OVERVIEW
Agriculture Five Agricultural Development Zones have been declared.
L
impopo’s fruits and vegetables form an important part of South Africa’s export basket and more than 45% of the annual turnover of the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market originates in the fertile province. The percentage contribution of Limpopo agriculture to national agriculture is 7.6% although its contribution to provincial GDP is just 2.3%. Agri-processing has enormous potential to expand in every subsector. The establishment of agri-parks and co-operatives and support for youth in farming are key provincial government initiatives. Cotton growing is experiencing a renewal in the province. Companies like ZZ2 are major contributors to the country’s annual production of 120 000 tons of avocadoes. Of the current crop, about half is produced in two Limpopo regions, Letaba and Tzaneen. Exports are rising exponentially. In response to this demand, and the potential of the Chinese market, almost 1 000ha per year of new land is being planted with avocadoes in South Africa. The same amount of new macadamia planting is underway every year, according to the Macadamias South Africa (SAMAC), adding to the existing 19 000ha. The other big sellers are mangoes and tomatoes. Limpopo grows three-quarters of South Africa’s mangoes and two-thirds of its tomatoes. The Waterberg District produces large quantities of red meat, Capricorn has potatoes in abundance, Vhembe in the north specialises in citrus and subtropical fruits, Mopani has those fruits too – and the Mopani worm. The Sekhukhune region in the south-east produces grain and the marula fruit that goes into Amarula cream liqueur. LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2019/20
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SECTOR INSIGHTS The IDC’s support of a blueberry operation created 62 new jobs. The Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has identified five Agricultural Development Zones (ADZs) where support will be given to farmers to promote production in the sector. More than 1 000 small-scale farmers are being trained annually to improve their skills and to improve production. Irrigation schemes have been revived in eight districts to assist farmers. The Provincial Government o f L im p o p o’s nin e - p o int e co n o m i c p l a n i n c l u d e s RAAVC (the revitalisation of the agriculture and agri-processing value chain).
