The farming of saffron is also ideally suited to the South African climate.
For the South African economy, saffron farming offers an invaluable source of foreign income from exports.
SA poised to become big player in saffron market Plans are in place that could see South Africa becoming a significant player in the farming and export of saffron, by far the world’s most expensive spice. Saffron is primarily used in the food industry as a seasoning to enhance flavour and aroma, but also has great use in the natural cosmetics and natural medicine industries, and as a dye in the textile industry.
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or the South African economy, saffron farming offers an invaluable source of foreign income from exports, whilst also assisting in establishing emerging, small-scale farmers. Furthermore, it offers commercial farmers an alternative source of income through diversification, especially considering everchanging weather patterns, market trends and other variables that impact their existing operations. Bennie Engelbrecht, founder and a director of Saffricon, says that their saffron farming operation between Calvinia and Williston in the Northern Cape has been perfecting the art of cultivating saffron in local conditions for the last few years. They have reached the next stage of opening up the opportunity to other prospective farmers. This will be accomplished through an out-grower (contract grower) system based on three-year contracts with farmers. “We supply the farmers with our saffron corms (bulbs), which they then plant and cultivate before harvesting the saf-
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fron threads (made up of the crimson-coloured stigmas and styles) and selling the annual crop back to us. Under favourable conditions, the corms multiply underground – on average, about three times per year. This means if one corm is planted at the beginning of year one, you will, on average, have three corms at the end of that year, nine at the end of year two and 27 at the end of year three. “The corms are sold back to Saffricon after year three, hence farmers’ take-up is guaranteed, and they have a doubleincome potential: from the annual saffron harvest, as well as from the multiplied corms.” Saffricon has started marketing the out-grower system to prospective saffron farmers and expects to have built sufficient corm stock by 2022 to start gaining momentum.
DEVELOPING SMALL-SCALE EMERGING FARMERS Corné Liebenberg, the marketing director of Laeveld Agrochem (LAC), says, as a partner of Saffricon, they foresee a huge potential for saffron farming in South Africa. He believes it offers an ideal opportunity, not only for existing commercial farmers, but also for the development of small-scale emerging farmers and, as such, will assist in addressing the country’s high unemployment. “LAC wants to assist and uplift as far as possible, and the saffron venture offers many farmers that are currently under pressure an alternative option, whilst at the same time giving small-scale farmers an opportunity with solid prospects. “It is ideal for niche farming – a huge growth area for the South African economy and something that LAC is very
MAY • JUNE 2021 | SA VEGETABLES & FRUIT
