South Africa AGRICULTURE to benefit from EU trade agreement - La AGRICULTURA de Sudáfrica se beneficia de un acuerdo comercial con la UE

http://www.fruitiers-rares.info/articles69a74/Sharon-RSA-01.png

A new trade deal will see improved market access for more than 30 South African agricultural products to the European Union (EU). The deal would also eventually see the phasing out of export subsidies for EU products heading to SA and four other Southern African countries that are, so far, part of the agreement.

A statement by the European Commission said Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, and SA, had ratified the Southern African Development Community – EU Economic Partnership Agreement (SADC-EU EPA). “The EPA takes into account the different levels of development of the partners. It gives Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and Swaziland duty-free, quota-free access to the European market. South Africa will also benefit from enhanced market access, going beyond its existing bilateral arrangement with the EU,” the European Commission said.

Sidwell Medupe, spokesperson for SA’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), said the SADC-EU EPA would give SA preferential access for about 99% of the products exported to the EU, of which 96% would be not be subject to customs duties or quantitative restrictions. SA gains improved EU access for wine, sugar, ethanol, flowers, some dairy products, fresh fruit, canned fruit, fruit juice, and yeast, and also has duty-free access for 150 000t of sugar, while the existing wine quota will increase from 50 million litres to 110 million litres with flexibility on size of the containers. 

A total of 80 000t of ethanol will also have duty-free access to this market, Medupe explained. In addition, he added that the SADC-EU EPA will improve the protection of geographical origin for products such as Rooibos, Honeybush, and Karoo Lamb. “The so-called cumulation of origin will, for example, make it possible to apply discount tariffs on the EU border for fruit harvested in one country of the [SADC] region and [has] then [been] preserved and canned in another,” the European Commission said. The preferential access which the EU currently has to the SA market will be extended to include agricultural products such as wheat, barley, cheese and pork.

Source: Lloyd Phillips (http://www.farmersweekly.co.za)

First commercially-grown BLACK TRUFFLES for KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) - Las primeras TRUFAS NEGRAS cultivadas comercialmente en KwaZulu-Natal (Sudáfrica)

The very first black Périgord truffle grown commercially in KwaZulu-Natal, a 97g specimen found on Max Bastard’s Willowdale Farm in the Kokstad area. Photo: Courtesy of Max Bastard 

There has been much excitement on Max Bastard’s Willowdale Farm near Kokstad in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), following the recent discovery of three black Périgord truffles (Tuber melanosporum). These were the first commercially-grown specimens in KZN.

The first-ever black Périgord truffle to be commercially-grown in South Africa was discovered on a farm near Dullstroom in Mpumalanga in August 2014. This was followed by a similar discovery on a Western Cape farm in August 2015. Bastard’s three truffles were produced in a 20 ha orchard of host trees inoculated with black Périgord truffle spores four-and-a-half years ago.

“Black Périgord truffles are prized for their unique, pungent, earthy aroma, and [are] utilised in the best kitchens and restaurants around the world. They are one of the most expensive culinary ingredients globally, fetching up to US$2,000/Kg (R30,700/Kg),” said Bastard.

Prof Alessandra Zambonelli of the University of Bologna in Italy, told Farmer’s Weekly when the first commercially-grown black truffle was discovered in South Africa, that successful commercial production could be achieved in this country if sufficient host tree orchards were planted. These host trees also needed to be of good quality, and the areas selected for truffle production had to be suitable.
Source: Lloyd Phillips (http://www.farmersweekly.co.za)

Growing CITRUS and GRAPES at the same farm - Produciendo CITRUS y UVAS en la misma finca

Photo source: http://www.freshfruitportal.com

The farm Matroozefontein has the most westerly citrus orchards and table grape vineyards in Southern Africa. In this arid area, farming under nets has proved a success. Italian consortium Unifrutti has been farming in Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape since 1998. In 2004, after considering whether to produce citrus for export to the US, it bought the 2200 ha farm a short distance inland from Elands Bay. Here, the company grows citrus and table grapes on 151 ha. The area under cultivation is limited by the availability of irrigation water.

