A newly-formed partnership between the Agricultural Research Council and the Deciduous Fruit Development Chamber is set to grow the fruit industry in non-traditional areas. It will also revitalise deciduous fruit farms to boost agricultural economic growth.
ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij and DFDC-SA have signed a memorandum of understanding after working together on areas of deciduous fruit development through research and training.
The memorandum of understanding explores further collaborations in areas of mutual interest to transform the deciduous fruit industry. This will be done through research, development and technology transfer.
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According to the ARC the two organisations will co-operate and collaborate through:
- research and technical expertise;
- technical resources and feasibility studies;
- integrated support of producers and related stakeholders;
- sharing of producer databases;
- research co-operation, collaboration and/or commercialisation;
- participation and organisation of joint conferences, workshops and seminars;
- exchange of relevant scientific and technical information and documentation; and
- short-term training programmes.
Benefits of the partnership
Prof. Bongani Ndimba, specialist researcher for the ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij and associate professor at the University of the Western Cape, says the ARC will also offer technical support to DFDC-SA.
This will be linked to feasibility studies, research and cultivar development in Mpumalanga, the Free State and Limpopo.
“Partnerships, such as this one between the ARC and the DFDC-SA, enable the direct dissemination of technologies and scientific solutions to producers and their associated organisations, which in turn, facilitates the competitiveness and sustainability of the South African agricultural sector.”
Ndimba says the ARC and DFDC-SA are currently in a planning phase to kick-start the work in Mpumalanga and the Free State.
Opening doors for black producers
“This collaboration will unlock access to cultivars which would not have been easily accessible to black producers. It is with this partnership that revitalisation of deciduous fruit farms in non-traditional areas will be realised,” he says.
Both organisations emphasised the importance of the partnership, which will boost continued agricultural economic growth, job creation and social development.
“The ARC and DFDC-SA are confident that this agreement will strengthen the deciduous fruit sector and the growth of all South African producers, with specific targets to bring emerging agri-entrepreneurs into the industry value chain,” says Dr Thembi Xaba, chief executive of DFDC-SA.
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