

 

 

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HOW SUCCESSFUL IS BEETROOT FARMING NOW?

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Beetroot is generally a widely adaptable crop that can be grown under most conditions throughout South Africa. Beetroot can be planted all year round but as a rule of thumb, areas where there could be frost conditions or excessive heat around planting time these should be avoided.

Soil Preparation

As seed is sown directly, fields need to be prepared correctly and thoroughly. The soil need to be well tilled, free of old plant material and have a good crumb structure. Good soil preparation can be achieved by ploughing, harrowing, and leveling prior to sowing. The ideal pH for beetroot production is between 6.0 and 8.0. Beetroot prefer deep, friable, well drained sandy loam’s to silt loam’s.

Crop Rotation

Good crop rotation will keep the soil healthy and fertile. Beetroot can safely be rotated with the following crops:

  • Legumes.

  • Babala.

  • Cereals.

  • Tomatoes.

  • Cabbage.

  • Onions and carrots.

Transplanting

More than 90% of beetroot producers sow the seed directly in the soil, but seed can also be sown in seedbeds, and then transplanted. Seed trays or other containers can also be used to raise seedlings but this is expensive because of the high cost.

Harvesting

Soil should be slightly moist before cutting or pulling beets. If the soil is too dry, roots maybe difficult to clean and the rate of top breakage maybe too high. For the best flavor and tenderness harvesting should begin when roots are 3-4cm in diameter. Handle beets carefully after harvesting to avoid damaging the roots. Any damage reduces shelf life and increases the chances of decay and disease.

                                             

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WHY SHOULD I START A SPRING ONION FARMING OPERATION NOW?

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Spring onions add interest to many dishes. The white bulbs have a delicate onion flavor while the long hollow leaves can be thinly sliced to add texture and color. Spring Onion seeds are sowed from March to August at 3 weekly intervals. Harvesting can start 8 weeks after sowing.

Spring Onions are very easy to grow for commercial purposes and consumers like them because they can be used in a variety of recipes. Spring onions are sometimes called: scallions, bunching onions, long green onions, Japanese bunching onions or salad onions. They are a good source of vitamins A, B and C and come in white and red color stemmed varieties.

Soil Requirements

The best soil for the Spring Onion crop is slightly acid, with a pH between 5.3 and 5.8 – using calcium chloride to measure the levels. Spring Onion crop is produced throughout the year.

Spacing

Single plants – 10cm each way (minimum).

Rows – 10cm with 10cm row gap (minimum).

To sow Spring Onion seed outdoors, sow seeds thinly into shallow drills about 1,5cm deep with rows spaced 30cm apart. Water and keep the seeds environment moist. Once the Spring Onion seeds have germinated and developed into a substantial young plant, cover them with cloches.

Watering

Spring Onions like moderate moisture and water the onions when the soil is starting to dry around the onions. Be careful not to over-water the plant as you will get larger onions with a very weak flavor. Spring Onion plants need to be well watered throughout their growth.This is because of their short root length.

Harvesting

Generally, harvest Spring Onions after 8 weeks. Spring Onions are ready to eat once they reach about 6 inches in height with a thickness of about 1/2 inch. Usually, this takes approximately 8 weeks, but some may take a few weeks longer.

                                          

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HOW TO START PRECISION FARMING / AGRICULTURE NOW?

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Precision Farming seeks to use new technologies to increase crop yields and profitability while lowering the levels of traditional inputs. These inputs are needed to grow crops – land, water, fertilizer, herbicides and insecticides. In other words, farmers utilizing precision agriculture are using less to grow more. Precision agriculture is the latest trend in agricultural sectors around the world, because it saves time and reduces cost.

DO YOU NEED TO SWITCH TO PRECISION FARMING???

Yes. It is already profitable and will be inevitable in the future. American farmers already save between $11 000 and $39 000 a year on average. The sooner farmers begin to implement precision farming, the more competitive they will be in the future.

Precision Farming Benefits:

  • Simplified Farming Processes.
  • More cost – efficient farming.
  • More time on hands.
  • Higher yields and more profitable.
  • Better quality produce.
  • Less waste.
  • Higher quality of life.

       

Many farmers are adopting new equipment to make their farming more precise. Tractors can map fields, drives themselves, and check it’s own motion so it doesn’t waste fertilizer, seed or fuel. Farnming technology includes remote sensing with data collection on variables like nutrient levels and soil moisture.

