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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.

MEER VERHALEN VAN Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Pastry delights and cupcakes

The versatility of pastry in baking and cooking is best flaunted by two vastly different recipes appealing to the sweet and savoury tooth, while a novel way to bake those Christmas-themed cupcakes will also go down well.

time to read

4 mins

December 5-12, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Specialised spider-hunting wasps

Wasps are apex predators of the insect world and have developed many survival strategies. One group of wasps focuses on hunting spiders to provide a source of food for their larval offspring

time to read

2 mins

December 5-12, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

From bulls to boardrooms: farming part-time as a professional

Maintaining a farm requires time, resources, and commitment. Farming part-time while being fully employed elsewhere can seem daunting and risky. Although it certainly presents unique challenges, it is feasible for some. Koot Klopper and Herman van Heerden spoke to Henning Naudé about how excellent time management and the delegation of resources, as part-time farmers, successfully keep their farms productive.

time to read

5 mins

December 5-12, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Holy Shiitake: mastering the science of gourmet fungi

Mushroom production is inherently the practice of expanding mycelium. But since wanted and unwanted fungi flourish under the same circumstances, a mushroom farmer's biggest challenge is ensuring the right fungi prevails. Lindi Botha reports on Rory Brooks' learning curve.

time to read

9 mins

December 5-12, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

No more 'secret' price hikes?

'Secret' electricity price hikes in South Africa have been curbed in a game-changing court ruling, explains Felix Dube, lecturer in the Department of Law at the University of Venda.

time to read

4 mins

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Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

The cutworm scourge, and how to control it

The dominant cutworm, Agrotis segetum, is causing renewed, costly damage to South African maize, soya bean, and sunflower.

time to read

5 mins

December 5-12, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Legislative gap requires a rethink on biosecurity controls

Since the dawn of democracy, the agriculture sector has cemented its place as one of the essential and trusted pillars for economic growth, job creation, and foreign earnings in South Africa.

time to read

2 mins

December 5-12, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

From kitchen experiments to a thriving meat empire

What started as an after-hours kitchen project in the Truter household has grown into the fully fledged meat empire Deli-Co. Brothers Pieter and Hendri Truter told Glenneis Kriel how they turned a local favourite into a multigenerational family business.

time to read

7 mins

December 5-12, 2025

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Brushing up on your 'cow speak'

Experienced stockman and cattle judge Willie de Jager spoke to Sabrina Dean about some of the basics of reading cattle behaviour and how best to handle these animals.

time to read

8 mins

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Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Corporate day job fuels farming dream

Marius Smit lives in the middle of Gauteng in Centurion and spends his workdays in the fast-paced high-stress corporate sector as a group forensic head for Discovery.

time to read

5 mins

December 5-12, 2025

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