Sandveld citrus production cycle

Simon Baty, farm manager and in charge of the citrus operation, recalls that the navels which were planted initially were unsuccessful in the arid Sandveld. “But we found that lemons, Clementines, mandarins, Midnight Valencias and Late Valencias did well. So we are in the process of topping many of the citrus orchards to some of these varieties. Ultimately, we plan to have 170ha of citrus – we’re now at 104 ha.” Citrus blooms later on the West Coast – in four to six weeks in September and October – than further north. The first fruit set is in mid-October, depending on the cultivar and its age. The second drop is in late November, continuing into early December. Fruit picking starts at the end of April, depending on the cultivar. “We start picking Clementines from the end of April until mid-June,” explains Simon. “Then we pick our early navels and move across to lemons from the last week of June until mid-July. After this we start picking late navels until mid-August. We also pick mandarins from the end of July until late August. As soon as we finish picking mandarins we start on our Midnight Valencias followed by the Late Valencia varieties. By mid-September, picking has been completed.”

Soil quality and fertilisation

The Sandveld has poor sandy soil that is low in nutrients and almost no carbon or humus. On Matroozefontein, they grow citrus mainly on the poorer and grapes on the better soil. “Oak leaf is one of our better soils, but the citrus is on the poorer-quality sand,” says Simon. “We feed these crops hydroponically and provide liquid fertiliser through the drip daily from August to the end of January.” All micro-sprinkler and drip-irrigated blocks receive a carbon-based product, Carbotech from Patensie, through the irrigation system. Composed of humic acid, fulvic acid and amino acids, it stimulates root growth and enhances bacterial and fungal soil micro-organisms in the soil. In addition, chemical fertiliser such as 2:3:4, LAN and potassium sulphate are applied monthly from August to January in the micro-irrigated blocks.

“Because nothing in the soil holds the fertiliser, we’re careful not to over-irrigate and leach it from the soil,” explains Simon. He stopped applying compost and pre-enriched chicken litter fertiliser to the older micro-irrigated citrus orchards a few years ago as this enhanced boron toxicity. He corrected the problem by changing the fertiliser programme. “Farming in sand is tricky. We can quickly correct a mistake, but sand has very low buffering capacity. So, if we make a mistake, the results are immediately evident, enabling us to manage fertiliser and irrigation precisely.

“The climate here is good for citrus but table grapes do even better. For this reason, we’re phasing out unproductive navel citrus varieties and expanding table grape production,” he explains. During picking season, approximately 120 workers are active in the citrus orchards. The yield depends on variables including the cultivar, age of the block and whether or not it is under netting.

Table grapes production cycle

Hein Koegelenberg, in charge of the table grape production, says that the vineyards cover 47 ha, all under shade netting. This will eventually be expanded to 80 ha. Currently, Red Globe covers 17 ha, Sugra One (white seedless) 8 ha, Crimson Seedless 5,2 ha, Autumn Royal 2,6 ha and Dan Ben Hannah (black-seeded) 2,6 ha. Young vines – Tawny Seedless, Sweet Celebration and Arra 15 – together contribute another 11 ha. Pruning starts early in July and is completed by mid-August. The grapes then grow until unwanted shoots are removed from the first week of September. Later in September and into October, surplus bunches are removed to leave 28 bunches per vine. Bunch preparation starts in early November and the grapes are picked from a week before Christmas until mid-February. Favourable conditions under shade netting enable a short growing season. About 120 workers are employed for bunch preparation and 165 for packing.

Climate for colour

This area of the semi-desert Sandveld is ideal for grapes due to its Mediterranean climate. It has a temperature range of 45°C during the day and 13°C at night in summer. In the evenings, the cooler air moves in from the sea, giving the grapes a good and uniform colour without enhancement. “In fact, our red varieties are sometimes almost too dark. Red Globe is ready for harvest for market from week one in January,” he explains.

