The importance of demonstration farms was first recognised over a century ago by Seaman Knapp who believed in the philosophy of teaching by demonstration. Over the decades, governments, universities, and research institutes across the world have adopted this philosophy and set up farms to teach farmers. But as Esther Ndumi Ngumbi writes, there are far too few of them in Africa where they could unleash a revolution in her agricultural practices.
The African Union has proposed an African passport. Uchenna Okeja sets out why he believes it could represent a new political agenda that’s worth fighting for.
The call by South Africa’s Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, for the country to change the constitutional mandate of its central bank has the potential to cause a constitutional crisis, argues Jannie Rossouw.
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Demonstration farms showcase agricultural techniques and technologies to improve crops.
Flickr/Remi Nono-Womdim, FAO
Esther Ndumi Ngumbi, Auburn University
Demonstration farms are a key way in which new knowledge can be transferred to farmers around the world.
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Arts + Culture
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Uchenna Okeja, Rhodes University
The introduction of an African passport has the capacity to bring about increased migration of Africans within Africa.
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Business + Economy
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Jannie Rossouw, University of the Witwatersrand
The prevailing mandate of the South African Reserve Bank is informed by sound economics and the need to protect the institution from the whims of politicians.
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Environment + Energy
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Hartmut Winkler, University of Johannesburg
Eskom's stand threatens the viability of the entire renewable energy sector in South Africa, something which plays into the hands of those pro coal and nuclear.
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Politics + Society
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Jameelah Omar, University of Cape Town
South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority has failed to pursue members of the executive. But a separate prosecuting body assigned only political cases could be the answer.
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From our international editions
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Elton Santos, Queen's University Belfast
Compressed glassy carbon could be used to make better bulletproof vests or new types of electronics.
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Bernardo Batiz-Lazo, Bangor University
It all began with a newfangled bank machine in Enfield.
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