Gauteng Business 2018-19 edition

OVERVIEW
Estates is the largest producer of pigs in the country and the
company’s Middelburg farm in Mpumalanga is geared to supply
the Gauteng market.
Fruit, dairy products, eggs, maize and grain are also produced in
large volumes within the province.
As the most populous region of South Africa, Gauteng consumes
large quantities of food. And South Africans eat more chickens than
anything else. Poultry farm and production facilities abound in
Gauteng. Astral Foods, RCL Foods and Daybreak Farms are among
the biggest companies in the province. The poultry industry in South
Africa has been in the spotlight with a change in the arrangements
relating to import duties from the US.
Many agriculture-focused research institutions are based in the
province. The Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC) national research
facilities are in Pretoria, and include the Roodeplaat Vegetable and
Ornamental Plant Institute and the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute.
In addition, the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)
is located at the University of Pretoria.
Policy support
The provincial government is supporting 178 small-holder farmers
through farmer support and development initiatives. An information
technology programme is to be implemented. This will focus on crop
and livestock monitoring and is intended to increase productivity.
The Gauteng City Region will roll out the deployment of information
technology in the farming community. This will present opportunities
for farmers to monitor their crops/livestock and increase productivity.
The R50-million programme encompasses:
ONLINE RESOURCES
Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa:
www.aeasa.org.za
Agricultural Research Council: www.arc.agric.za
AgriSA: www.agriinfo.co.za
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development:
www.gdard.gpg.gov.za
Johannesburg Development Agency: www.jda.org.za
National Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:
www.daff.gov.za
South African Crocodile Farming Association:
www.sacfa.co.za
South African Poultry Association: www.sapoultry.co.za
• Gauteng Agriculture
Information System
• Farm Business Analysis
(DNA)
• Gauteng Agriculture
Economy Analysis (including
market monitoring)
• Smart Agriculture
Feasibility.
A province-wide Agro-
Processing Summit was held
to bring together small-holder
and commercial farmers, food
retail companies, finance institutions
and researchers.
The summit was organised
by the Gauteng Department
of Economic Development,
Environment, Agriculture and
Rural Development.
Woolworths’ Enterprise and
Supplier Development Programme
gave Sophiatown-born Jimmy
Botha the chance to become a
successful farmer of baby spinach,
rocket and basil. With advice from
a supportive neighbour farmer
(who was already supplying to
Woolworths), Botha grew his farming
business to the point where he
now has 42 full-time employees
and 30 seasonal workers.
Massmart, the retail group
now owned by US giant Walmart,
invested R15-million in the five
years to 2017 to create opportunities
in its food chain for emerging
farmers. Techno-Serve, a
non-governmental organisation,
oversees the programme. The
Massmart Supplier Development
Fund has enabled small farmers
to have the security of a confirmed
buyer for their products
and many of them have grown
their businesses substantially.
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GAUTENG BUSINESS 2018/19