OVERVIEW
Agriculture Horticulture is in the spotlight.
SECTOR INSIGHT Agricultural company Senwes listed on the JSE in 2017.
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maiden horticulture expo was held in the Bojanala District in 2018. The North West is sometimes called the "Texas of South Africa” because of its superb cattle herds but the province also produces good crops of onions and other vegetables. In September 2018 the North West Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development (READ) teamed up with the Madibeng Local Municipality to host the event called “Horticulture growth through exposure”. Apart from displaying a range of flowers, fruits, vegetables and trees, the exhibition provided producers of indigenous herbs a showcase for their products. The Bojanala District, and particularly the Madibeng Local Municipality, was chosen as the site for the expo because of its good rainfall patterns and its location near to the large urban concentrations of Pretoria and Johannesburg. The expo is a part of a broader effort to help small-scale farmers get exposure to the market. Four district agri-parks will help to establish sustainable agri-processing, promote food security and bring black businesses into the mainstream economy. Each of the agri-parks has a specific focus: • Springbokpan, grain (Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality) • Vryburg: livestock, red meat (Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality) • Moretele/Makapanstadt: red meat and horticulture (Bojanala District Municipality) • Maquassi Hills: pork and poultry (Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality). NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2019
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Various agri-processing plants are under consideration for the city of Mahikeng: a feedlot and a meat processing plant, including an abattoir and packaging facilities. In Taung the plan is to establish an animal feed-manufacturing plant. A 10ha vineyard in Ventersdorp, which forms part of the Local Economic Development plan for the area, is to be expanded to 40ha and a black-owned logistics co-operative has been signed to distribute products from the farm. The Provincial Government of North West wants to expand an existing programme to promote farming across all districts in the province. The Kgora Agricultural Institute in Ramatlabama, some 25km north of Mahikeng, trains small-scale farmers in raising animals and crop farming, and works with young people. A weakness identified in the land claims process has been the absence of support for new farmers. For the beneficiaries of a successful 4 500ha land claim on the De Paarl farm near Lichtenburg, things have been different. They have received tractors and equipment worth R6-million from the National Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.