In the Sandveld, areas with better soil ironically have poorer-quality water. On Matroozefontein, the poor-quality white sand has good-quality irrigation water, which is used to irrigate the vineyards. During hot spells, they are irrigated daily, while fertiliser is applied monthly from August to February.

Shade net success

In 2002, Simon attended a conference in Spain where he was inspired by a Moroccan delegate who successfully grew citrus under shade net and obtaining a higher yield while using 40% less water. “Our conditions here are similar: very dry and arid semi-desert, with an average annual rainfall of 200 mm to 250 mm, and this year just 130 mm,” he says. “When I arrived here in 2005, the first table grape crop was a disaster. We’re situated in a bird conservancy and the only large table grape grower within a 40km radius of the farm, so it was a shock to see half of our grapes destroyed by birds. “One of our former directors, Francesco de Nadia, has experience in using nets in Chile, so he suggested that we experimentally enclose a few blocks under shade netting. We netted a block of table grapes next to an unnetted control block of the same age, rootstock and growing conditions. Our production under the net was double that of the control block. The payback period on the netting was just over a year at the time. We immediately started expanding the area of table grapes under netting,” Simon explains.

Net advantages – grapes

Vines grow vigorously under the nets, while using less fertiliser and water. “Nets reduce the pest problem and wastage as the vines suffer little or no damage from sun, birds or wind. We get larger and more uniformly coloured berries. We need far less labour because the bunches need less preparation. When grapes get to the packhouse, they can be packed more quickly. As we produce more cartons with the same number of people, productivity is 20% to 50% higher than that of other growers in the area,” he explains.

Nets change the micro-climate beneath them

“The higher humidity leads to better shoot elongation, reducing the fertiliser need by 10% to 15%. Annual water use is reduced to about 5000 m³/ha on a mature block. The norm in the Berg River area is 6000 m³/ha to 6500 m³/ha, so a 20% to 30% saving on water is realistic under nets.” Grapes under nets also suffer fewer pest problems, he says. Snails, however, can become a factor, as birds cannot get in to eat them. Celebrex and monoxide are used as bait to kill them. “The main advantages are the saving on labour, growth beyond expectation due to reduced climatic stress, and reduced damage to the bunches. Within 18 months of planting grapes, depending on the variety, we pick and pack 1000 to 2000 export cartons per hectare (4,5 kg/carton) and the following year, 3000 to 4000 cartons. Under nets, we achieve at 30 months, the production that normally takes four years.”

Simon says that netting table grapes is profitable, whatever the cultivar. “We couldn’t produce table grapes here without nets. It took us three or four years to cover all the vineyards and we’ll recover our costs within four to five years.” Grapes do best under Crystal 20% net, which provides 8% shade. Netting also extends the productive life of a block of grapes. They come with an eight-year guarantee but, if well-maintained and properly tensioned for wind, will last for 15 years. Wind causes rubbing against the poles and wires, leading to premature wear.

Matroozefontein’s annual yield of grapes under netting (export cartons at 4,5kg and bunches 600g to 800g as packed) is 6000 cartons/ha for Red Globe, 6500 cartons/ha for Dan Ben Hannah, 5000 cartons/ha for Crimson Seedless, 4200 cartons/ha for Sugra One and 4500 cartons/ha for Autumn Royal. The rest of the vineyards are under still young vines. The farm exports grapes to the Middle East, UK, Europe and Russia.

