Farmer's Inside Track

In this episode of Farmer’s Inside Track, livestock specialist Junior Mkansi shares practical calf-rearing tips to help farmers build healthier, more productive herds. From the importance of colostrum and early nutrition to biosecurity, weaning, and disease prevention, he unpacks the key management practices that shape calf growth and long-term performance.

It’s a practical introduction for cattle farmers looking to strengthen their calf-rearing systems and improve herd productivity.

In this episode of Farmer’s Inside Track, we speak with Jared Gouws from Netafim about how irrigation automation is helping farmers improve precision and efficiency. He explains how sensors, data and centralised control systems enable real-time irrigation decisions, reduce labour and optimise water and nutrient use.

The discussion also explores how automation is becoming increasingly accessible to both large and small-scale farmers.

In this episode of Farmer’s Inside Track, we speak to Lebo Mashigo, founder of Eggsellent, a commercial layer farm that started as a small backyard egg-selling business and has since grown into a 15 000-bird operation, with plans to expand to 30 000.

Lebo shares how she turned personal necessity into a thriving agribusiness, the impact of Covid-19 on demand, and how funding, mentorship, and continuous learning supported her growth. She also reflects on key challenges, including land access, compliance, and scaling a rural-based operation.

Fairtrade Africa’s new 2026–2028 strategy is a practical roadmap to help farmers and workers succeed in an increasingly complex global trade environment. This episode explores how the organisation plans to improve market access, strengthen producer voices, and build resilience against climate shocks, inflation, and price volatility.

Senior leaders Chris Oluoch, Madeline Muga, and Paul Colditz explain why partnerships, compliance support, and stronger producer organisations are now essential. With stricter international regulations and growing sustainability demands, producers need more than certification – they need tools to compete and thrive.

In this episode of Farmer’s Inside Track, we explore the importance of post-harvest tomato handling and how it directly influences quality, shelf life, and profitability. Commercial vegetable farmer Lesego Mohube shares practical advice on reducing losses through improved harvesting, handling, packaging, and transport practices.

Learn key on-farm strategies such as harvesting during cool hours, minimising bruising, maintaining hygiene, managing humidity, and removing produce from the field quickly. Mohube also highlights the role of food safety standards, including SA-GAP, in improving market access and maintaining product integrity.