As a crop farmer in Mzansi, you can’t afford to overlook the need of learning about pest management and practising appropriate pest control. Our latest campaign, in collaboration with CropLife SA, is designed to encourage farmers to take greater responsibility as stewards by developing and implementing effective, environmentally-friendly strategies for preventing crop damage from pests, diseases, and weeds via plant biotech.
On this week’s episode of Farmer’s Inside Track, Chantel Arendse, the lead for plant biotechnology at CropLife SA, joins us.
All you need to know about biotech
Arendse says that given the existing state of the world, farmers will continue to spend what they must on increasingly pricey agricultural inputs despite the rising costs. A high-yielding, disease-free harvest depends on their utilisation of high-quality seed.
“Developing farmers, not only in South Africa but across Africa, are known for saving and replanting their seeds every year.”
She notes that this method’s ability to provide a healthy harvest gradually reduces over time because of the deteriorating quality of the seeds used.
“It is important that farmers carefully consider seed quality when they make these investments, so that all the efforts and use of resources don’t go to waste.”
She also discusses the following topics during the session:
- The proper use of pesticides;
- Everything a gardener needs to know about genetically modified crops; and
- The development of state-of-the-art biotechnology tools.
Want to know more? Listen to the full episode of Farmer’s Inside Track.
Option 1: Click here to listen on Spotify (all mobile and other devices).
Option 2: Click here to listen on any Apple device.
Option 3: Click here to listen on Google Podcast.
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