Net advantages – citrus

In citrus, nets also reduce the leaf and fruit temperatures. “Because of our success with grapes, we cover a 2ha block of Lane Late navels on Carrizo rootstock with different colours of net,” Simon says. “Each colour transmits a unique wavelength of light which affects plant growth differently. After four to five months, the trees under netting were already larger and more luxuriant than those under the control block outside. When we analysed leaf samples after seven months, all the elements were in balance whereas the trees outside were low in nitrogen, calcium and some trace elements,” he explains. Measuring the leaf and fruit temperatures with an infrared thermometer showed an 8°C lower temperature under the nets on hot days (over 35°C). “This lower temperature enables leaves to transpire naturally and the tree to take up the necessary nutrients over a longer period during the day. The nets significantly reduced climatic stress.”

The ambient air temperature may be 35°C but the sand temperature can be 55°C or higher in summer, with heat also being radiated up from the sand. Under nets, sunburn on fruit was reduced from 10% to less than 1%. Additionally, fruit size is larger under nets, and yield up to 50% higher. The fruit count – number in a carton – peaked at 72 outside and 64 under the nets. Wind damage was also lower under the nets. The pest pressure under the net is higher as it excludes natural parasitoids. Some pests are more prolific than others – mealybug and thrips are more of a problem but bollworm and false codling moth are not a problem. Citrus in the Sandveld does best under 18% to 20% shade netting. Citrus is exported to the Middle East, Europe, US, Canada and Russia.

Costs (1 US dollar = R 15,87)

Simon admits that the cost of netting is significant. “When we started, it was R120000/ha for table grapes. Now it’s R150000/ha to R170000/ha for grapes and about R200000/ha for citrus. As for citrus in the Sandveld, the latter is only economically justifiable in the case of high-paying cultivars.” Citrus costs about R150000/ha to establish and netting costs a further R200000/ha. Simon adds that nets seem to work better in a Mediterranean climate of hot dry summers and mild wet winters. So, while they work well in the Sandveld, he advises citrus growers in other areas to conduct their own trials first.

Source: Jay Ferreira (http://farmersweekly.co.za)

Los europeos comen el doble de AGUACATES (PALTAS) que hace seis años - European consumers eat twice AVOCADOS than six years ago

(Photo source: https://i.guim.co.uk)

El aguacate o palta es un alimento ritual en la Super Bowl para muchos estadounidenses, siendo este un acontecimiento importante para la industria del aguacate. La Hass Avocado Board (Junta del Aguacate Hass) predijo que los estadounidenses consumirían 278 millones de aguacates durante la semana de la Super Bowl, una gran porción importada de México. 

En Europa no hay tradición de consumo de aguacates pero su consumo en los últimos 6 años se ha duplicado en la UE, estimándose en 0,75 kg per cápita y por año. Los consumidores estadounidenses comen cuatro veces más. Pese a que España produce cerca de 70.000 t de aguacates, la mayoría de los consumidos en la UE son importados, principalmente de Perú, Chile y Sudáfrica, según datos de la ONU. Los Países Bajos actúan como centro de distribución aguacates para el mercado europeo, siendo el mayor país importador y exportador de aguacate de la UE.

El notable aumento del aguacate en Europa se debe a varios factores. En primer lugar, el aumento de la disponibilidad de aguacates sabrosos y listos para consumir ha estimulado el crecimiento del mercado. En segundo lugar, los consumidores cada vez son más conscientes del valor nutricional y versatilidad del aguacate. El aumento de la promoción y de la información al consumidor acerca del uso de aguacates podría, al final, hacer que el aguacate se convirtiera en el aperitivo principal de la Eurocopa de la UEFA.

Fuente: far.rabobank.com y www.freshplaza.es

A robust trellis reduces labour and improves quality in APPLES - Un sistema de conducción robusto reduce la mano de obra y mejora la calidad en MANZANAS

Photo source: http://farmersweekly.co.za

In the past, apple farmers were able to get away with paying less attention to the type of trellis systems they erected in orchards. However, orchards that follow the new trend of higher density in which trees are planted as close as 0,75m apart in the row, are less forgiving.

