Download or read book Finding Common Ground written by Wandile Sihlobo and published by Pan Macmillan South africa. This book was released on 2020-04-01 with total page 203 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ‘My hope is that people can grow to appreciate this sector – its challenges and opportunities, but most importantly, the role agriculture can play in improving South Africa’s rural economy, creating jobs and bringing about much-needed transformation (or inclusive growth).’ Wandile Sihlobo is perfectly positioned to provide a well-rounded, accessible view of agriculture in South Africa. He spent his school holidays in the rural Eastern Cape, studied agricultural economics at university, has worked in private-sector agriculture, consulting with farmers across the country, and has been an adviser to government as part of South African policymaking bodies. Finding Common Ground is a selection of key articles from Sihlobo’s regular Business Day column, framed with insightful commentary and context. The book covers the broad themes that have marked current discussions and outlines the challenges and opportunities faced by South Africa’s agricultural sector, including: The contentious and complex issue of land reform; The potential for new leadership to revive the sector; How agriculture can drive development and job creation; Cannabis as an exportable commodity; The urgent need for agricultural policy to address gender equity and youth involvement; Technological developments and megatrends that are underpinning agricultural development; The importance of trade in growing South Africa’s agriculture; and Key lessons that South Africa and other African countries can learn from one another. Ultimately, Sihlobo is optimistic about the future of South Africa’s agricultural sector and shows us all – from policymakers to the general public – how much common ground we truly have.

Download or read book A Country of Two Agricultures written by Wandile Sihlobo and published by Jonathan Ball Publishers. This book was released on 2023-08-14 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nearly three decades after the dawn of democracy, South Africa has remained a country of 'two agricultures'. On the one hand we have a subsistence, primarily non-commercial, black farming segment. On the other hand, however, we have a predominantly commercial and white farming sector that is well-resourced and has access to domestic and international trade networks. These disparities can be traced back to South Africa's painful history where, for decades, black farmers were on the margins of government support and also experienced land dispossession and livestock plunder. A Country of Two Agricultures focuses less on history and more on the present and the future, explaining why these disparities have persisted in the democratic era, and what it will take to overcome them. It aims to contribute to a better understanding of the variety of agricultural forces, taking into account both questions of domestic political economy and external factors, as well as to bring to light new risks and opportunities. Wandile Sihlobo offers insights into the role of agriculture in the South African economy from an agricultural economy perspective, and provides political economy insights that are rooted in the experiences of farming communities on the ground and right through the value chain. Beyond insights on the realities this book offers the government, the private sector, and anyone interested in the betterment of the South African economy, tools to grapple with this duality, and proposes a framework for bolstering the black farming segment for growth and competitiveness – and ultimately food security. Wandile Sihlobo is the Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) and the author of Finding Common Ground: Land, Equity and Agriculture.

Download or read book Food and the City written by Jennifer Cockrall-King and published by Prometheus Books. This book was released on 2012-02-14 with total page 374 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A global movement to take back our food is growing. The future of farming is in our hands—and in our cities. This book examines alternative food systems in cities around the globe that are shortening their food chains, growing food within their city limits, and taking their "food security" into their own hands. The author, an award-winning food journalist, sought out leaders in the urban-agriculture movement and visited cities successfully dealing with "food deserts." What she found was not just a niche concern of activists but a global movement that cuts across the private and public spheres, economic classes, and cultures. She describes a global movement happening from London and Paris to Vancouver and New York to establish alternatives to the monolithic globally integrated supermarket model. A cadre of forward-looking, innovative people has created growing spaces in cities: on rooftops, backyards, vacant lots, along roadways, and even in "vertical farms." Whether it’s a community public orchard supplying the needs of local residents or an urban farm that has reclaimed a derelict inner city lot to grow and sell premium market veggies to restaurant chefs, the urban food revolution is clearly underway and working. This book is an exciting, fascinating chronicle of a game-changing movement, a rebellion against the industrial food behemoth, and a reclaiming of communities to grow, distribute, and eat locally.

Download or read book A History of World Agriculture written by Marcel Mazoyer and published by NYU Press. This book was released on 2006-06-01 with total page 529 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Only once we understand the long history of human efforts to draw sustenance from the land can we grasp the nature of the crisis that faces humankind today, as hundreds of millions of people are faced with famine or flight from the land. From Neolithic times through the earliest civilizations of the ancient Near East, in savannahs, river valleys and the terraces created by the Incas in the Andean mountains, an increasing range of agricultural techniques have developed in response to very different conditions. These developments are recounted in this book, with detailed attention to the ways in which plants, animals, soil, climate, and society have interacted. Mazoyer and Roudart’s A History of World Agriculture is a path-breaking and panoramic work, beginning with the emergence of agriculture after thousands of years in which human societies had depended on hunting and gathering, showing how agricultural techniques developed in the different regions of the world, and how this extraordinary wealth of knowledge, tradition and natural variety is endangered today by global capitialism, as it forces the unequal agrarian heritages of the world to conform to the norms of profit. During the twentieth century, mechanization, motorization and specialization have brought to a halt the pattern of cultural and environmental responses that characterized the global history of agriculture until then. Today a small number of corporations have the capacity to impose the farming methods on the planet that they find most profitable. Mazoyer and Roudart propose an alternative global strategy that can safegaurd the economies of the poor countries, reinvigorate the global economy, and create a livable future for mankind.

