Page 29 - GSA Annual Report / Jaarverslag 2013

Bedryfsdienste
Industry Services
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The relevance and quality of grain research within each of the commodities have been assessed
and important outcomes of some are noted below. We have assimilated the challenges, future priorities
and strategies for grain research. Ultimately we need an alliance with all who share a commitment to
a common research agenda and who are willing to invest financial, human and technical resources.
Maize
Gerbils
In recent years gerbils have become a major problem and cause considerable damage to grain crops.
To date there are a number of chemical substances that producers use against gerbils, but none that
really solve the problem adequately.
The Plant Protection Research Institute was approached to draft a research proposal aimed primarily at
developing sustainable management strategies for the protection of the grain production against rodent
pests by using integrated, ecologically based approaches that are economically viable. The project will
be funded on an annual basis over a period of three years and comprises the following two phases:
First phase
Determining effective agrochemicals, as well as the time and dosage of administration (four different
administrations will be tested).
The first phase of the project commenced in September.
Second phase
Conservation practices, e.g. owls, burning of headlands, contours, integrated control etc.
Biological information: To investigate what the gerbil eats, when it mates and monitor their behaviour
patterns. The problem should be addressed in a sustainable manner.
The project is funded by the government, the Maize Trust and the Sasol Agricultural Trust and work is
done on both commercial and developing producers’ farms.
Die relevansie en gehalte van graannavorsing ten opsigte van elkeen van die kommoditeite is
geëvalueer en belangrike uitkomste van ‘n paar daarvan word hieronder gemeld. Ons het die
uitdagings, toekomstige prioriteite en strategieë vir graannavorsing verwerk. Uiteindelik het ons ‘n
alliansie nodig met almal wat ‘n verbintenis tot ‘n gemeenskaplike navorsingsagenda deel en wat
bereid is om in finansiële, menslike en tegniese hulpbronne te belê.
Mielies
Nagmuise
Nagmuise het die afgelope paar jaar ‘n wesenlike probleem geraak en baie skade aan graangewasse
verrig.
Tot op datum is daar heelwat chemiese middels wat produsente teen nagmuise gebruik, maar geen wat
daadwerklik die probleem oplos nie.
Die Plantbeskermingsnavorsingsinstituut is genader om ‘n projekvoorstel saam te stel met die hoofdoel
om volhoubare bestuurstrategieë vir die beskerming van die graanaanplantings teen knaagdierpeste
te ontwikkel deur die gebruik van geïntegreerde, ekologies-gebaseerde benaderings wat ekonomies
lewensvatbaar is. Die projek sal op ‘n jaarlikse basis oor ‘n tydperk van drie jaar befonds word en
bestaan uit die onderstaande twee fases:
Eerste fase
Bepaling van effektiewe gifstowwe sowel as die tyd en dosis van toediening (vier verskillende
toedienings sal getoets word).
Die eerste fase van die projek het in September afgeskop.
Tweede fase
Bewaringstoediening, byvoorbeeld uile, brand van wenakkers, kontoere, geïntegreerde beheer
ensovoorts.
Biologiese inligting: Om ondersoek in te stel na wat die springhaasrot eet, wanneer teling plaasvind en
om hul gedragspatrone te monitor. Die probleem moet op ‘n volhoubare manier aangespreek word.
Die projek word deur die regering, die Mielietrust en die Sasol Landboutrust befonds en werk word op
kommersiële sowel as ontwikkelende produsente se plase gedoen.
Die relevansie
en gehalte van
graannavorsing ten
opsigte van elkeen
van die kommoditeite
is geëvalueer.