4 September 1947 – 21 September 2026

It is with deep sadness that I share with you the passing of Habe Roode on the 21st of September 2026. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Anne, and their daughters, Irene and Anca. Our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers are with Habe’s family and close friends during this period of mourning, while at the same time we celebrate the life Habe lived and the legacy he left behind.

I had the privilege of working with Habe for 33 years and can bear witness to the role he played in growing Hygrotech from a small, local, family-owned seed company into a company recognised on the global stage. The Hygrotech family has lost its founder and the driving force behind the company’s incredible growth, not only in vegetable seeds, but also in the development of complementary product ranges in support of its hybrid seed range.

Early years

Habe showed a natural gift for leadership from a very young age. He matriculated from Voortrekkerhoogte High School in 1964, having served as Head Boy for three years! Leadership was something he was comfortable with and thrived in, as he would later demonstrate at the helm of the Hygrotech ship.

It was fitting that Habe joined the navy in 1965, before going on to complete a four-year university degree. In a defining moment, Habe then left South Africa for the USA, and from the experiences he gained there, the man Habe would one day become was born.

A vision for Southern Africa

Habe had a vision for Southern Africa, which he made tangible in the nineties with the establishment of subsidiaries in Namibia (1992), Zimbabwe (1996), Zambia (1998), East Africa (1998) and Mozambique (2000). Today, Hygrotech Zambia remains part of the group, while the other subsidiaries have grown into successful stand-alone companies.

Beyond the seed

Habe had the foresight to understand that farming with a hybrid variety alone cannot guarantee success for the grower, and that complementary inputs were needed. For this reason, he developed easy-to-use foliar feeds suited to vegetable crops, at a time when this concept was foreign to most growers.

He also understood that hybrids required better seedling growing methods, and introduced polystyrene seedling trays to the South African market, together with a growing mix suited for use in the trays.

The click of the briefcase

Habe believed in attending meetings armed with his trademark “hard copies”, with no laptop or iPad in sight! The click of his briefcase opening, followed by the sound of rustling papers, was an intimidating sound to anyone who arrived at a meeting with Habe unprepared.

These meetings were not limited to his office or the boardroom; they took place whenever Habe deemed it necessary. Many a time, on a long trip with Habe in the passenger seat, the double click of the briefcase could be heard, signalling the end of small talk and pleasantries. Overtaking a slow truck on the highway while justifying the sale of a product at a lower-than-normal margin was a uniquely Habe experience and, after a while, a completely normal one!

Good news pleased Habe immensely. After a laugh and a smile to his audience, his first comment would be:

“Tonight we can all have an extra whisky!”

Bad news upset Habe, especially if it was avoidable. His immediate reaction was quick and to the point, followed by a calm analysis of the situation and a proposed strategy to put it right. Habe had the ability to give those around him confidence and restore their sense of positivity.

A lasting legacy

Even though Habe’s footsteps are no longer heard in the passages, and his voice no longer leads our discussions, his presence is still felt by those who worked alongside him and who now carry the baton he passed on through his mentorship, example and leadership.

Our memories of Habe are crisp and clear. Often, when a particular situation arises, we remember exactly how Habe would have responded. We share a memory and a smile, and in most cases, we handle the situation as he would have.

Habe left more than a company. He left a legacy, a recipe for shaping future business, and people forever touched by his presence.

Farewell, my friend, until we meet again!

Henry van der Voort, CEO of Hygrotech

Agricultural sprays consist of three stages: the tank, the air and the target. Various factors are present during each of these stages, and if they are not properly managed, they can reduce spray effectiveness, resulting in poor performance and wasted inputs.

The use of quality adjuvants can help growers optimise agricultural sprays throughout these different stages.

3 Stages of Agricultural Spraying

Where Quality Adjuvants Can Help

Adjuvants can be used to help address some of the challenges encountered during the different stages of agricultural spraying.

