Mkululi Pakade, director of East Cape Macadamia, has devised a business model that positions the Eastern Cape’s local communities firmly within the macadamia industry.
Macadamias were introduced to South Africa in the 1960s, and the industry has since burgeoned into arguably the fastest-growing tree crop industry in the country. Competing with Australia as the world’s largest producer, South Africa’s macadamia industry has grown rapidly from an annual production sales value of R32 million in 1996, to over R4 billion in 2015.
While the majority of the country’s macadamias are produced in three provinces, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape’s climate, especially along the eastern coastal belt from Bizana to just beyond East London, is also suitable for macadamia production. However, most of the potential production land is situated within the former homelands of the Transkei and Ciskei, and few commercial macadamia farmers have been able to access this. Moreover, the province’s contribution to this lucrative industry has been insignificant.
EMPOWERMENT THROUGH BUSINESS INNOVATION
East Cape Macadamia (Pty) Ltd (ECM) has developed a business model that aims to increase provincial involvement in the industry, as well as empower rural communities in the process. According to Mkululi Pakade, one of the company’s directors, ECM wants to build the province’s macadamia industry by positioning communities as key players in the industry.
Denne historien er fra 9 December 2016-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra 9 December 2016-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
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Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
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The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
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More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
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