KwaZulu-Natal Business 2019-20 edition

OVERVIEW
Agriculture
New crops are adding to the export basket.
The award of Toyota SA/Agri SA Young Farmer of the Year for
2017 went to a Richmond farmer who is one of only four
farmers in the province cultivating golden kiwifruit. There
are only 16 farmers in all of South Africa doing what Ross
Lowe does, but he believes that the particular strain of kiwifruit he has
chosen is the best in terms of taste and yield. Typically for the modern
KwaZulu-Natal farmer, he also intends to increase his export volumes.
So-called superfoods have potential to grow the agricultural
sector via greatly increased exports: these include avocados,
pecans and dates. The province’s Premier has mentioned
possibilities in macadamia nuts (already a thriving sector in other
parts of the country) and in new areas such as cannabis and the
farming of rabbits. The opening of a R99-million cold-storage
facility at the Dube TradePort in 2017 has given farmers and
exporters additional flexibility, allowing them to store chilled and
frozen perishable goods.
Eighteen percent of KwaZulu-Natal’s 6.5-million hectares of
agricultural land is arable, and the balance is suitable for the rearing
of livestock. The province’s forests occur mostly in the southern and
northern edges of the province.
In 2018, a summit was held at which consultation took place
towards the creation of an Agricultural Development Masterplan
for the province. The resulting plan includes priorities such as the
expansion of irrigable land, improving market access for producers
and adding value to agricultural products before they reach local
and international markets.
The Agribusiness Development Agency (ADA) works with
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) to
stimulate agribusiness that covers the entire value chain and
promotes development in all areas. The coastal areas lend themselves
to sugar production and fruit growing, with subtropical fruits doing
particularly well in the north. KwaZulu-Natal produces 7% of South
Africa’s citrus fruit.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Fresh Produce Exporters Forum: www.fpef.co.za
KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union: www.kwanalu.co.za
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural
Development: www.kzndard.gov.za
SECTOR INSIGHT
Increased agricultural freight
volumes are expected at the
Dube TradePort.
Beef originates mainly in the
Highveld and Midlands areas, with
dairy production being undertaken
in the Midlands and south. The
province produces 18% of South
Africa’s milk.
KwaZulu-Natal’s subsistence
farmers hold 1.5-million cattle,
which represents 55% of the
provincial beef herd, and their
goat herds account for 74%
of the province’s stock. The
Midlands is also home to some
of the country’s finest racehorse
stud farms. The area around
Camperdown is one of the
country’s most important areas
for pig farming.
Enterprise iLembe, the
development arm of the iLembe
District Municipality, is looking
for investors to further develop
an agri-processing hub near the
King Shaka International Airport
and Dube TradePort.
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