Download or read book World Agriculture written by Jelle Bruinsma and published by Earthscan. This book was released on 2003 with total page 448 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First Published in 2003. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Download or read book The Agricultural Dilemma written by Glenn Davis Stone and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2022-06-30 with total page 295 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Agricultural Dilemma questions everything we think we know about the current state of agriculture and how to, or perhaps more importantly how not to, feed a world with a growing population. This book is about the three fundamental forms of agriculture: Malthusian (expansion), industrialization (external-input-dependent), and intensification (labor-based). The best way to understand the three agricultures, and how we tend to get it wrong, is to consider what drives their growth. The book provides a thoughtful, critical analysis that upends entrenched misconceptions such as that we are running out of land for food production and that our only hope is the development of new agricultural technologies. The book contains engaging and enlightening vignettes and short histories, with case studies drawn from across the globe to bring to life this important debate and dilemma. The book concludes by arguing there is a viable alternative to industrial agriculture which will allow us to meet the world's needs and it ponders why such alternatives have been downplayed, obscured, or hidden from view. This important book is essential reading for all studying and researching food production and agriculture, and more broadly for all interested in ensuring we are able to feed our growing population.

Download or read book A Country Of 2 Agricultures written by Wandile Sihlobo and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nearly three decades after the dawn of democracy, South Africa has remained a country of 'two agricultures'. On the one hand we have a subsistence, primarily non-commercial, black farming segment. On the other hand, however, we have a predominantly commercial and white farming sector that is well-resourced and has access to domestic and international trade networks. These disparities can be traced back to South Africa's painful history where, for decades, black farmers were on the margins of government support and also experienced land dispossession and livestock plunder. A Country of Two Agricultures focuses less on history and more on the present and the future, explaining why these disparities have persisted in the democratic era, and what it will take to overcome them. It aims to contribute to a better understanding of the variety of agricultural forces, taking into account both questions of domestic political economy and external factors, as well as to bring to light new risks and opportunities. Wandile Sihlobo offers insights into the role of agriculture in the South African economy from an agricultural economy perspective, and provides political economy insights that are rooted in the experiences of farming communities on the ground and right through the value chain. Beyond insights on the realities this book offers the government, the private sector, and anyone interested in the betterment of the South African economy, tools to grapple with this duality, and proposes a framework for bolstering the black farming segment for growth and competitiveness – and ultimately food security. -- Publisher's description.

Download or read book OECD FAO Agricultural Outlook 2016 2025 written by OECD and published by OECD Publishing. This book was released on 2016-07-04 with total page 138 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2016-2025 provides an assessment of prospects for the coming decade of the agricultural commodity markets across 41 countries and 12 regions, including OECD countries and key agricultural producers, such as India, China, Brazil, the Russian Federation and Argentina.

Download or read book Livestock s Long Shadow written by Henning Steinfeld and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2006 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The assessment builds on the work of the Livestock, Environment and Development (LEAD) Initiative"--Pref.

Download or read book Inclusive Businesses in Agriculture written by Wytske Chamberlain and published by AFRICAN SUN MeDIA. This book was released on 2017-03-30 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ÿ Inclusive business is hailed as a win-win scenario for the development of poor communities; yet there is little insight into how these inclusive businesses work and, more importantly, for whom. This book aims for a thorough understanding of the range of inclusive businesses in agriculture by examining: the structures they implement, the actors involved, and whether they are effectively inclusive of smallholders. It presents a range of case studies and is therefore empirically based and practically oriented. By offering a critical assessment of inclusive businesses overall, it allows for a better perception of what works where, and under which conditions. It provides useful insights that will benefit smallholders, agri-businesses, support groups, policy makers and investors who are willing to promote more inclusive businesses, that foster a better integration of smallholders into commercial value-chains and a more equitable and sustainable agricultural sector.

