A SHORT course in organic farming geared at farmers and other interested parties with an interest in organic farming practices, markets and certification, will be held at Spier from 2 to 4 May.

Presented by Spier Institute in partnership with the Organic Agriculture Association of South Africa (OAASA), the extended three-day courses follow the unprecedented response to the first two-day course held at Elsenburg Agricultural College in October last year.

With the increasing degeneration of agricultural land, the escalating cost of conventional farming methods, the demand for organic produce, and the need for sustainable farming methods, there is a growing interest in organic farming by both established as well as emerging commercial farmers.

Designed as the first step towards formalised training in organic farming, the course is aimed at providing a level of knowledge and understanding of organic farming that is more than introductory.

The first day covers topics such as the principles of organic farming, marketing, certification and soil management.

The next two days will be devoted to the management of pests, weeds and diseases and include a series of breakaway workshops focusing on specialist areas such as animal husbandry, vineyards, vegetables and grain.

One of the days will involve a visit to an organic farm with lectures and demonstrations on site.

The course is focused primarily on assisting conventional farmers who are interested in converting to organic farming and want to know more about the organic market, conversion costs, certification and farming practices required.

Farm foremen, managers, extension officers, nursery managers and agricultural students would benefit greatly.

Organic farming excludes the use of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, growth regulators and livestock feed additives and includes crop rotations with legumes, compost and green manures and the biological control of pests.

It produces safe, quality food, builds healthy soils, protects biodiversity, supports animal welfare and most importantly, has the potential to stimulate local rural economies.

Current demand for organic produce far exceeds supply, with global organic produce sales having increased from just $4,9 million in 1993, to an estimated $25 million in 2003.

The cost of the course is R1 200 per person including the course manual, lunches and teas. To encourage participation by emerging farmers, a number of bursaries are available on application.

Contact Margaret Laubser on 082-747-0530 or claubser@iafrica.com for bookings and more information.

IN die onstabiele finansiële sektor in Suid-Afrika is kleiner banke se dae getel en daar is heelwat verligting dat die benarde situasie van BoE nou beëindig is deur die oornamebod deur Nedcor. Die nuwe bank sal die grootste in die land wees.

Nadat die vryery na BoE die naweek 'n hoogtepunt bereik het, het BoE Bank (die vyfde grootste bank in die land) Maandag bevestig dat Nedcor 'n aanbod gemaak het om die volle aandele-kapitaal van BoE oor te neem.

Hierdie aanbod kom op 'n tydstip wanneer BoE daadwerklik alle geleenthede oorweeg het om sy stabiliteit te verbeter, veral na die onlangse likiditeitsdruk wat die bank en die banksektor beleef het.

Vroeër vanjaar het BoE reeds as deel van sy rasionalisasiepoging sy NBS huisleningsafdeling aan FirstRand verkoop vir R11,9 miljard.

Maandag het Nedcor na 'n naweek van woelinge R280 kontant asook net minder as 'n halwe Nedcor aandeel vir elke 100 BoE aandele aangebied, wat 'n waarde plaas van R3,43 op elke BoE aandeel, gebaseer op 'n waarde van R129 vir elke Nedcor aandeel.

Dit kom neer op 'n premie van 10,2% op Vrydag se sluitingsprys van R3,11 vir BoE aandele. Hierdie prys kan verder toeneem met R10 per 100 BoE aandele - of 10c 'n BoE aandeel - sodra die pro-ses deur Nedcor afgehandel word.

Die BoE direksie se aanvaarding was op drie sleutel-kriteria gebaseer: 

* die behoefte om bestaande besigheidsgeleenthede binne BoE te optimaliseer

* die lewering van gesonde langtermyn wins, en

* verbetering van aandeelhouer-waarde.

"Sterk sinergieë bestaan tussen die besighede en teikenmarkte van BoE en Nedcor en deur kragte saam te voeg sal ons die grootste bankgroep in Suid-Afrika skep met bates van meer as R260 miljard," sê Philip Wessles besturende direkteur van BoE Bank (BoE se besigheidsdivisie).