Precision farming is about managing variations in the field accurately to grow more food using fewer resources and reducing production costs. The main goal of “precision farming” is to improve agricultural yield and reduce potential environmental risks.

Future of Precision Farming

Some of the most recently technologies available and under development are the state – of – the – art robots. They are capable of managing crops more and more accurately with the possibility of collecting important data.

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HOW TO START A PAPAYA/PAWPAW FARMING SUCCESSFUL NOW?

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Papaya (pawpaws) have a creamy, custard – like flesh with a complex combination of tropical fruit flavors. They are most commonly described as tasting like banana combined with mango, pineapple, melon, berries, or other fruit. There is a considerable variety of flavors among wild pawpaws, ranging from awful to sublime.

SOIL

Pawpaw (papaya) need a light, well-drained soil. They are easily killed by excess moisture. The soils need to be moist in hot weather and dry oin cold weather. Pawpaws do not tolerate salty water or soil. While doing best in light, porous soils rich in organic matter, the plant will grow in scarified limestone, marl, or various other soils if it is given adequate care. Optimum pH ranges from 5.5 to 6.7. On rich organic soils the pawpaw makes lush growth and bears heavily but the fruit are of low quality. It is recommended that no herbicides are used due to the little woodyness of the paw paw tree stem which may end up damaged.

SEEDS

Seeds may be planted directly in the field, or seedlings raised in beds or pots may be transplanted when 6 weeks old or even up to 6 months of age, though there must be great care in the handling process. The longer the delay the greater the risk of dehydrated or twisted roots; also, transplanting often results in trunk-curvature in windy locations.

PLANTING

The pawpaw/papaya is a tropical and near – tropical species, very sensitive to frost and limited to the region between 32° north and 32° south of the equator. It needs plentiful rainfall or irrigation but must have good drainage. Flooding for 48 hours is fatal.

FERTILIZATION

The fast – growing pawpaw requires regular applications of nitrogen fertilizers but the exact rates have not been established. Feed monthly and adjust according to the plant’s response. They can take fairly hot organic fertilizing such as chicken manure if used with deep irrigation after warm weather has started.

POLLINATION

If a pawpaw plant is inadequately pollinated, it will bear a light crop of fruits lacking uniformity in size and shape. Therefore, hand – pollination is advisable in commercial plantations that are not entirely bisexual. Bags are tied over bisexual blossoms for several days to ensure that they are self- pollinated. The progeny of self-pollinated bisexual flowers are 67% bisexual, the rest being female.

Fruit farming is a profitable business that has evolved over the years from small scale – backyard gardens to a global industry in all countries where it’s carried out. If you want to start your own successful farming operation and create some jobs for people, the best way is to start with a proper and well-structured business plan.

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HOW TO START A SUCCESSFUL SUGAR BEAN FARMING NOW?

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Sugar beans have a very huge market because           they are consumed by almost every household and large institutions such a boarding schools and prisons. Sugar bean farming can be a very rewarding venture if the appropriate crop is planted in the right regions and at the right time with the right inputs. Sugar bean farmers should follow proper procedures on growing the crop starting from land preparation to harvesting.Like any other crop, sugar beans need basal fertilizers and respond to basal manure and fertilizer application.

Beans may be grown on a wide range of soils, but they generally prefer soils with some clay (>15%), and they are sensitive to soil acidity.. Beans are best grown during the cooler months of summer (January to April) on the Highveld or in winter in the Lowveld with irrigation. In the Highveld, sugar beans can be grown after frost occurrence.

VARIETIES

A number of varieties are available, from speckled sugar beans ( S.C. Bounty & S C Sharp types) to white broad beans. It is important to select the right variety for the intended market, as there are definite market preferences. The most preferred is the speckled type.

PLANTING

Plant when the soil is moist. Planting in rows has many advantages like:

 – you use the correct plant density;

 – weeding is easier; and

– harvesting takes less time.

1. Plant in rows which are 20 – 30cm apart. Within a row, plant seeds at 5 – 7cm apart.

2. Plant seeds at a depth of about 5cm.

3. Fill gaps one to two weeks after planting and when plants have emerged.

                                                                                 

APPLYING FERTILIZER

Sugar beans needs phosphorus at planting. Good fertilizer types for sugar beans are SSP or compound L. Although sugar beans can fix nitrogen, it often benefits from a small starter dose of nitrogen from fertilizer. Fertilizer types that supply both phosphorus and nitrogen are compound L, compound D or NPK.

