Hortfin was launched in October last year to create jobs and accelerate transformation in South Africa’s deciduous fruit, table grape and wine industries. Michael Brinkhuis, CEO of Hortfin, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the fund and the progress it has made so far.
YOU JOINED HORTFIN AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR. WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE THEN?
My father used to be a farmworker at a fruit tree nursery in Groot Drakenstein, so I basically grew up in the industry, working most of my school holidays on the farm. The experience gave me a passion for agriculture and also a yearning to empower people in the industry.
After school, I completed a horticultural diploma at what is now known as the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), after which I upgraded to a BTech degree. I later obtained a master’s degree in agricultural systems management at Stellenbosch University while lecturing at CPUT.
Career-wise, I spent almost 10 years at Kaap Agri and another four-and-a-half years as the CEO of Casidra, which renders project management services to Western Cape government departments.
TELL US MORE ABOUT HORTFIN.
Hortfin is a R600-million, blended funding scheme initiated by the South African deciduous fruit industry with support from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, and co-funded by National Treasury’s Jobs Fund and the Land Bank. It aims to provide innovative and comprehensive financing and support systems in a manner that promotes job creation, transformation and sustainability within the deciduous fruit, table grape and wine industries.
WHAT IS EACH PARTY’S CONTRIBUTION OR ROLE IN THE FUND?
Treasury gave R200 million via its Jobs Fund, matched by R300 million from the Land Bank and R100 million from the deciduous fruit, table grape and wine industries.
Hortfin, under leadership of a board of directors representing various stakeholders, will evaluate and approve projects, while the Land Bank will manage the loan book.
HOW DID THE FUND ORIGINATE?
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May 03, 2019-Ausgabe von Farmer's Weekly.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May 03, 2019-Ausgabe von Farmer's Weekly.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
