Agriculture & Agri-processing
KwaZulu-Natal’s fertile soils support a thriving agricultural sector.
Commercial farming is very well established in KwaZulu- Natal, with the forestry and sugar sectors being particularly sophisticated. These sectors are dealt with in separate overviews. Some 6.5 million hectares are used for farming in the province with about 18% of that being arable.
Provincial government initiatives are strongly focused on the non-commercial sector, including emerging farmers and co-operatives. These projects are designed firstly to promote food security, a real concern in KwaZulu-Natal, and also to generate new income through agriculture and agriprocessing in areas where agriculture had previously been a subsistence endeavour.
National government has also prioritised KwaZulu-Natal’s small-scale farming sector: R50-million was allocated in 2010 for mechanisation, establishing fresh produce markets and processing facilities, and gaining better market access. A R6-billion development agricultural fund was launched by Old Mutual in 2010, with half to be used in South Africa and the balance being dedicated to the rest of the continent.
The coastal areas lend themselves to sugar production and fruit growing, with subtropical fruits doing particularly well in northern areas. KwaZulu-Natal produces 7% of South Africa’s citrus fruit. Vegetables also grow well in these areas, while some maize is grown in the north-west. Nuts such as pecan and macadamia thrive and livestock of all sorts can be found in the province. Dairy cattle are found in large numbers in the Midlands with beef farming taking place mostly further north.
Beef originates mainly in the Highveld and Midland areas, with dairy production being undertaken in the Midlands and south. KwaZulu-Natal has 1.1 million cattle. The Midlands is also home to some of the country’s finest racehorse stud farms. The area around Camperdown is one the country’s most important areas for pig farming.
KwaZulu-Natal has two colleges offering higher qualifications in agriculture, Cedara in the Midlands and the Owen Sitole College of Agriculture near Empangeni.
Projects
- Food security
Provincial government has set aside R45-million in its 2009/10 budget to boost food security. This includes providing starter packs to enable households to produce sufficient vegetables for a year. Seed scoop facilities will be placed at strategic points around the province. It is estimated that 3.5 million people in 580 000 households are food insecure. The government of Flanders (Belgium) assists the province in the roll-out of this programme. Aspects of the programme include:
• Crop massification (dry beans and maize): more than 3 500 fallow hectares were put into production in 2009; tractors were supplied to farmers to help them move up to farming on a commercial scale; fertiliser and seed provision
• Sugar cane fertilisation scheme: 13 015 farmers have received assistance
• Dip tanks have been rehabilitated: 90 600 animals were dipped
• One Home, One Garden Campaign: this project was launched on Mandela Day, 2009. Communal gardens and small poultry projects are among the ideas being promoted. The provincial government also wants to see churches and schools creating gardens.
• One Village, One Commodity Campaign: through this project, villages and co-operatives can concentrate on the cultivation of one crop (or product), thereby improving economies of scale and bringing in cash income without impinging on other villages’ production focus.
- Makhatini Integrated Master Development Plan
The provincial cabinet has endorsed an integrated plan comprising the environment, agricultural development and all supporting infrastructure. Two livestock centres are to be established to deal with handling, training, auctions and medicine storage. Fencing and training for vegetable farmers has begun, co-operatives have been formed and the intention is for the co-operatives to take over the local cotton ginnery. Mjindi Farming has been selected as the implementing agent of the plan which is attracting significant national funding (R108.5-million) in support of the provincial medium term budget to 2011/12 of R243.5-million.
- Tembe Honey Project
A harvest of six tons of honey was expected in 2009, generating a revenue of R180 000 for the 97 communities involved in this innovative project taking place in a traditional area. About 1 000 bee hives have been established in the indigenous and eucalyptus forests that are prevalent in the area. Partnerships have been established with big forestry firms such as Sappi and Mondi. With an eye to developing processing facilities in the area, talks have started with funding institutions such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the Industrial Development Corporation and the National Development Agency.
- Nguni Goat Project
A total of 168 goats were handed to two communities in March 2010 with the intention of making goat farming a more commercial activity. There are only 313 000 goats in the province, used mainly for ceremonial purposes or for household consumption.
Land reform
A number of problems relating to the transfer of agricultural land to new farmers have been encountered. The provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal formed a task team in 2009 to tackle the problems, especially the issue of emerging farmers not being able to pay their monthly instalments to the Land Bank. Private-sector partners (Tongaat, Illovo and the Citrus Growers Association) were approached to provide assistance with turnaround strategies and skills development, and the provincial agricultural authorities, through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme, is providing mentorship.
The Land Bank has agreed to reschedule loans and a new body, a special purpose vehicle known as the Agribusiness Development Agency (ADA) was brought into existence in September 2009 specifically to help rescue these land-reform projects.
Investments
ilembe District Municipality agriprocessing hub: opportunities exist to develop the growing capacity of sites in four municipalities in ilembe. Four hydroponic greenhouses, two plant nurseries and a processing and packaging facility are envisaged, to take advantage of the proximity of the new King Shaka International Airport. Tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers are seen as the most viable products for the project.
As part of its turnaround strategy for farmer beneficiaries of land reform, the Agribusiness Development Agency has secured agreements in the Kokstad area (Sisonke) with investors in the dairy and beef sectors, and with Nestlé for the production and purchase of chicory in the Weenen and Muden areas. An agreement is to be signed with investment agency RMA, supplier of food to major retail chains, for it to lease farms and mentor the new owners.
The northern parts of the province have enormous potential for the production and processing of cassava. An estimated investment of R400-million would lead to the harvesting of 240 metric tons of cassava with 60 000 tons of starch residuals being produced.
Wine
Grape crushing is not an activity for which KwaZulu- Natal is well known – yet. But a wine estate at Nottingham Road in the Midlands is changing that. The Grape Crushing Festival held in April every year at the Stables Wine Estate is growing in popularity. Wine cultivation in the province has grown so much that it is now possible to travel along a wine route.
There is a plan to introduce grape production to KwaZulu-Natal’s north coast, near the new airport. The Stables will plant 10 hectares with the villard blanc varietal and will increase the planting every year. This is in addition to the two farms the estate has in Greytown and Nottingham Road, which produce pinot noir, pinotage, cabernet franc, sauvignon blanc, shiraz and merlot.
Abingdon Wine Estate is a certified single vineyard in Lions River in the Midlands. On two hectares, the young estate has already produced a syrah, a cabernet sauvignon (2007) and a viognier (2009).
