Free State Business 2020 edition

OVERVIEW
of South Africa’s agricultural output.
The Free State has 32 000km² of cultivated land
and a further 87 000km² of grazing land and natural
veld. A summer-rainfall region with a mean annual
rainfall of 532mm, the Free State’s climate, soil types
and topography vary greatly within the province,
with plains in the west and mountains in the east.
The western and southern areas are semi-desert,
with some Karoo vegetation occurring in the south.
The province supplies significant proportions
of the nation’s sorghum (53%), sunflowers (45%),
potatoes (33%), groundnuts (32%), dry beans
(26%), wool (24%) and almost all of its cherries
(90%). Red meat and dairy are other important
products. Game hunting is a growing sector, and
several large Free State farms have been converted
from stock to game farms. Crop production represents
about two-thirds of the province’s gross
agricultural income. The main crops are maize and
wheat. Sunflowers, sunflower seeds, sorghum and
soybeans are other major crops. The Mangaung
Fresh Produce Market plays a vital role in the sector,
catering as it does to householders, bulk buyers,
informal traders, agents and farmers.
Glen Agricultural Training Institute is a public
institution of the Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development. The Institute, which caters
to students in the higher and further education
bands, is on the Modder River and offers threeyear
diploma courses. A further training centre
offers courses to farmers and farm workers. The
curriculum of the higher education band consists
of two electives in crop and animal production.
These electives are supported by compulsory
subjects in the field of engineering, economics,
pasture science and extension. The curriculum
of the further education band consists of short
courses and learnership programmes.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Agricultural Research Council: www.arc.agri.za
Bothaville: www.bothaville.info
Free State Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development: www.ard.fs.gov.za
Grain SA: www.grainsa.co.za
Aiming for sustainability
Managing Director of VKB,
Koos Janse van Rensburg.
VKB originated in a wish to create a sustainable
agricultural company and a sustainable future
for producers. This is still the golden thread that
weaves the strategies of the company together.
This is why VKB relies wholeheartedly on the
support of people who have chosen the most
noble profession to make a difference in our
country and in the world.
The VKB Group’s primary objective is to
exploit the complete value chain of agricultural
production in South Africa for the benefit of
shareholders. VKB wants to economically obtain
their inputs, goods, services and financing on
behalf of its producers by optimally utilising
their collective volumes. This allows producers
to focus on their farming activities.
The VKB Group also wants to add additional
value to the agricultural products produced
in its service area, thereby ensuring that the
producer derives maximum benefit from the
food value chain and obtains a share in it.
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