Agriculture

New crops are adding to the export basket.

The award of Toyota SA/Agri SA Young Farmer of the Year for 2017 went to a Richmond farmer who is one of only four farmers in the province cultivating golden kiwifruit. There are only 16 farmers in all of South Africa doing what Ross Lowe does, but he believes that the particular strain of kiwifruit he has chosen is the best in terms of taste and yield. Typically for the modern KwaZulu-Natal farmer, he also intends to increase his export volumes.

So-called superfoods have potential to grow the agricultural sector via greatly increased exports: these include avocados, pecans and dates. The province’s Premier has mentioned possibilities in macadamia nuts (already a thriving sector in other parts of the country) and in new areas such as cannabis and the farming of rabbits. The opening of a R99-million cold-storage facility at the Dube TradePort in 2017 has given farmers and exporters additional flexibility, allowing them to store chilled and frozen perishable goods.

Eighteen percent of KwaZulu-Natal’s 6.5-million hectares of agricultural land is arable, and the balance is suitable for the rearing of livestock. The province’s forests occur mostly in the southern and northern edges of the province.

In 2018, a summit was held at which consultation took place towards the creation of an Agricultural Development Masterplan for the province. The resulting plan includes priorities such as the expansion of irrigable land, improving market access for producers and adding value to agricultural products before they reach local and international markets.

The Agribusiness Development Agency (ADA) works with Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) to stimulate agribusiness that covers the entire value chain and promotes development in all areas. The coastal areas lend themselves to sugar production and fruit growing, with subtropical fruits doing particularly well in the north. KwaZulu-Natal produces 7% of South Africa’s citrus fruit.

ONLINE RESOURCES

Fresh Produce Exporters Forum: www.fpef.co.za KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union: www.kwanalu.co.za KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development: www.kzndard.gov.za

SECTOR INSIGHT

Increased agricultural freight volumes are expected at the Dube TradePort.

Beef originates mainly in the Highveld and Midlands areas, with dairy production being undertak en in the Midlands and south. The province produces 18% of South Africa’s milk.

KwaZulu-Natal’s subsistence farmers hold 1.5-million cattle, which represents 55% of the provincial beef herd, and their goat herds account for 74% of the province’s stock. The Midlands is also home to some of the country’s finest racehorse stud farms. The area around Camperdown is one of the country’s most important areas for pig farming.

Enterprise iLemb e, the development arm of the iLembe District Municipality, is looking for investors to further develop an agri-processing hub near the King Shaka International Airport and Dube TradePort.