Technology

When it comes to securing farmer's interests, judicial oversight ensured by the South African High Court's Uniform Rule 46A acts as a safeguard against arbitrary security enforcement by a lender

With Rule 46A applicable, lenders now need to consider the use and characteristics of the property rather than just ownership structure. Agricultural lending thus comes with lots of associated factors when mixed-use character and on-site residential accommodation are involved. On the lender's part, these circumstances calls for appropriate engagement with affected parties.

Trust-owned properties too fall under the purview of Rule 46A, requiring consideration of the possibilities or outcomes of juristic ownership. In cases where even though the property may apparently seem commercial, Rule 46A can apply if it includes residential occupation.

There have been cases, however, when Rule 46A fell short of application. In the case of Bestbier and Others versus Nedbank Limited which involved dispute over an immovable property owned by the Goede Hoop Trust, neither the trustees nor the farmworkers could benefit from the protection of the rule – the trustees because they had consented to judgment and were not at risk of homelessness, and the farmworkers because their tenure was independently protected by the Extension of Security of Tenure Act 62 of 1997. The property operated as a wine farm while also housing trustees and farmworkers with families. 

Africa gets its first IoT-native precision agriculture model. (Image source: MyBitSecure)

Designed for emerging farmers, cooperatives and smart agricultural programmes across sub-Saharan Africa, the MBS SmartFarm Platform has been deployed following a three-month applied research pilot at the Sustainability Institute in Lynedoch, Stellenbosch

The platform reported marked improvements in soil health and water management, after close monitoring of soil moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, water consumption, and real-time climatic conditions across the SI’s community garden.

With this platform, Africa gets its first IoT-native precision agriculture model to embed enterprise-grade cybersecurity at its architectural foundation. Community food production initiatives, and institutions operating within sustainability-driven and development-finance supported programmes across Sub-Saharan Africa can leverage the application.

“The integration of smart agriculture technologies within our garden is not only about improving yields and resource management, but also about deepening experiential learning; transforming the garden into a living laboratory for innovation,” said Mulweli Nethengwe, research and strategy analyst, Sustainability Institute. 

“Soil health is the foundation of food security and for too long, the intelligence needed to protect it has remained out of reach for the farms and communities that need it most. The MBS SmartFarm Platform changes that. What we are bringing is a contribution to the long-term resilience of food systems across this continent, backed by evidence, built for African conditions, and designed to serve the people who feed us.” said Tandi Rouse, co-founder and director, MyBitSecure Technologies (Pty) Ltd. 

AEROSEM has multiple hopper systems. (Image source: Pottinger)

Austrian manufacturer Pöttinger’s latest innovation in operational convenience and cost effectiveness is the AEROSEM seed drill, which comes with multiple hopper systems

There are options of a standard hopper, with or without precision combi seeding (PCS), and a double hopper with a pressurised hopper system. The standard hopper holds 1,250 litres of seed material and can be expanded by a further 600 litres.

Standard hopper has a capacity of 450 litres for maize (2 x 225 litres) and 800 litres for fertiliser. The optional hopper extension increases the capacity to 650 litres of maize (2 x 325 l) and 1200 litres of fertiliser.

The PCS version, on the other hand, adds precision metering separator elements to the seed drill hopper for economical precision sowing of maize seed. The 2000l-capacity double hopper is equipped to handle application rates of up to 520 kg/ha. Its pressurised hopper system unlocks new agronomic strategies, offering a one-stop shop for the drilling of different-sized seeds, depositing fertiliser granules, or sowing a companion crop.

For sowing using the single-shoot method, the double hopper is partitioned 60:40 and has a separate metering unit for each hopper. This means that different components can be optimally mixed and placed together in the same seed slot.

Both the hopper options in the AEROSEM M is driven by the intelligent distribution system (IDS) that controls each outlet via the bus system. This option unlocks diverse prospects for contract work and machinery rings when it comes to handling coulter pipes and tramlines.

The high output AEROSEM seed drill is equipped with precision metering and rugged coulter system to efficiently place the seed at the right position for assured results.

Challenging operating conditions are simplified with consistent distribution from the injector metering system. High yields are ensured for the combined effect of the precision metering system, the large and versatile distribution head, and the coulter rail with dual disc coulter system.

The double-disc coulters are easy to adjust and can reach a pressure point of up to 60 kg. The dual disc coulters have been especially modified by Pöttinger to sow maize so that every seed is optimally embedded in the seed slot. When the seed exits the coulter pipe it is carefully pressed down by the firming roller.

Right after, the optional harrow tines cover the seed with soil. The dual disc coulters work well even on clayey soil that contains considerable plant residues, and at high driving speeds.

Whether deployed together with a power harrow or compact combination, the Pöttinger AEROSEM M brings consistency to seed placement, optimised weight distribution, and high sowing accuracy.

As Africa’s farming sector is experiencing the transition phase in digital adaptation, a region-specific integrated approach of traditional application alongside technology can be the practical way forward.

Convenient and cost-effective precision farming offerings such as Pöttinger’s AEROSEM M can make adaption easier for smallholder farmers, making a difference where it matters. Once this can be initiated on the ground level, deploying further advanced applications such as geographic information system (GIS), global positioning system (GPS) or variable rate technology will be a matter of time.

FederUnacoma has compiled a comprehensive data on new registrations of agricultural machinery.

Manufacturers’ association, FederUnacoma, has observed that public incentives and proactive support schemes are integral in the face of volatilities in the agricultural machinery market driven by geopolitical instability and economic uncertainties

After studying the latest figures provided by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the Italy-based association with an ever-expanding presence in Africa and Southeast Asia has compiled a comprehensive data on new registrations of agricultural machinery. It has found that while the first quarter of 2025 recorded an upward trend the market remains vulnerable in the near future due to crisis in the Middle East.

A 11.8% decline has been seen in the transporter sector, including tractors and flatbed trailers, since the largely prospective 1Q 2025. However, there has been a growth of 2.7% in new registrations for tractors, with over 3,633 units sold (3,537 in the first quarter of 2025), and a 65% increase for combine harvesters, with 33 machines registered (20 in the same period of 2025). Telescopic handlers also performed well, recording a 46% increase with 343 units (235 sold in 2025), whilst trailers remained in line with last year’s figures (1,659 registrations, down 1.5%).

Variables linked to the conflict in the Middle East and uncertainties regarding certain incentive measures (the 5.0 credit, for example) risk negatively affecting companies’ willingness to invest and their planning, slowing down purchases of agricultural machinery. In this context, the Federation of Manufacturers believes it is more important than ever to bring measures such as hyper-amortisation and the Transition 4.0 credit into full effect. The system of public incentives – notes FederUnacoma – can play a decisive role in stabilising the domestic market during a critical economic phase such as the current one.