Download or read book African Artificial Intelligence written by Mark Nasila and published by Jonathan Ball Publishers. This book was released on 2024-05-27 with total page 485 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Artificial intelligence (AI) is upending life, work, and play as we know it, and it's only just getting started. The rise of AI is a milestone on par with the discovery of fire, the invention of the wheel, and the creation of the internet. In short, AI is going to change everything. For some, that's an exciting prospect. For others, it's terrifying. However you feel about AI, there's no escaping it, whether you're in a global metropolis or a farmer in rural KwaZulu-Natal. Dr Mark Nasila has been watching AI's ascent for over a decade, studying its effects on everything from agriculture and aviation to healthcare, education, entertainment, crime prevention, energy management, policy creation, finance, and anything in between, and applying them to his role at one of South Africa's most successful financial institutions, First National Bank, a division of FirstRand Group. African Artificial Intelligence is a comprehensive and fascinating journey, tracing the rise of AI and its evolution into the emerging technology underpinning all others – from connected devices and smart chatbots to the metaverse. Mark combines unexpected use cases and tales of cutting-edge innovation with a unique and potent argument: harnessing AI to solve Africa's problems requires embracing it from an African perspective. African nations can't afford to simply import AI solutions from afar. Instead, Mark contends, they need to rework, remix, and refine AI so it's able to meet uniquely African challenges in uniquely African ways, and to take advantage of the once-in-a-generation opportunity AI represents for every industry, sector, and person, everywhere.

Download or read book The First Kudu written by Ben Shaw and published by Jonathan Ball Publishers. This book was released on 2023-10-20 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From 'naughty lists' to sprinting swans, wandering ducks to Amarula-based incentives, The First Kudu takes you on the roller coaster ride of a start-up, and dives into real learnings along the way. The narrative invites you to journey through the chaos with the young team and unpacks in gritty detail what goes into building a tech start-up – with stories of fun and failure honestly told in equal measure. The First Kudu tells the story of HouseME, a rental technology company founded in South Africa that grew to 34 employees and 50 000 registered users, processing hundreds of millions of rands each year. The company won awards, raised several rounds of funding and was sought after by competitors. It was exciting. It was excellent. And then ... It was dead. Ben Shaw (former CEO) and Lorne Hallendorff (former COO) provide a whirlwind tour of what goes into building a start-up at the southern tip of Africa and what they would do differently, were they to do it again.

Download or read book Servings of Self Mastery written by Alistair Mokoena and published by Jonathan Ball Publishers. This book was released on 2023-10-16 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Self-mastery is the pinnacle of self-effectiveness. It is the reset button that puts you back in control of your life and helps you make healthy choices in both your personal and business life. If you've ever experienced anxiety, loss, self-doubt, confusion, procrastination, helplessness, lack of self-control and impatience, then Servings of Self-Mastery is for you. With self-mastery you are able to coach yourself out of the negative mind-states that hold you back. This book will help you recognise the thoughts, feelings and beliefs that stand in your way of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual fulfilment. It will equip you with the agency to reframe these barriers into positive energy that will catalyse and catapult you into action. With short, easy-to-digest pep talks, you may want to read this book from cover-to-cover, or choose a specific chapter to read on those days when you need a little support and inspiration. Alistair Mokoena's Servings of Self-Mastery is packed with bite-sized reminders of the greatness within us, together with the tools to unlock potential and abundance in all aspects of our lives. It is a book that is written with love and compassion to help you thrive).

Download or read book From the Baobab to the Mosquito written by Letlhokwa George Mpedi and published by Jonathan Ball Publishers. This book was released on 2023-10-16 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: African leadership is in crisis. The legacy of colonialism has prevailed, while novel challenges such as the pandemic, substantial developmental setbacks, the scourge of corruption and troughs in growth have challenged the 'Africa Rising' narrative that once dominated. In a deeply fragmented and uncertain world, one might ask: 'What is the source of inspiration for leadership?' As leaders are faced with the seemingly insurmountable task of rebuilding Africa's economies, structures and systems, there is an argument to be made that leadership approaches should be uniquely and distinctly African. Letlhokwa George Mpedi draws inspiration from African culture and African approaches to challenge the prevailing systems. By exploring select proverbs and sayings, Letlhokwa identifies the tenets of successful and effective leadership. Traversing the ages, sourcing from indigenous practices, drawing from different regions and exploring diverse cultural references from the continent, he finds common threads to rethink the practice of leadership. From the Baobab to the Mosquito emphasises the value of collaboration and collective decision-making, reflecting the communal values that are at the heart of many African cultures. It offers a powerful reminder that leadership is not just about individual achievement, but about building strong relationships, fostering a sense of community, and making a positive difference in the lives of others. Through this collection of African concepts in a contemporary context, Letlhokwa George Mpedi sounds the call for authentic African leaders. Letlhokwa George Mpedi is the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg and a Professor of Labour and Social Security Law at the same institution. Before his current position as Vice-Chancellor he served as Head of the Department of Practical Business Law, Vice-Dean, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Law, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic.