HARVESTING

Start harvesting sugar beans when the leaves and pods are dry and yellow brown. Harvest by handpicking dry pots or by cutting the plans at ground level using a sickle. Leave the roots on the farm to improve soil fertility.  Dry the pods or the plants with pods in the sun on a clean surface like a mat, plastic sheet or tarpaulin, or on a raised platform. Dry for about one day and do not dry the pods on the soil.

LAND SELECTION.

Select fertile to moderately fertile land with no water logging. Sugar beans does not tolerate acidic soils. Think about the rotation scheme for the field you want to plant. To prevent diseases do not plant beans in the same field you used for beans last season.

TO START AND RUN A SUCCESSFUL AND PROFITABLE SUGAR FARM OPERATION YOU WILL NEED A PROFESSIONAL AND BANKABLE BUSINESS PLAN. CONTACT US NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION AT – (27) 84 583 3143 OR EMAIL: money@global.co.za

                       

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HOW TO GROW CHILLIES- PEPPER VEGETABLES NOW

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Chillie – Pepper farming is part of a fast – growing industry and pretty much active in all countries of the world. With the recent advancement in technology, farmers can now comfortably grow chillie – peppers and a variety of vegetables in a country where such crops can hardly survive.

Chillie – Peppers is one of the most consumed vegetables in the world simply because it has so many valuable medicinal properties due to the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and organic compounds contained in them. Chillie- Pepper reduces LDL cholesterol levels in obese people and fresh chillie peppers, red and green, are a rich source of Vitamin C.

There are many chillie cultivars but to name a few: Anaheim, Inchanga, Long Red Cayenne, Trinidad, Long Slim Cayenne, Pendent, Scotch Bonnet, Serrano Spitfire, Habanero, Super Cayenne, Ristra, Super Chillie, Skyline. However, the four most popular types of chillie peppers include: Ghost Peppers, Habanero, Jalapeno, and Poblano peppers.

                                                                                 

Soil Requirements

They prefer a sandy soil that is well drained. The roots are concentrated in only the top 30 to 40cm of soil so irrigation needs to be very well managed to prevent moisture stress in the soil, to which the plant is very sensitive. The organic content must be high in the soil, otherwise organic material and compost must be mixed into the soil prior to planting. The ideal pH of the soil must be between 6.0 and 7.0.

Climate

Chillie is a warm climate crop that is sensitive to cold, frost and growth is severely hampered by temperatures below 15ºC but also by temperatures over 35ºC. They do best when the daytime temperatures fluctuates between 24ºC and 30ºC. Once the fruit is starting to ripen it prefers dry weather without rain, as rain creates disease and irrigation management problems. It also hampers the drying out of the chillie on the plant for those varieties that are stored dry for later sale or dry processing.

Irrigation

Chillies require about 600mm of water during the growing season in the form of rain or irrigation. During flowering and fruit, set water should be sufficient and water-logging should be avoided as the crop is sensitive.Too much water may inhibit flowering and fruit formation and too little lead to flower drop. Furrow and drip irrigation are mostly recommended. If overhead irrigation has to be used, it should not be scheduled for late in the evening because wet leaves and fruit promote diseases. Plants should be dry before nightfall.

Fertilization

In order to realize acceptable yields in peppers, fertilizers must be used and before applying fertilizers, soil tests should be conducted to determine the type and the quality of fertilizer in the soil to ensure optimum plant growth. It should be fertilized with a combination of organic and/or chemical fertilizers. 

Uses

Chillies are used as ingredients to add flavor and color to most dishes. They are high in Vitamin A and C, calcium and iron and can be used as a medication to treat asthma, coughs and sore throats.

                                                                         

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How to Start a Successful Lucerne Farming Operation Now?

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Lucerne’s extensive root system enables the crop to produce good yields even under relatively dry conditions. Lucerne perennial nature means that once successfully established reliable production could be expected for at least the following 3-4 years.

With a lower cell wall content than grass lucerne is highly digestible and intake tends to be high. Protein and mineral contents are also high making lucerne a valuable alternative forage. It is particularly suitable as a complementary feed when feed alongside maize silage.

