New Propagation Methods Boost Production

In 2014, the Cederberg Tree Nursery produced 100 000 citrus trees a year. Two years later, after its acquisition by ANB Investments, the nursery produces more than 550 000 citrus trees annually. General manager Scott McKenzie spoke to Jeandré du Preez.

- Jeandré du Preez

An increasing demand for trees has seen the Cederberg Tree Nursery, outside Citrusdal, one of South Africa’s prime citrus areas, greatly expand its existing production capacity. Projections are that the nursery will be producing 850 000 trees per annum by 2019.

“The citrus industry has been doing very well in the past four years and we’ve seen a large spike in the demand for trees,” says Cederberg’s general manager Scott McKenzie.

At present, the nursery is processing orders from as far afield as northern KwaZuluNatal and Groblersdal in Limpopo. “We’re already fully booked until 2019 in terms of trees to be supplied.”

The higher demand is due to increased planting and favourable fruit prices. In the Western Cape particularly, wine and stone fruit farmers are planting more citrus.

Cederberg Tree Nursery is a wholesale operation and does not handle retail sales. All plant material, including seeds and budwood, is certified by the Citrus Foundation Block of Citrus Research International (CRI).

“They supply us with the plant material that we need to produce the trees. In this way, the industry ensures that diseases aren’t being spread,” says Scott.

For example, the heat-resistant Asian form of HLB (from the Chinese huanglongbing, commonly called citrus greening disease), is a major threat to the industry worldwide. “If it were to infiltrate South Africa, it would have a devastating effect on productivity in the citrus industry. Biosecurity is therefore of the utmost importance,” stresses Scott.

PEST CONTROL AND INFRASTRUCTURE

The nursery covers 20ha; of this, 11ha are used as growing space. There are five net structures, five large greenhouses and seven tunnels.