Peter Hughes

Nov 20, 2024 | farmersweekly.co.za | Peter Hughes

Selling focuses on the needs of the seller. The seller’s objective is to get the product into the hands of the buyer in exchange for as much cash as possible as quickly as possible. It’s a ‘push’ activity with the physical product and price top of mind, carried out with little consideration for the buyer’s longer-term needs. Marketing focuses on the consumer. It’s about meeting their needs with a product that leaves a high level of satisfaction and desire to return for more.

Nov 6, 2024 | farmersweekly.co.za | Peter Hughes

In my youth, tea-drinking in my grandmother’s home was a cherished ritual. Loose tea leaves were carefully spooned into a teapot, vigorously boiling water added and the tea allowed to draw for a few carefully judged minutes. It was then slowly poured into delicate cups and served. After drinking, a few tea leaves were left in the cup. The cup was then ceremonially swirled three times, turned upside down and drained, leaving the leaves clinging to the sides and bottom.

Oct 21, 2024 | farmersweekly.co.za | Peter Hughes

James, a farmer friend I bumped into in town, told me: “I enjoy your column, Peter, but your most recent one telling farmers to ‘differentiate’ their products is pie in the sky. It’s simply not possible to differentiate everything.”Over a cup of coffee at the local Mugg & Bean he pointed out that most farmers are too small to produce specially packaged and branded products. In any case, very few farmers actually sell their produce directly to the final consumer.

Oct 1, 2024 | farmersweekly.co.za | Peter Hughes

I am a porridge man, and I’m fussy. Instant mixes are not for me. I want properly cooked porridge made from mabela (sorghum), oatmeal (rolled oats is best) or maize meal. Coarse yellow maize meal is a delicacy in our household!I recently had the pleasure of visiting an old friend, a maize farmer, whom I have not seen for some years. On bidding him farewell, for old times’ sake, he gave me a special gift, a 5kg pack of 50% white and 50% coarse yellow maize meal produced on his farm.

Sep 7, 2024 | farmersweekly.co.za | Peter Hughes

The production skills of our farmers are legendary. Yield levels achieved by South African producers in this water-stressed region of the world say it all. But while high levels of production are vital, a business, like a table, stands on four legs, and the weakness of any one results in a wobble or even a collapse.