Soil Preparation

When lucerne is to be established under irrigation, it is especially desirable to prepare a fine and firm seedbed. As the soil will be irrigated for a number of seasons, well laid out beds save costs and ensure high yields. As efficient weed control is practically impossible in new established lucerne lands, the preparation of the soil must be such that the seedbed is practically weed free at the time of establishment. It must always be kept in mind that lucerne usually remains on the land of a number of years and that good soil preparation before establishment is of the utmost importance because this will eliminate future problems.

Establishment

1. Choose a area that is well drained and spray out to eliminate all weeds.

2. Soil test to determine crop time and nutrient requirements.

3. Cultivate to achieve a fine, even seedbed with no compaction layers.

4. Plant high quality, certified seed.

5. Avoid sowing lucerne seed into dry soils.

6. Plant coated seed and sow at 12 – 18 kg/ha.

Planting Depth

Lucerne is a small seed with a limited supply of stored energy to support the developing seeding. Therefore, correct seeding depth is very important. Placing seed in a moist soil at a uniform relatively shallow depth maximizes germination an emergence.

Plant lucerne no deeper than 25mm with the optimal soil depth ranging from 6-12mm on clay and loam soils and 12-25mm on sand. Lucerne seedlings that do emerge from deeper than 25mm are weaker because of the energy expended during germination. Use the shallow depth for early spring seedlings when moisture is more abundant.

Lucerne Silage

Cutting fresh lucerne at the optimal stage of maturity and feeding it directly to animals year round would supply the highest quality and most palatable feed possible. In addition, field and storage losses would be minimized. However, fluctuations in seasonal growth and plant maturity as well as changing animal feed requirements may make it necessary to harvest and store the lucerne crop to maximize both quality and quantity.

Silage compared to hay:

1. Lower field losses when harvested as silage.

2. Less leaf loss resulting in more nutrients for feeding.

3. Consistent forage quality.

4. Greater ability to harvest the crop at ideal maturity as less rain-free weather is required for silage.

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TABLE GRAPES & RAISIN FARMING -IS THAT PROFITABLE NOW?

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Table grapes are grapes intended for consumption while they are fresh, as opposed to grapes grown for wine production, juice production, or for drying into raisins. Table varieties usually have lower sugar content than wine grapes and are more flavorful when eaten. The Orange River; the valleys of the Hex, Berg and Olifants Rivers; and Limpopo province are the main producers of table grapes.

Planting Tips

Follow these easy tips for growing delicious grapes:-

Soil Preparation: Choose a sunny place for your grape plant to grow, where the soil drains well. Prepare a 60cm x 60cm hole. Mix some rich, compost into the topsoil removed from the hole and put this mix back into the hole. Compost also helps soil retain water.

Plant Correctly: Plant the root and stem of the vine about 400mm deep, leaving about 50mm of stem above the ground level. Cover the exposed stem with loose soil. New shoots will force their way through the mound of soil and do not need to be covered.

During the summer, allow it to grow unchecked. Remember to fertilize regularly but try to keep soil fertility at a moderate level – too much fertilizer will cause excessive vegetative growth, while too little will decrease the plant’s productivity.

Always mulch your plants – mulch conserves soil water and is Water Wise.

Pruning

  • In the first winter, choose the strongest branch of your plant and cut it back to two eyes.

  • Remove all other branches and when the two eyes send out new shoots, choose the most vigorous one and tie it to the support fence or pergola. Cut of the other shoot.

  • As the stronger shoot grows, tie it to the support fence and pinch off side shoots at every 25cm interval.

  • When the selected shoot reaches the desired height, cut it off at this height. The two side shoots which develop are now trained to grow horizontally outward on each side of the main stem.

Grapevines are not difficult to grow- they like gravel and stony soils, where the soil drains well. They do not respond well to over- or under watering. As they are woody climbing vines you will need to provide a strong support for your grape plant, such as a pergola or strong fence.

RAISIN PRODUCTION

25 years ago, a raisin was a raisin. All raisins were made from Thompson Seedless grapevines and all were tray dried in the field. Research and Development work has now given us more than six different seedless varieties of grapes that can be made into raisins and three different commercial techniques that can be used to provide raisins.

For the last 80 years, the vast majority of raisins have been made from Thompson Seedless grapevines, using a traditional drying process where field workers manually harvest clusters of mature grapes and lay them on paper trays, between the vine rows, to dry. This traditional approach to producing raisins is very labor intensive and research efforts began in the 1950s to develop mechanized raisin harvesting.

