The recent opening of Karoo Pak’s processing plant will bring huge financial spin-offs for the Oudtshoorn community. This was according to Gerhard Meyer, CEO of Karoo Pak, who explained that the processing plant would allow contracted producers to add value to their pomegranates that did not make export grade. “Typically, producers end up with 10% to 20% fruit that does not make export grade because of blemishes, sunburn and so forth. Through processing, our producers can sell those fruit, which in turn will improve their financial viability.”
Thanks to the Karoo Pak packhouse and new processing facility, more than 250ha of the Wonderful pomegranate variety were planted around Oudtshoorn. Once in full production, this will create more than 300 seasonal jobs on the contracted farms.
Once fully operational, the processing plant will increase the number of people working at the packhouse from 60 to 120 and will lengthen the packing season, resulting in seasonal workers having two more months of work.
Denne historien er fra June 28, 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra June 28, 2024-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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New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
South African avocado production: a success story
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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.
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
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Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
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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Tips for better olive production
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More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
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