Download or read book The Obvious Choice written by Mike Teke and published by Jonathan Ball Publishers. This book was released on 2023-12-15 with total page 185 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The world is driven by ambition, dreams, expectations, wishes and desires. We all believe we are the obvious choice to be selected, noted, identified, appointed or anointed. We may think and believe we are the obvious choice in many areas of our lives, but the reality is that this is not the case. When your boss informs you that you are not getting that role you assumed was in the bag (and you'd already informed your family and friends that it was yours – and had even bought the attire to go with it), you ask: what happened? What happened when you were bypassed for the lead role in a project? You believed in your potential and you believed that everyone in your organisation and circle saw you as the main person, the leader or the 'go-to person', and yet you were bypassed and someone else in your team was selected. You were the obvious choice, weren't you? Think of the assignment you prepared, the one you believed was the perfect presentation and would earn you a distinction, and then you flunked it. Where did you go wrong? Mike Teke's book is about showing you that you can be the obvious choice, in business or in life, but that being the obvious choice does not simply fall from any tree. Without focus, diligence and a strong work ethic you are unlikely to succeed, no matter how much you think you're entitled to. The Obvious Choice debunks myths and prevailing negative mindsets. And, most usefully, it provides guidelines and lessons to prepare you for the journey to leadership greatness, to become the obvious choice in whatever setting or endeavour the universe presents. Mike Teke has gained extensive experience in people management, business management and leadership at BHP and Impala, and as CEO of Optimum Coal Holdings. Today he is the CEO of Seriti Resources Holdings and the Chairperson and controlling shareholder of the Masimong Group. He serves as Chair/Non-Executive Director at the Anchor Group and Rolfes Group, and is the past President of the Minerals Council South Africa. In 2023 he was inducted into the SA Mining Hall of Fame and appointed as Professor of Practice at the University of Johannesburg.

Download or read book Lessons from Past Heroes written by Phumlani M Majozi and published by Jonathan Ball Publishers. This book was released on 2023-10-16 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What can be learned from black South Africans who achieved success before South Africa became a democracy in 1994? What are the challenges they faced, and how did they overcome them? And, today, how have South Africans benefited from the country's democratic system of governance? These are the questions Phumlani M. Majozi explores and attempts to answer in Lessons from Past Heroes. He traces black people's success and political activity back to the early 1900s; successful men and women who spearheaded the struggle against the segregationist, colonialist government and devoted their lives to advancing the interests of their communities. Phumlani explores the careers, challenges, and successes of people such as Pixley ka Isaka Seme, John Langalibalele Dube, Sol Plaatje and Josiah Tshangana Gumede. During the apartheid years, South Africa produced black men and women who overcame the odds to succeed in their fields of business, entertainment, science, and politics. They excelled in the face of an oppressive government system, and their stories should inspire every South African today. After exploring the history of South Africa, Phumlani delves into the present and the future; evaluating the challenges South Africans face and proposes solutions that can speed up their economic progress. He argues that much of South Africa's history has portrayed the majority as victims of the minority, and that the inspirational stories of those people who overcame adversity are not being told widely enough. These stories must be told to inspire future generations. If black South Africans could succeed in the pre-1994 era, what can stop them today? The answer is nothing, Phumlani writes. Phumlani M. Majozi is a business and macroeconomics analyst, writer and commentator on economic, political and global issues. He is a Senior Fellow at African Liberty and sits on the boards of four organisations: Chartered Institute of Business Accountants (CIBA), South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR), Social Research Foundation (SRF) and Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA).

Download or read book The Human Bridge written by Ian Fuhr and published by Jonathan Ball Publishers. This book was released on 2024-08-23 with total page 339 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The greatest gift we can give to our children and the future of South Africa is our own healing. While South Africa has moved beyond apartheid, it has not moved beyond racial polarisation. Virtually every problem we face in this country is influenced by our legacy of systemic racism and the psychological trauma it has caused to people of all races. Racial healing is not a new, woke, talk shop. It is also not a 'how-to guide' for do-gooders. On the contrary, racial healing requires diverse people of all ages to embrace the unique and challenging complexity of racial diversity and to forge a human bridge between multiple opposing truths that can peacefully coexist. Only a sober admission of this complexity can help us heal from the open, festering wound of ongoing racism, which has left South Africa with the unenviable distinction of being the most unequal country in the world. This wound is not unique to South Africa; it is also a driving force behind the violent conflicts seen around the globe. Ian Fuhr and co-author Nina de Klerk have crafted a powerful examination of the deep-rooted causes of ongoing racial polarisation in South Africa and propose a road map towards racial healing. The book is enriched by contributions from influential collaborators across various sectors, who share their authentic and often emotive perspectives on racial healing. The Human Bridge is an ambitious but achievable vision of the future. If people are willing to familiarise themselves with each other's life experiences and own up to their own fears and racial biases, to engage in authentic dialogue, South Africans can once again become an example to the rest of the world.