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HOW TO START CATTLE & SHEEP FARMING SUCCESSFUL NOW?

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CATTLE FARMING

Beef farming slots in well with other agriculture enterprises, especially grain. Cattle can feed on resources that have little other use, such as crop residue and land not suitable for crops.

Before entering the cattle business, though, you should consider your resources, the land available and your level of interest and skill. You should know why you want to rear cattle, and be able to set yourself goals to achieve the most constant economic return or personal satisfaction.

A small-scale cattle enterprise can involve a growing and feeding system (calves or weaners are either raised or bought and then fattened for slaughter), breeding herds, or a combination of growing, feeding and breeding herds.

Growing/ Feeding

In a weaner operation you acquire calves after weaning at 10 to 15 months of age. They can then be fed and marketed in less than a year from the time of purchase. Thus, the investment on each calf is returned within a comparatively short time. This type of operation not require much land, but you will need adequate facilities to keep the animals comfortable and under control. Working with calves requires a good deal of patience, as they are easily excited and stressed, and a health program should be discussed with a vet.

Commercial or Registered?

Establishing a breeding herd is a long-term objective. You need to decide whether to run commercial cattle or registered purebred cattle. Income from a commercial beef herd comes mainly from the sale of calves and old or cull animals, whereas income from registered cattle comes mostly from sale of breeding stock.

Breeding registered cattle to supply breeding animals to other cattle producers usually needs a large capital investment in stock. You also will have to keep accurate records and register the purebred calves retained for breeding stock.

SHEEP FARMING      

                                                           

Sheep husbandry is mainly practiced in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Free State and Mpumalanga, with the other provinces having smaller numbers. The domestic sheep is produced for its wool, meat and milk. Other byproducts are:-

  • Clothes, footwear, rugs, and other products are made from sheepskin.
  • Sheep tallow can be used in candle and soap making.
  • Sheep droppings, which are high in cellulose, have even been sterilized and mixed with traditional pulp materials to make paper.
  • Of all sheep byproducts, the most valuable is lanolin: the water proof, fatty substance found naturally in sheep’s wool and use as a base for innumerable cosmetics and other products.

Small can be profitable

A small sheep farming operation calls for dedication, discipline and a genuine concern for the animals. Sheep farming is not simply about numbers. A small number of well-managed, productive animals may make you more money than a larger number of animals on poor condition.

GENERAL

Inoculation

It is crucial to follow a proper inoculation and dosing program. Keep record of the dates of dosing or inoculation and the quantity used on each sheep.

Hooves

Trim the animal’s hooves regularly, especially if they have to walk long distances to and from grazing.

Clean Wool

To ensure good clip prices, keep the wool on the sheep free from thorns and grass seed.

Keep Records

In addition to keeping records of inoculations, newborn lambs, the sale of ewes and so on, it is extremely important to keep proper records of expenses and income to determine the profitability of the operation. Without this, you cannot run a business successfully.

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HYDROPONIC CROP PRODUCTION – HOW TO START NOW?

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TOMATOES

Tomatoes are one of the major food crops of the Western world, yet breeders are still trying to improve the fruit’s disease resistance, shape flavor and color. The tomato is a member of the Solanaceae family which also includes peppers, capsicums, eggplants, potatoes and tobacco. While many consider the tomato to be a vegetable, it is in fact a berry fruit. There are many varieties and they are used in many different ways. Some are eaten fresh in salads, others used in cooking. Some varieties are firm and have a large amount of fiber (i.e. they have a low solids content). Firm varieties are preferred for salads and sandwiches. Hence selection of the correct variety is important.

When deciding to start growing tomatoes commercially it is very important to find out what your market wants. If you are seeking to establish a new market then you should do some research into the market size. It is also important to produce quality fruit. The tomatoes should have a uniform color, and fruit showing uneven or blotchy areas should be discarded, as well as bruised, split or misshapen fruit.

