You say potato, I say tomato, but what is pomato? Yes, what is a pomato? The pomato is a grafted plant; a combination of tomato and potato plants where you have tomatoes growing on the vine of the plant and potatoes grow in the soil underground from the same plant.   Scientifically, tomatoes and potatoes are both in the Solanaceae family (a family of flowering plants) which makes it possible to graft the two plants so that they grow together.   According to ...

Did you know? Ostriches are bred primarily for their skin; and ostrich meat becomes a by-product. Ostrich leather, in terms of durability and strength, is seven times stronger than bovine (cattle) hide and its feather quill pattern makes it unique.   Here are some interesting facts about ostriches:   Ostriches are the largest and heaviest birds in the world. Ostriches cannot fly, but they can run at a speed of up to 70 ...

In Africa, rain is celebrated as a good omen and our communities have always harvested rainwater. Celebrating rain, means we treasure and harvest rainwater as a resource that we benefit from every day. Rainwater harvesting, which is not a new concept, is common in our rural and farming communities, however more people in our urban communities need to embrace the concept. Currently, there is a global water crisis that is being exacerbated ...

Fast Facts: “The blue economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem" (World Bank). The African Union declared 2015 to 2025 as the Decade of African Seas and Oceans, and the blue economy is now officially referred to as the new frontier of Africa’s Renaissance. 40% of the world’s population live near coastal areas, 3 billion ...

Angora rabbit farming is exciting. Raised primarily for their wool, Angora rabbits serve as an alternative to other kinds of livestock husbandry. In the fibre production market, Angora rabbit wool is in high demand and regarded as superior quality. According to Agribook.co.za, “Angora wool is one of the most expensive and desired fashion fibres. Due to its thermal properties the wool is also widely used to manufacture garments worn for the effective ...

You don't know anything about snail farming if all you know about snails is how slowly they move. Snail farming is a low-risk yet nonetheless profitable type of farming. It is popular all over the world and in Europe there are established markets, but it is still in its infancy in South Africa. The farmed snails can be consumed, used in cosmetics, or fed to reptiles as food. Escargot shells can be ...

Those who till the land, have to be concerned about the quality of the soil; the availability of water; and must, from time to time, remember to say “thank you” to earthworms for providing crucial assistance to farmers and gardeners. Called a farmer’s friend, earthworms are extremely beneficial in agriculture. Their channelling and burrowing loosens the soil and improves soil drainage. Earthworms’ burrowing helps in proper aeration of the soil, which helps ...

Did you know? The moringa industry is worth approximately $5.5 billion worldwide (R92.5 billion) and is projected to expand in years to come as demands for a healthy lifestyle, organic foods and dietary supplementation are increasing. The moringa tree, in many of our African cultures, has been part of our diet but we have never viewed the crop in a way that it could be farmed and commercialised. Our people have known ...

If you spend time with coffee snobs, you can never escape the chicory-coffee debate.  To many, chicory is some inferior product that is used to dilute real coffee. But, is that true? Personally, I just don’t understand all the fuss about chicory and coffee. Why are people talking about chicory as if it is some coffee’s poor cousin? Over time, I discovered that most people do not really know what chicory is, ...

South Africa has been debating the appointment of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) board. It’s all politics. Some say this. Some say that.   Personally, I have nothing much to contribute to the debate save to say: I wish the new board could give special attention to young people in agriculture.   While there are young people who see a great potential in farming, there are many who see agriculture as a field ...