In 2021, South Africa’s citrus industry was hit by many issues that hindered exports. Do you anticipate that these difficulties will continue this year?
Last year was the precursor to 2022. The problems will continue and everyone in the sector needs to be prepared this time around. The issues we’re facing will not be solved within the foreseeable future. There are 500 packhouses packing citrus in Southern Africa, all moving their produce down to the ports on South Africa’s coast. A total of 92 000 containers of citrus were exported last year, and this year it will be around 100 000. Finding an additional 10 000 containers is asking a lot. And once we exceed the 100 000 as the crop increases, the shipping industry will struggle to meet our needs.
The situation is slightly better in the Western Cape, where the deciduous industry’s exports far exceed citrus. So there should be good capacity in that port to handle the crop this year. As a result, we’ll see growing volumes of fruit from the northern production region using this port. Producers will then also be able to capitalise on faster routes to European markets.
That said, demand for trucks is also increasing and as delays at the ports become more common, trucks will also be delayed. Rail transport is not a feasible alternative at this stage, as the system is operationally challenged due to cable theft and a lack of capital investment in new equipment. Transnet doesn’t have the funds to invest in port infrastructure. High-tech machinery is needed to operate the port and these are starting to break down; they require a lot of time and money to fix. Our hope is that there will be more public-private partnerships because the state-owned enterprises don’t have the funds.
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Denne historien er fra March 11, 2022-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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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.