"Die BoE direksie glo dat die samesmelting, indien dit deur die aandeelhouers en reguleerders goedgekeur word, 'n platform vir groei, en 'n wye verskeidenheid geleenthede en voordele vir personeel, kliënte en aandeelhouers bied.

"Beide BoE en Nedcor se bestuurspanne sal betrokke wees om die mees effektiewe en innoverende besigheidsoplossings te skep. Dit is egter nie 'n proses wat oornag uitgevoer kan word nie - in sommige gevalle mag dit maande duur.

"Intussen" sê Wessels, "is dit besigheid soos gewoonlik vir BoE Bank. BoE Bank sal voortgaan om topgehalte diens te lewer aan sy gewaardeerde kliënte."

"'n Verandering in aandeelhouding van BoE beteken nie dat die persoonlike kontak wat tussen kliënte en hulle bankiers bestaan, sal verander nie.

"'n Belangrike oorweging wat BoE Bank onderskei, is juis die persoonlike diens wat ons aan ons kliënte bied en ons wil voortgaan met hierdie benadering tot besigheidsbankwese."

"Dit is nog te vroeg om te kan sê hoe die nuwe bedeling die hoofkantoor van BoE Bank in die Paarl sal raak.

"Integrasie van die twee organisasies kan slegs gebeur nadat aandeelhouer- en regulatoriese toestemming verkry is. Dit sal sowat twee maande duur.

"BoE Bank het die afgelope tyd uitsonderlik presteer en spog met 'n kapitaalopbrengs van 21% - aansienlik hoër as twee jaar gelede."

Die nuwe verwikkelinge met Nedcor sluit 'n periode van drie jaar van onsekerheid af by Boland Bank sedert herstrukturering begin het.

Boland Bank het ontwikkel uit die Paarlse Afrikaanse Trust (PAT), wat later die Boland Trust geword het.

Die bank het in 1997 saamgesmelt met NBS en in 1998 'n volfiliaal van BoE geword. In 'n stadium het die bank se aandele verhandel vir R12 elk.

Die maatskappy is voorverlede jaar herdoop na BoE Bank en het hom begin toelê op persoonlike dienslewering aan die besigheidsektor en sy kleiner kliënte oorgedra na Pep Bank.

* The proposed merger between Nedcor and BoE Bank would make them the biggest bank in the country.

DROOMERS Nissan in Paarl has won the award for Dealer of the Year (Passenger & Light Commercial Vehicle Dealer) judged by the Consumer Satisfaction Index (CSI).

In making awards to its leading dealers for 2001, Nissan recognised the level of excellence which benefits not only the company, but also its customers.

The award programme is designed to raise the overall levels of service and sales in its entire dealer network, says Nissan SA Executive Vice President of Marketing, Mike Whitfield.

"These overall winners, together with the other winners in the various categories, have shown that they are truly prepared to walk the extra mile and embrace a philosophy of excellence in every aspect of their dealings with their customers," Whitfield adds.

Nissan's passenger and light commercial vehicle dealer of the year (judged on turnover) was Toits Motors from Hatfield, Pretoria.

SOUTH AFRICA is poised to make a significant impact on the US wine drinking public, believes New York based wine marketing specialist and agent for Wines of South Africa (WOSA) Rory Callahan. 

In the Cape to host a group of wine buyers and journalists attending Cape Wine 2002, the three-day showcase of Cape wines for a largely international audience, he expects South African wines to soon start a stir in the US. 

Cape Wine 2002, held in Paarl last week. also drew large groups from the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada and delegates from as far afield as China, India, Finland, Estonia and Brazil, as well as Australia.

Some 600 visitors went through the show's exhibition at Nederburg featuring almost 200 wineries.

"The US journalists were impressed by the quality of wines from many producers, especially the Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz, as well as by the standards of the country's general infrastructure and tourist facilities.

"We are confident this will translate into significant wine orders, as well as a growth in wine tourism."

"What sets this trade show apart from the many others worldwide, is the high level of involvement by winemakers and winery owners, who have been able to engage with delegates."

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