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The Desert: Hot, Dry, And Perfect For Fish Production

Farmer's Weekly

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November 16, 2018

Groundwater extracted from arid areas is often unsuitable for irrigation, but it would be ideal for aquaculture.

- Nicholas James

The Desert: Hot, Dry, And Perfect For Fish Production

Aquaculture in the desert sounds like a non-starter due to the lack of available water. However, many places in Southern Africa have abundant groundwater that could be used for aquaculture and irrigation. The Kalahari-Karoo multi layered aquifer stretches from eastern Namibia to southern Botswana and into western South Africa. In many places, it is between 75m and 400m deep; in others, it is close to the surface. If tapped into, this water could be made available for both aquaculture and irrigating large projects in this dry region.

GROUNDWATER FROM MINES

In mines that penetrate deep into this aquifer, high-volume pumping is used to prevent flooding. In Botswana, a permitting condition of breaching the aquifer is that the water must be used sustainably and to the benefit of the environment.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

South Africa's unique coral trees

Every year in late winter, South Africa's eastern coastal belt is set ablaze with the scarlet and orange flowers of certain coral tree species from the genus Erythrina. Mike Burgess investigates the diversity of this special category of highly adaptive deciduous trees that includes the peculiar ploughbreaker.

time to read

2 mins

November 7-14, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

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Jaecoo J5 is ready to make waves

Chinese carmakers have been growing their local market share at the rate of knots over the last few years. The introduction of the Jaecoo J5 will further ensure the upward curve

time to read

2 mins

November 7-14, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Farm watches take charge of rural safety

With rural crime on the rise and police resources stretched thin, farm watches across South Africa are stepping up to protect farming communities. These volunteer-led safety networks are preventing millions in losses, deterring criminal activity and helping police solve major crimes, proving that when farmers unite, the benefits ripple far beyond the farm gate.

time to read

8 mins

November 7-14, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

How to start a farm watch in your area

Rural safety initiatives like farm watch systems are guided by the framework laid out in the national Rural Safety Strategy. Dr Jane Buys, safety risk analyst for Free State Agriculture, talks Sabrina Dean through the concept of a farm watch and how to establish one

time to read

9 mins

November 7-14, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

'Farm attacks are a national crisis'

The rural safety crisis in South Africa remains dire, with farm attacks and murders continuing at alarming rates. This calls for rural crimes to be declared priority crimes as a matter of urgency, according to

time to read

3 mins

November 7-14, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Advancing real-time data collection in South African agriculture

Dr Mahlane Godfrey Kgatle, Research Coordination Manager at Grain South Africa, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about how the Information Hub at Innovation Africa, University of Pretoria, is transforming agricultural research through real-time data integration and collaboration across disciplines.

time to read

3 mins

November 7-14, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Stellenbosch in November: a seasonal gem and the perfect time to visit

Brian Berkman suggests you clear your diary to spend more time in November in the beautiful Eikestad.

time to read

3 mins

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Farmer's Weekly

Adapting to the Climate Change Act: how agro-processing SMEs can build resilience

Wynand Deyzel, commercial sales manager at Solenco, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about how the Act is shaping the operational durability of small to medium-sized agricultural enterprises and the role of indoor air management in adapting to climate impacts.

time to read

3 mins

November 7-14, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

KWV shines at Veritas Awards with top accolades

KWV made history at the 35th Veritas Awards when it clinched the prestigious Duimpie Bayly Vertex Trophy – the award for the best wine in the show, excluding Museum Class Wine – for the second year in a row and third time overall.

time to read

2 mins

November 7-14, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Co-operation needed to build a resilient food system

From governments and international organisations to farmers, researchers, businesses, and consumers, including the youth, everyone has a role to play in shaping the transformation of agrifood systems of the world

time to read

2 mins

November 7-14, 2025

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