Citrus, poultry, and cannabis are the low-hanging fruits within reach of Mzansi’s farmers who should consider pursuing these trending agri commodities in 2023, according to agricultural economist Lunathi Hlakanyane.
“Over the past two years, we have seen quite a lot of interest in cannabis for both its medicinal benefits, as well as commercial potential. In fact, the Lotto has culminated the cannabis industry’s current evaluation at R28 billion. And the sector continues to show huge signs of growth.”
He says that the most advantageous aspect of cannabis is that it is a commodity that normally requires little labour. Its inputs are normally or relatively inexpensive, and Mzansi offers ideal ecological and environmental conditions for large-scale cannabis production.
In addition to this, he says, cannabis cultivation can help alleviate South Africa’s unemployment woes.
Booming citrus sector
Since 2016, the citrus industry in South Africa has been constantly expanding, according to Hlakanyane.
“For any farmer looking to diversify their operation into something new, and incredibly lucrative; the citrus industry is really worth looking into.”
Citrus contributed for almost 25% of South Africa’s agricultural exports in the previous year. This demonstrates how difficult it is to pursue it on a commercial basis, he adds.
Hlakanyane mentions the following subjects during the session:
- Agritech solutions;
- Market appetite; and
- Demand for poultry production in South Africa.
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