110
WHAT ARE WE DOING AND WHY? (continued)
WAT DOEN ONS EN WAAROM? (vervolg)
In some cases, the contractors use inferior quality production inputs.
In many cases, the lands are planted, but the follow-up activities are not done (spraying, cultivating
and top dressing).
Lack of appropriate production inputs
The farmers do not have the funds to acquire the diesel (in time for preparation), seed, fertiliser and
chemicals. They often spend all their money on the seed and then have very little, if anything, left for
fertiliser and herbicides.
Need for on farm support and mentoring
Farming in practice is quite different from the theory of farming. It is critically important to have an
experienced person near to the farmers on the farm throughout the season. This not only ensures that
the best crop is produced, but also that the farmer learns valuable lessons in the process.
Shared equipment
There are challenges to the use of shared equipment, which include the following listed below; however,
these challenges can be overcome through consultation:
In any specific area, when it rains, all the farmers want to use the equipment at the same time.
It is difficult and time consuming to move tractors and implements over large distances.
Tractors with implements are sensitive to the poor roads and much damage can be done to tractors.
Trained tractor operators are scarce in the deeper rural areas.
In many areas where the farmers have been struggling on their own, over time, bad compaction
layers have developed, which hamper the root development of the crops. It is very important to
ensure that there are some larger tractors in the mechanisation package that can pull the ripper so
as to get below the compaction layer.
In areas where the lands have not been in production for some time, the primary tillage operations
can be slow and this must commence well in advance of the planting season.
In sommige gevalle gebruik die kontrakteurs produksie-insette van ’n swak gehalte.
In talle gevalle word die landerye aangeplant, maar die opvolgaktiwiteite (spuit, bewerking en
bobemesting) vind nie plaas nie.
Gebrek aan geskikte produksie-insette
Die boere het nie die fondse om die diesel (betyds vir voorbereiding), saad, kunsmis en chemikalieë te
verkry nie. Hulle bestee dikwels al hulle geld aan die saad, en het dan bitter min, indien enigiets, vir die
kunsmis en onkruiddoders oor.
Behoefte aan steun en mentorskap op plase
Boerdery in die praktyk verskil tot ’n groot mate van die teorie van boerdery. Dit is uiters belangrik om
regdeur die seisoen ’n ervare persoon naby die boere op die plaas te hê. Dit verseker nie net dat die
beste oes geproduseer word nie, maar ook dat die boer in die proses waardevolle lesse leer.
Gedeelde toerusting
Die deel van toerusting hou sekere uitdagings in, insluitend dié wat hieronder gelys word. Dit kan egter
deur oorlegpleging oorkom word:
In enige spesifieke gebied wil al die boere terselfdertyd die toerusting gebruik wanneer dit gereën het.
Dit is moeilik en tydrowend om trekkers en implemente oor groot afstande te vervoer.
Trekkers met implemente is sensitief vir die swak paaie en heelwat skade kan aan trekkers
aangerig word.
Opgeleide trekkeroperateurs is skaars in die meer afgeleë landelike gebiede.
In talle gebiede waar die boere op hulle eie sukkel, het slegte kompaksielae mettertyd ontwikkel,
wat die wortelontwikkeling van die gewasse belemmer. Dit is baie belangrik om te verseker dat
daar ’n paar groter trekkers in die meganiseringspakket is wat die skeurploeg kan trek sodat die
kompaksielaag deurdring kan word.
In gebiede waar die landerye ’n tyd lank nie in produksie was nie, kan die primêre
bewerkingsbedrywighede stadig wees en dit moet lank voor die plantseisoen begin.
It is critically
important to have
an experienced
person near to
the farmers on the
farm throughout
the season.
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