North West Business 2019 edition

OVERVIEW
Support has also been given by Omnia Fertilisers. In the early stages
of the project, a group of commercial farmers leased the land from
the De Paarl Communal Property Association (CPA) and passed on
agricultural skills to the beneficiaries. The farm has created 20 permanent
job opportunities while 40 locals are employed seasonally.
Major agricultural companies
When South Africa’s first alternative stock exchange in South Africa
started trading in February 2017, the first listing was agricultural company
Senwes and its holding company. Senwes has a strong grain
division and it controls 68 silos. Its headquarters are in Klerksdorp.
Suidwes is based south of Klerksdorp in Leeudoringstad. More
than 90% of the shares in the company are held by farmers. Grain
handling is the main business and there are divisions for retail
(17 outlets and one animal-feed depot), mechanisation, finance
and research and agricultural economics (Terratek).
South Africa's largest agricultural company, Afgri, is active in
the province. Brits is the location of the headquarters of the MGK
Group. The company runs five divisions and a plant that makes fullfat
soy, a component in animal feed. NWK is another company with
manufacturing capacity. The Lichtenburg-based enterprise makes
liquid fertiliser (up to 10 tons per month), animal feed (Opti Feeds),
processes sunflower seeds (Epko), and runs three grain mills. Another
subsidiary, Opti Chicks, has a capacity of 600 000 chicks per week.
NWK also deals in grain, runs several retail outlets and has a halfshare
(with Senwes) in CertiSure Brokers. The company has 37 silos
with a capacity of 2.5-million tons.
Variety
The dry western region is home to large beef-cattle herds, and this is
where the growing game-ranching and hunting industry has its base.
The eastern and north-eastern parts of the province receive relatively
good rainfall and are suitable for the cultivation of crops.
The North West has approximately 1.6-million beef cattle,
ONLINE RESOURCES
Grain SA: www.grainsa.co.za
North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation,
Environment and Rural Development:
www.nwpg.gov.za/agriculture
Seedling Growers Association of South Africa:
www.seedlinggrowers.co.za
representing 12% of South
Africa’s herd. Major breeds
include Simmental, Brahman,
Bonsmara and Simbra, pictured,
a cross between the Brahman
and Simmental breeds. Kalahari
Red and Boerbok goats are
found in large numbers in the
dry west. The number of goats
for the province is estimated at
701 587 which is 12% of South
Africa’s total. There are estimated
to be 318 843 pigs, which is 20%
of South Africa’s total drove.
Nearly two-million hectares
is planted with summer cereals,
with about 50 000 hectares
given over to winter cereals. The
North West produces about
20% of South Africa’s maize
and about 15% of its wheat. The
central and southern sections
of the province are dominated
by maize and wheat farming.
When it comes to sunflower
seed, North West is responsible
for 33% of South Africa's stock,
and 23% of the nation's groundnuts.
The North West supplies
5.4% of South Africa’s potatoes,
but parts of the Kalahari are ideally
suited to the cultivation of
seed potatoes.
39 NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2019