Hygrotech South Africa (Pty) Ltd and Miller™ Chemical & Fertilizer, LLC, USA, formulated a range of quality adjuvants specifically to optimise agricultural sprays within these different stages. This approach is referred to as the ADJUVANTAGE™ concept.

Hygrotech Adjuvant Solutions

• Nu-Film® P, Sustain® and Nu-Film 17®

These products form part of the Pinolene® range.

They contribute to the adhesion, spreading and deposition of agricultural products. They can also provide benefits such as improved rainfastness and protection against UV and heat degradation.

Nu-Film® P is intended to improve adhesion and spreading while assisting with the deposition of agricultural products.

Sustain® is intended for soil-applied products and assists with adhesion and spreading.

Nu-Film 17® is designed for agricultural applications where longer spray intervals are required, including subtropical fruit and citrus applications.

• Entrée™

Entrée™ improves the adhesion and spreading of spray droplets on plant surfaces. It is formulated to promote the movement of systemic products into plant tissue and can be used with both water- and oil-soluble products.

Choosing the Right Adjuvant

Different adjuvants are suited to different stages of the spraying process. The ADJUVANTAGE™ concept is based on selecting the appropriate adjuvant according to where it is needed: the tank, air or target.

By considering the conditions at each stage of application, growers can better manage potential spray risks and optimise the performance of their agricultural sprays.

Choosing the right variety is one of the most important decisions a grower can make. A variety that delivers consistent yields, produces marketable fruit, and performs well under challenging conditions can make a significant difference to the profitability of a crop.

HY-GREEN F1 has earned a reputation among commercial growers for its excellent yield potential, strong plant vigour, and reliable fruit quality. Here’s why it’s becoming a preferred choice for baby marrow production.

Early Maturity

One of HY-GREEN F1’s key advantages is its early maturity. The variety reaches harvest in approximately 45 to 50 days, allowing growers to enter the market sooner and begin harvesting earlier.

Early production can improve cash flow while creating opportunities for multiple planting cycles throughout the growing season.

Easier Harvesting

HY-GREEN F1 has been selected with the grower in mind. Its longer fruit stems make harvesting quicker and more efficient, while the smaller blossoms are easier to remove, reducing handling time after harvest.

These small advantages can make a noticeable difference during peak harvesting periods.

Tips for Successful Production

To get the most from HY-GREEN F1:

• Plant into fertile, well-drained soil.
• Maintain consistent soil moisture, particularly during flowering and fruit development.
• Follow a balanced fertilisation programme to support continuous growth.
• Harvest regularly to encourage ongoing fruit production.
• Scout crops frequently for pests and diseases to maintain plant health.

Good management practices combined with a high-performing variety help maximise both yield and fruit quality.

Why HY-GREEN F1?

HY-GREEN F1 combines the characteristics that commercial growers value most: high yield potential, early maturity, excellent fruit quality, and reliable field performance.

Whether you’re supplying fresh produce markets or packhouses, HY-GREEN F1 offers the consistency and quality needed to produce a profitable baby marrow crop season after season.

Biofumigation has become an increasingly popular biological alternative for managing soil-borne diseases, nematodes, and certain weed seeds. By incorporating specific Brassica crops into the soil, growers can improve soil health while reducing pathogen pressure before planting the next crop.

“Biofumigation is the beneficial use of green manure crops, especially Brassicas, that release natural compounds capable of suppressing soil-borne pests and diseases.” – John N. Matthiessen, CSIRO Entomology, Australia

However, one common misconception remains: not all Brassicas are equally effective for biofumigation.

Research Proven Results

Trials comparing different Brassica species found significant differences in disease suppression.

Indian Mustard achieved:

• 100% suppression of:
• Rhizoctonia solani
• Phytophthora erythroseptica
• Pythium ultimum

It also provided excellent suppression of:

• White mould (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum)
• Fusarium dry rot (Fusarium sambucinum)
• Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum)

By comparison, Yellow Mustard produced substantially lower levels of disease control and, in some cases, performed worse than crops not traditionally used for biofumigation, such as barley.

