Growing Food: A Guide to Food Production

order of preference (most important at the top, least important at the bottom) but also by
use of different sized blocks—see Example; the blocks can even be given different
colours blue for harvest yield, red for economic yield etc.

Cropping Calendar (Crop Year Table)

Exact Location: West bank of Limpopo River, between Ashenagook and Timbucthree.

most important, Sorghum least important):

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Area /
value
(1) (2)

Sweet

potato

P

*

H

P

*

H

P

*

H

P

*

H

P

*

H

P

*

H

P

*

H

P

*

H

P

*

H

P

*

H

P

*

H

P

*

H

Barley P P * * * * * H H

Field pea P * * * * * * H H

Linseed P P P P P P H H

Maize H P P * * * * * H H H

Sorghum H H P P P * * * * * * *

KEY

P = planting time

• 
  
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • = growth period (rainy season(s) can also be included)
      H = harvest time
      (1) = area cultivated (ha)
      (2) = economic value (eg $/ha)
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

In this example, column 1 on the right (“Area”) could indicate that, for example,
almost 50% of the land area is used for cultivating sweet potatoes, 30% for barley etc.
Column 2 (“Value”) might show, for example, that barley produces a higher
income/value than sweet potatoes.
The total amount of area shaded in the right-hand columns should of course equal
100%.

—

60 TONY WINCH

Importance of Crops: In terms of area cultivated, from top to bottom (Sweet potato