Varieties

It is very important to establish the market you are intending to sell to and then produce for that market. While the grower may be proud to produce large prize-winning tomatoes, the normal consumer buys tomatoes that are 65 to 75 mm diameter and weigh 120 to 150 grams. Tomato varieties can be placed in four main categories according to their method of production and market use:

  1. Canning tomatoes.                                                

  2. Greenhouse tomatoes.

  3. Outdoor tomatoes.

  4. Specialty tomatoes. 

Spacing

Plants should not be crowded. Close planting tends to favor leaf diseases and development of smaller fruit. At the same time there must be room to work along the rows and the plants open enough to allow light to penetrate and air to move through the plants. The optimum space per plant is between three and four plants per sq. metre of growing area, and if rows are 30cm wide then the spacing per plant is 45cm or 23,000 plants per hectare with aisle widths of 900 mm in the greenhouse. The density of planting may be increased in spring to give 30,000 plants per hectare of shed.

Fruit Development

Fruit color development is also temperature sensitive, the best red color forms when the average daily temperatures are 18degrees C to 24degrees C. Yellowness increases as temperatures rises above 26 – 29 degrees C. If the temperature rises above 40degrees C, the mechanism for producing the red pigment is destroyed. The affected areas on these fruit are yellow or sun burnt. When the fruit is maturing it is best to reduce the amount of watering to minimize leaf spot damage, as well as fruit damage such as star cracks. Restricting watering also helps to improve the fruits’ keeping qualities.

Harvesting

All produce should be suitably mature when harvested. Maturity must not be confused with ripeness. Maturation can only take place on the vine, whereas ripening (fruit softening and color development) can continue on or off the vine.During vine ripening, sugars, acids and other flavors move into the fruit and the texture is improved. Tomatoes are ready for harvesting about three months after they are transplanted. Optimal color development for tomatoes occurs between 15 – 21 degrees C.

Tomatoes are harvested for the local market at the “breaker” stage which is when the blossom end shows a pink coloring. If you are supplying distant markets the fruit should be green but mature, i.e. the seeds will be fully developed and surrounded by jelly-like flesh that has just started to color, and the fruit surface is a light green color. In warmer weather fruit will need to be picked about two to three times per week; under cooler conditions fruit my be picked less frequently. The stems should be trimmed flush with the top of the fruit to prevent bruising during storage and transit.

CAPSICUMS

Capsicums also called “peppers and chilies” are a rich source of Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Green capsicums and red chilies have very high levels of Vitamin A; red capsicums are very high in ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). They are a warm season vegetable, requiring a relatively long frost-free growing period for maximum production and perfect for growing in a “tunnel farming” type of operation.

CUCUMBERS

During the last ten years continental cucumbers have grown in acceptance from being a novelty vegetable to a major vegetable crop in a number of areas. They are ideal for tunnel farming type of operations. The techniques used for hydroponic cucumber production often involve a poly-house – tunnel. This will protects the plants from rain, wind, hail, extreme temperatures etc.

LETTUCE

Lettuce is an indispensable part of most salads. It is a summer flowering plant which produces vegetative growth in the cooler months and flowers under conditions of long, warm days. In hot dry weather or when the plant is under stress the plant is inclined to run to seed. The gap between peak maturity and starting to run to seed may be as soon as one week. It is therefore very important to know exactly when to harvest to achieve high quality, well-developed lettuce. We can help in various aspects of setting up a profitable farming operation including farming plans, farming marketing plans etc.

CONTROLLING THE ENVIRONMENT

The major factors that influence plant growth are the interaction of the plants genetic makeup and the environment. The grower has very little control over the genetics of the plant but he can exercise some control over the environment. Most growers show no originality when looking to provide protection to their crops. They tend to move from growing outdoors without any protection to poly-houses which fully enclose their crop.

Windbreaks

The first stage in protecting crops is the use of a windbreak. The material used should allow air to pass through it and simply reduce the velocity of the wind. The barrier must be high enough and strong enough to do its job effectively. Many lettuce growers build windbreaks 7m or more in height, using commercial wind break fabric meshing. Other growers plant trees and bushes to reduce the effects of the prevailing winds.

Rain and Hail

Thew next stage is providing protection from rain and hail. This allows the grower to work with a degree of comfort and at the same time prevents the nutrient solution from being diluted or changed, resulting in crop damage. Many lettuce growers have installed clear plastic covers 5-6 metres above the crops, in the form of a pitched roof.

Temperature Control

In areas where frosts or low temperatures occur, full enclosures such as poly-houses (tunnels)  can be used to help maintain better growing temperatures. However, a problem with poly – houses is that humidity tends to increase and fungal diseases may be encouraged. Moisture condensation inside the poly-house can also lead to water droplets falling on the plants, particularly flowers, as soon as the shed starts to warm up in the morning.

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