This is according to Willie Kotze, research and development manager at Dutoit Group. Kotze recently spoke at the Hortgro Science Symposium near Franschhoek on methods to extend the lifespan of a trellis system in a high-density apple orchard. Up till fairly recently, the main function of a trellis has been to support young trees in medium-density plantings. After a few years, the trees become less dependent on support.

The trellises help the trees to reach their optimal height faster and prevent the development of basal dominance (vigorous side-shoots near the base). Trees with basal dominance require considerable inputs to boost leader growth and in some cases these trees never reach their full production potential. According to Kotze, medium-density trees planted in a trellis system can produce up to 30% more fruit during the first five years than trees without support.

High-density planting and crop weight
With high-density planting, the trellis system has to support growth and be strong enough to support the crop weight during the productive life of the tree. Kotze explains that these trees develop trunks and branches that are too thin to support the crop, resulting in the need for a trellis system. In addition, trees planted on dwarfing rootstocks, such as M9, M26 and MM106, produce root systems that are not as strongly anchored as those of other more traditional rootstocks.

Long rows need strong anchors
As the end-post and anchors combination have to carry all the weight, Kotze advises farmers to consider soil type and row length when selecting a trellis system. In sandy soil, base plates should be larger than those used in heavier soil, and the longer the row, the stronger the anchor should be. Provision should also be made for wind impact, as the wind force can double the load on a system, according to a study by Cornell University in the US.

In South Africa, the box and slant brace are the two most popular anchoring systems. Farmers also use a slant and tieback combination. The box system is more expensive, because three poles are used in the anchor section, whereas only two are used in the slant brace, explains Kotze. While both worked well in the past with more vigorous rootstocks, Kotze feels that tie-backs will be better able to carry the weight in a high-density system.

“On less vigorous rootstocks, you cannot have trellises supporting trees halfway, as strain will damage the trees. They simply cannot support themselves.” It is calculated that trees will reach a height of between 80% and 100% of the distance between the rows in the orchard, which in this case, varies between 3,5m to 4m.

Searching for the right angle
According to research undertaken by New Mexico State University in the US, the strongest system is one in which the end-post leans away from the anchor wire at a 60° angle. In this way, both end-post and anchor wire carry the force. “If the pole is planted too upright, the load will become unequally distributed and this could result in the collapse of an anchor,” Kotze explains.

The longer the post, the greater the anchor pole’s diameter needs to be.“The anchor post should preferably have a diameter of more than 100mm. The pole should be sunk into the ground between 0,8m and 1m deep. By increasing the planting by a third, resistance to overturning is almost doubled,” he says.

Previously, in-line posts (used inside the rows) had to support only the weight of young trees in medium-density plantings. In high-density systems they also serve as a counterweight. The poles should therefore not be planted further than 12m apart, and the distance between them should decrease as the rows become longer.

The diameter of the poles should be between 80mm and 100mm. Higher trees need thicker posts and upgrading the poles by a single class could increase stress resistance by as much as 40%, according to Kotze. Planting the poles deeper into the ground will also reduce the chances of their leaning sideways. The impact of the wind should also be taken into account when choosing poles and planning where to plant them.

Correct wire application
The total breaking strength of the wires used in the trellis – whether four or five – has to be equal to the breaking strength of the tie-back wires connecting the anchor to the end-poles. Various types of wire are available; Kotze recommends high tensile steel wire that does not stretch too easily. The yield strength (the point at which the wire will not return to its original length), and breaking strength of the wire need to be considered before an informed decision can be made.

For 2mm diameter wire, the range is 350kg and 500kg, depending on the type of wire used. As a rule of thumb, the wire should be tensioned to about 50% of the yield strength during construction. This will help to keep the wire from sagging once the crop is established.

The wire connected to the end-post should be taut, and not simply tied around the post; this will not provide any control over the tension required. Kotze emphasises that the leader support should not carry any weight, but only guide leader growth. It should be able to resist the wind and not slide along the trellis wire.