Researchers concluded that Indian Mustard delivered the lowest disease incidence and the greatest overall reduction in soil pathogens.

Why Kic-Starter?

It has promising results and it gives your crop a healthy head start.

Key effects are

• Cell enlargement and stem growth
• Root initiation
• Apical dominance 

How to use Kic-Starter

It can be applied as soil drench or in the planting hole of seedlings or trees and also through a drip irrigation system a few days after transplanting. It is compatible with most fungicides and pesticides except those who contain large amounts of copper or sulphur and alkaline materials. See the leaflet for the dosage of different applications and more information.

Understanding pH in Water

Water quality and pH are often mentioned in the same sentence. pH is an indication of the acidity of a solution. It is determined by the number of free hydrogen ions (H⁺) in a solution. The pH of water can vary between 0–14. Where pH < 7, it is acidic; when pH > 7, it is basic; and when pH = 7, it is neutral.

pH is a logarithmic function, which means that when the pH falls by 1 unit, the solution becomes 10 times more acidic. When the pH falls by 3 units, the solution becomes 1,000 times more acidic. The pH of spray water can easily be measured with a portable Eutech pH meter available at Hygrotech.

What is Electrical Conductivity (EC)?

A common mistake made by farmers is referring to water as “hard” based on a high pH and high salt content. Electrical conductivity (EC) measures the capacity of water to conduct an electrical current and is directly related to the total dissolved salts (TDS) in water. Salts dissolve into positively charged ions and negatively charged ions, which conduct electricity.

The EC of spray water can easily be measured with a portable Eutech EC meter available at Hygrotech. Although this test does not identify the ions present, it does show if there is a potential problem.

Kale is fast becoming recognized as one of the new “Super Foods,” together with sprouting broccoli. Interest in supplying kale to various markets in South Africa is growing at a rapid rate, and Hygrotech is pleased to announce that we are now offering a range of kale varieties to the South African market and growers.

Health Aspects

Kale contains more than 1,000 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin K, 98 percent of vitamin A, and 71 percent of vitamin C – that’s more than an orange! Kale is also a great source of calcium, magnesium, iron, and antioxidants, and has a good balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are necessary for heart health.

Red kale varieties are also very high in anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are a type of flavonoid, a class of compounds with antioxidant effects. Found naturally in a number of foods, anthocyanins are the pigments that give red, purple, and blue plants their rich coloring. In addition to acting as antioxidants and fighting free radicals, anthocyanins may offer anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-cancer benefits.

Kale is associated with many health benefits, from having a high nutrient profile to helping manage diabetes, weight, and cholesterol, as well as supporting heart, brain, and bone health. Kale is also well known for its role in cancer prevention.

Recent advances in chemical weed control now allow more frequent planting and establishment timeframes, as opposed to the traditionally limited periods in early spring and late summer. Active ingredients of herbicides such as bromoxynil (nitrile), propaquizafop, imazamox (40 SL), and paraquat can be applied at various growth stages throughout production.

When considering the nutritional requirements of lucerne, various academic strategies have been trialed and tested in order to achieve optimal yields.

Yield is normally measured in tonnes per hectare (t/ha), although many farmers and producers also refer to the number of bales (either square or round) per unit surface area. Average data collected under local South African conditions under irrigated production indicate possible yields of 30–55 tonnes of wet mass per hectare per season, resulting in an estimated 15–25 t/ha of dry material.

Figures for non-irrigated (dryland) production vary greatly depending on rainfall, with an average final dry yield of 4–8 t/ha per season. It should be noted that maximum yield in terms of wet and/or dry mass does not always translate into maximum financial return.

Table 3 – Advised foliar spray application program with water soluble fertilizers on lucerne: