Limpopo Business 2016-17 edition

OVERVIEW
to produce maize and potatoes.
An experienced commercial
farmer will oversee the management
of the scheme, which
is funded by the Limpopo
Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development and is intended
to benefit the community of
Ikageng.
Food security
A national rural development
strategy has been established
by the National Department
of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries (DAFF), the key component
of which is food security.
The entire value chain of agriculture
is under scrutiny, with the
aim to help small-scale farmers
by improving infrastructure, creating
new markets and assisting
them to gain access to the big
buyers such as supermarkets.
In many areas, private companies
such as South African
Breweries, Woolworths and Pick
n Pay are already active. Massmart
has committed to creating opportunities
for emerging farmers
through its Direct Farm
Programme.
DAFF aims to increase the
number of smallholder producers
in the country. As the DAFF strategic
plan says, “there is a need to
coordinate and integrate all the
support provided to smallholder
and subsistence producers”.
Memorandums of understanding
have been signed with
three Chinese provinces (Anhui,
Jilin and Henan), and the province
is in talks with the National
Department of Agriculture about
putting mangoes and avocadoes (two of Limpopo’s biggest products)
on the priority list of exports to China.
The Limpopo Economic Development Agency has identified specific
investment opportunities: private partnerships to resuscitate
state irrigation schemes, cut flowers, baby vegetables, almonds, table
grapes and pork. Sunflowers, soya beans and maize are other crops,
all of which hold great potential for growth.
A R2.2-million project near Tzaneen aims to improve food security.
The Limani Project is a joint undertaking of Pioneer Foods, Trees for
Africa and the Dreamfields Foundation. Schools receive seeds, tools
and lessons in how to grow organic gardens.
TechnoServe, an NGO, and food-supply company Qutom are helping
three emerging Limpopo farmers produce 700 tons of tomatoes
for Woolworths and other markets. TechnoServe is handling the loan
and has found an experienced farmer to mentor the three new farmers:
the mentor’s remuneration will depend on the production levels
of his charges.
The Eskom Development Foundation acknowledges hard work
in the agricultural sector through its Business Entrepreneurship
Investment Competition Awards. The winners in 2015 was Greenland
Landscaping (Thohoyandou) with first runner-up’s position going to
Livhuki General Trading (Pty) Ltd (Makhado).
ONLINE RESOURCES
Agro-Food Technology Station, Limpopo University:
www.ul.ac.za
ARC-Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops:
www.arc.agric.co.za
Citrus Growers Association: www.cga.co.za
Deciduous Fruit Producers Trust: www.dfpt.co.za
Food & Trees For Africa: www.trees.co.za
Limpopo Department of Agriculture: www.lda.gov.za
Limpopo Economic Development Agency: www.lieda.co.za
Limpopo Local Economic Development Programme:
www.limpopoled.com
National Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:
www.daff.gov.za
South African Fruit Farms: www.safruitfarms.com
South African Macadamia Growers’ Association:
www.samac.org.za
South African Subtropical Growers’ Association:
www.subtrop.net
49 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2016/17