• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Lifestyle

Mzansi’s export crops blooming despite covid-19 difficulties

6th October 2020
Vacancy: Marketing assistant at Food For Mzansi Group

Vacancy: Junior journalist at Food For Mzansi Group

28th November 2023
Sorghum remains a great choice amid climate challenge

Sorghum remains a great choice amid climate challenge

28th November 2023
10 out 10 farms celebrate birthday

How Food For Mzansi put the country’s farmers on the map

28th November 2023
Husband-and-wife-owned enterprise, Jacobs Jam, was one of three small businesses honoured alongside a host of other exceptional suppliers at the Shoprite Group’s annual Supplier of the Year Awards. Nigel and Christynn Jacobs accept their coveted SMME of the Year Award from the Shoprite Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Pieter Engelbrecht (middle). Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Jacobs Jam triumphs: SMME winner at Shoprite Awards

28th November 2023
Kulathi Primary Co-op drives change in rural EC

Kulathi Primary Co-op drives change in rural EC

28th November 2023
2023: A gruelling year that pushed many farmers over the edge

2023: A gruelling year that pushed many farmers over the edge

28th November 2023
Vacancy: Marketing assistant at Food For Mzansi Group

Vacancy: Marketing assistant at Food For Mzansi Group

28th November 2023
Vacancy: Marketing assistant at Food For Mzansi Group

Vacancy: Channel manager at Food For Mzansi Group

28th November 2023
ICYMI: NW govt gives abattoirs a well-deserved pat on the back

ICYMI: NW govt gives abattoirs a well-deserved pat on the back

28th November 2023
CPAs need good governance for private-sector land reform support

CPAs need good governance for private-sector land reform support

27th November 2023

10 out of 10: Farmers share what Food For Mzansi means to them

27th November 2023
Rural resilience: Women in farming project triumphs

Rural resilience: Women in farming project triumphs

27th November 2023
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
15 GLOBAL MEDIA AWARDS
Login
Food For Mzansi
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
Food For Mzansi
Home News

Mzansi’s export crops blooming despite covid-19 difficulties

by Noluthando Ngcakani
6th October 2020
in News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A

Exports have been the bright star in the agricultural sector amid disruptions from the global pandemic, industry experts reveal. Photo: Supplied

While the world continues its battle against the novel coronavirus, the South African fresh produce industry will raise their glasses for a toast to mark their stellar achievements in the agricultural industry.

Despite ongoing challenges in the exports sector, the industry has seemingly made lemonade from the proverbial lemon and has managed to continue apace.

Speaking of lemons, the citrus industry has stolen the show as it has recently revealed that 148.8 million cartons have been shipped and they’re still counting. The industry is yet to conclude the season and has only now reached 95% of completion, says CEO of the Citrus Grower Association (CGA), Justin Chadwick.

Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus Growers Association. Photo: CGA

The soft citrus review is anticipating a record volume of 150 million cartons total shipped to ports across the globe.

“It has been a great season and it will be a record season once we get to the end of it. There is still some unpacking and exporting, we still haven’t concluded the season. Once it is over and we have shipped our last carton we will conduct a review. According to the soft citrus review, we are pretty close to a 150 million cartons,” he says.

Among others, apples, pear, table grapes, avocados, macadamia nuts, wine, maize and sugar cane have also managed to thrive reveals Agbiz CEO Dr John Purchase.

Amid economic woes, victories no matter how small are welcomed, he says. “Any exports that bring in foreign exchange and improve our balance of payments are absolutely necessary for our struggling economy.”

According to Purchase, the table grape harvest had already concluded before the national lockdown was announced and had recorded a high record harvest and export volume.

The citrus and fruit sectors conducted activities under lockdown with tough restrictions on both farms and packhouses to safeguard farm employees from the virus.

Subtrop chief executive, Derek Donkin. Photo: Subtrop

The avocado industry is also managing to run apace despite activities coinciding with the lockdown, says CEO of Subtrop, Derek Donkin.

“Our exports started at the end of February this year and we are more than 95% through. Fortunately, the demand for avocados through the markets remained strong throughout the period.”

Markets took a hard hit with the closure of restaurants globally. “The main challenges were really logistical in terms of the ports and transport. This year the export crop will come to 62 000 metric tonnes.

“What you have in the avocado industry, is what we call an alternate bearing cycle where you would have a larger season followed by a smaller season. In 2019 we exported 56 000, and in 2018 there was a big crop of 83 000.”

“We predict over the next five to seven years that our exports will continue increasing.”

Crisis averted at Cape Town port

The road towards normalcy has revealed many areas of concern at the Port of Cape Town, says Purchase.

Port disruptions kicked in from the moment closures had been announced, leading to a logistical nightmare for many exporters of fresh produce throughout the globe.

Dr John Purchase, Agbiz CEO
Dr John Purchase, chief executive of Agbiz. Photo: Supplied

The month of July saw the Port of Cape Town in crisis as it became the centre of delays and bottlenecks running far below capacity partly due to the covid-19 spread amongst employees.

Collaborative efforts have been made to mitigate the crisis of ports, says Purchase.