Staple requirements
Staples are used to affix the wire to the poles and end-poles. Most growers use the smallest staples they can find to save costs. However, this could lead to problems: the staples could be ripped out of the poles when the load becomes too heavy, causing the wires to sag. mIn addition, the staples should not be driven too deeply into a pole, as this will damage the galvanising of the wires and compromise the life-expectancy of the entire system. It could also cause stress points on the wire.
“Use a slash-cut points; it gives you a better grip when inserting the staples,” advises Kotze.

The staples should be placed at a 45° angle to split the grain. If you place them in a straight line, they will create a groove along the grain of the pole and pull out more easily.” The wire should also be installed on the upwind side of an in-line post to prevent the wind from pushing the wire away from the post. It is not a good idea to have a wire running at the top of the posts, as staples have very little grip on the pole-ends and the wires could cut into the posts.

Money well spent – if the job is well done
Kotze advises producers to budget properly when planning a trellis system of this nature, as it can increase the cost of establishing a new orchard by R60 000/ha to R70 000/ ha, which is about three times that of a conventional trellis system. However, he feels that improved quality, higher yield and reduced labour costs once the orchard is well-established, could make up for this, provided the job is done properly.

Source: Glenneis Kriel (http://farmersweekly.co.za)

Notorio avance de las exportaciones de LIMÓN desde el hemisferio sur - Notable progress of LEMON exports from the southern hemisphere

En lo que va de temporada, Argentina mantiene el liderazgo de la oferta del hemisferio sur, ya que ha exportado a la fecha 96400 t, 60% más que el acumulado en el 2014, pero todavía bajo los niveles mostrados en años previos (2011, 2012 y 2013). Le sigue Sudáfrica con volúmenes alrededor de las 46000 t (también menor que años anteriores).

Chile comenzó su temporada en la semana 19 con un importante aumento en el volumen de exportación. Durante el presente año el total acumulado hasta la semana 25 es de 15564 t. Durante el año pasado era de 5236 t, un 161% más, explicado principalmente por el daño de la helada de septiembre del 2013. Sin embargo, al comparar con años anteriores, la diferencia sigue siendo considerable ya que a la semana 25 de 2013 el acumulado era de 5968 t, mientras que al 2012 era de 11292 t.

Por otro lado, hay diferencias entre los principales mercados de destino de estos tres países. El 90% de la oferta argentina tiene como destino principal Europa, mientras que Chile envía el 98% de sus exportaciones a Estados Unidos y Asia. Sudáfrica lo hace principalmente a Europa y Medio Oriente, con notable crecimiento de los envíos al continente asiático en las últimas cinco temporadas.
Fuente: IQonsulting y www.freshplaza.es

Understanding PESTICIDE resistance - Entendiendo la resistencia a los PESTICIDAS

Farmer's Weekly | Understanding pesticide resistance

Phytoplasma probably involved in a very dangerous CABBAGE disease - Fitoplasma probablemente involucrado en una enfermedad muy peligrosa del REPOLLO

At the time of writing, there is uncertainty as to what pathogen causes the disease. Initially, it was declared to be a phytoplasma, a bacterium with a membrane instead of a cell wall, but subsequent tests have questioned this.

The tell-tale black ring in the conducting tissue.

      

As if a cabbage farmer does not have enough to contend with, a destructive new disease is currently doing the rounds. 

Hopefully it will soon be identified so that control measures can be formulated. In the meantime, the disease has been named ‘brassica stunting disorder’ (BSD).

Another question that scientists are grappling with is how BSD entered South Africa. Although it is claimed not to be transmitted by seed, my own experience of BSD leads me to question this. I hope I’m proved wrong. After discussing this possibility, a seedling grower and I visited various farms and inspected the infected crops. One farmer was conducting a large trial of varieties from a European country.

Now, invariably, you find a few infected plants in a cluster, indicating that a vector has transmitted the pathogen to a plant. From there, the disease (or vector) spreads to adjoining plants. Alternately, the plant can be infected from the start and the disease can be spread to the other plants via a vector.