“It was a big problem; it was a major concern, but many people helped to get the ports open again. We have been in contact with Transnet at top level and we have also got planned meetings coming up on 16 October where we will be participating in the strategic sessions with Transnet regarding the ports and the railways.”

Purchase says they will engage with Transnet about a number of issues. “Transnet has a totally new executive team and we have met with them and it looks promising.”

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • WhatsApp
  • Email
Tags: AgbizCGADerek DonkinDr John PurchaseJustin ChadwickSubtrop
Previous Post

Food provenance platform set to boost SA beef supply chain

Next Post

Nedbank unites with Boland Trees for Bees to safeguard honeybees

Noluthando Ngcakani

Noluthando Ngcakani

With roots in the Northern Cape, this Kimberley Diamond has had a passion for telling human interest stories since she could speak her first words. A foodie by heart, she began her journalistic career as an intern at the SABC where she discovered her love for telling agricultural, community and nature related stories. Not a stranger to a challenge Ngcakani will go above and beyond to tell your truth.

Related Posts

Key figures speaking at Food For Mzansi’s 2024 AgriFuture SA conference: Theo Boshoff (Agbiz), Leona Archary (Agda), Tebogo Mokgoadi (Kagiso Trust), Fhumulani Mashau (Fruit SA, Abongile Balarane (South African Poultry Association), and Thandokwakhe Sibiya (South African Farmers Development Association). Photos: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

2024 AgriFuture SA conference to unveil path for sector’s future

by Staff Reporter
23rd November 2023
0

Last-minute registrations for Food For Mzansi’s ground-breaking 2024 AgriFuture SA conference are now open. Explore policy evolution, market access, and...

ICYMI: SA’s food security set-up has no room for complacency

ICYMI: SA’s food security set-up has no room for complacency

by Staff Reporter
18th October 2023
0

Although South Africa's current food security situation is stable, Agbiz chief economist Wandile Sihlobo says there is no room to...

Standardisation holds the key to insuring SA's grain storage

Standardisation holds the key to insuring SA’s grain storage

by Staff Reporter
12th October 2023
0

Sean Harper, national survey manager at Santam, stresses the imperative of standardisation in the grain storage industry. Emphasising collaboration and...

Stronger together: Agda pushes for agri partnerships

Stronger together: Agda pushes for agri partnerships

by Duncan Masiwa
1st September 2023
0

If anyone knows the power of partnerships within the agricultural sector, it's Leona Archary, CEO of the Agricultural Development Agency....

Next Post
Nedbank unites with Boland Trees for Bees to safeguard honeybees

Nedbank unites with Boland Trees for Bees to safeguard honeybees

Husband-and-wife-owned enterprise, Jacobs Jam, was one of three small businesses honoured alongside a host of other exceptional suppliers at the Shoprite Group’s annual Supplier of the Year Awards. Nigel and Christynn Jacobs accept their coveted SMME of the Year Award from the Shoprite Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Pieter Engelbrecht (middle). Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi
News

Jacobs Jam triumphs: SMME winner at Shoprite Awards

by Ivor Price
28th November 2023
0

Jacobs Jam, a Ceres-based enterprise, clinched the top SMME Award at Shoprite Group’s Supplier of the Year Awards, marking their...

Read more
Kulathi Primary Co-op drives change in rural EC

Kulathi Primary Co-op drives change in rural EC

28th November 2023
2023: A gruelling year that pushed many farmers over the edge

2023: A gruelling year that pushed many farmers over the edge

28th November 2023
Vacancy: Marketing assistant at Food For Mzansi Group

Vacancy: Marketing assistant at Food For Mzansi Group

28th November 2023
Vacancy: Marketing assistant at Food For Mzansi Group

Vacancy: Channel manager at Food For Mzansi Group

28th November 2023

Fab five: Food For Mzansi catches up with farmers 5 years later

Halala! Langa wins Diners Club Young Winemaker Award

Culinary excellence on the menu at the restaurant awards

Mzansi uncorks month-long wine heritage bash

ICYMI: NW govt gives abattoirs a well-deserved pat on the back

Ukuzama inhlanhla kumsizile umfuyi waseNorth West

RSS From FoodForAfrika.com

  • $2 Million investment in fertiliser financing for Kenyan smallholders
  • AfDB empowers Tanzanian horticulture with $2.5m boost
  • Malagasy scientist wins $150k grant

THE NEW FACE OF SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE

With 15 global awards in the first four years of its existence, Food For Mzansi is much more than an agriculture publication. It is a movement, unashamedly saluting the unsung heroes of South African agriculture. We believe in the power of agriculture to promote nation building and social cohesion by telling stories that are often overlooked by broader society.

Vacancy: Junior journalist at Food For Mzansi Group

Sorghum remains a great choice amid climate challenge

How Food For Mzansi put the country’s farmers on the map

Jacobs Jam triumphs: SMME winner at Shoprite Awards

Kulathi Primary Co-op drives change in rural EC

2023: A gruelling year that pushed many farmers over the edge

  • Our Story
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824
News: info@foodformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
Login

Copyright © 2021 Food for Mzansi

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.