Strange infection patterns

By contrast, we discovered the following in the land we inspected: The trial area, comprising many thousands of plants, was unaffected; there were infected plants in the lands on either side of the trial area; only single plants were infected here, and not clusters, as might be expected.

No vector could have accounted for this pattern. In an area occupied by a number of adjoining cabbage farmers, some had a 30% to 40% infection in one land but no infection at all in another land a few hundred metres away. If there is a vector, this suggests it does not travel far. Yet the outbreak occurred virtually simultaneously in areas far apart. (Some isolated growers produce their own seedlings as well.)

The first symptoms are a reddening of the leaves and/or stunting, which is especially severe if the plant is very young. A mature infected plant may look normal apart from the colour, but if you cut through the stem you will find a ring of black tissue. This extends through the conducting tissue in the head. The head may be marketable but the customer is likely to complain once she has cut it open. The disease is more destructive in winter, with some areas being more affected than others.

Treatment

In the absence of more thorough knowledge on the subject, my advice to farmers is to go through their lands every two weeks and chop out each plant showing symptoms of BSD. This will reduce the amount of infected material. As leaf hoppers are currently the prime suspects as vectors, speak to your pest control rep about an insecticide to control this and other cabbage pests.  When a badly infected land has been cut, it would probably help to spray a harsh chemical such as parathion, chlorophos or a pyrethroid. Next, work the residue into the soil to kill infected vectors still feeding on leaves left on the plants.

Removing weeds

It is also a good idea to apply herbicide to any weedy areas around the land. Until we know what the pathogen is and have more information on the disease, we cannot rule out the possibility of a weed species being a symptomless reservoir for the pathogen. Getting rid of weeds is any case good practice as they breed pests and diseases that affect other crops as well.

Source: Bill Kerr (http://www.farmersweekly.co.za)

Good point: Can the FRESH PRODUCE markets survive? - Buen punto: Pueden sobrevivir las ferias FRUTIHORTÍCOLAS minoristas?

Small municipal markets are not supported by their local councils, and unless some serious ‘repair work’ is done they will continue down the slippery slope to oblivion.

 

Fresh produce market in Durban (http://opencityprojects.com)

 

In the 1940s, there were about 135 fresh produce markets scattered around South Africa. Almost every dorp had a market.

With improved roads, farmers and buyers could travel further afield to reach the larger urban markets, which offered more variety.

Today, there are only 24 markets in the country, some small and other very large. But the practice of bypassing the smaller markets and focusing on the larger ones continues apace. Another challenge faced by local fresh produce markets is that supermarkets and other major buyers tend to buy as much of their produce as possible directly from farmers.

No simple answer

Despite this, markets still reflected a turnover of almost R14 billion in their last financial year. But given the state of modern fresh produce marketing, the question is, can the smaller markets survive?

There is no simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. Some of the smaller municipal markets clearly do not have a bright future. In general, they are not supported by their local councils, and unless some serious ‘repair work’ is done they will continue down the slippery slope to oblivion.

On the other hand, there are one or two privately owned markets that are surviving and even growing. Some, like the George Market in the south-western Cape, are strategically located and should flourish in the years ahead. The recent launch of two regional markets in Limpopo – one near Polokwane and one at Mooketsi – injects another dynamic into the marketing mix. Both are doing well and look set to go from strength to strength.

Going full circle?

Can this model be repeated successfully elsewhere? And if so, does that mean the wheel is turning full circle and we’re going back to the heydays of 70 years ago? It’s unlikely that we’ll reach 135 markets again, but we might see a clutch of these regional markets opening in strategic areas.

Markets have been with mankind since the dawn of time and I have no doubt they will be around for many years yet, but we must expect them to change as circumstances dictate.

Source:Mike Cordes ( http://www.farmersweekly.co.za) and http://www.freshplaza.com