Mpuma agri coops identified for Oman market

© Digitalpress - Fotolia.com

"With regards to key agricultural investment areas, the delegation identified the readily available communal property association farms acquired through the government's land reform programme," said Premier David Mabuza's spokesman Zibonele Mncwango on Friday, 29 November 2013.

The farms include Coromandel in Mashishing, which produces wheat and specialises in agri-tourism, the Giba farm in Hazyview, which produces bananas and vegetables, the Ndwandwe Trust in Badplaas, which focusses on potatoes and citrus and the Champaigne farm in Bushbuckridge, which focuses on citrus and on vegetables.

Mncwango said a five-member delegation from Oman visited government departments, provincial public entities, local farmers and also a number of agricultural projects throughout the province.

He said after touring the province, the delegation, led by Oman's Under-secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries Wealth Dr Ishaq Ahmed Mohamed Al-Roqishi, was keen to conclude formal relations between the two provinces after reporting back to their superiors.

"The investment possibilities by Oman in these farms are in production, processing, packaging, transport and other logistics in importing to their country. The envisaged Mpumalanga Fresh Produce Market will have investment opportunities for the retailers, wholesalers and distributors.

"The entry gate to the Middle East and far east markets will be through the ports of Sohar and Salalah while utilising the Maputo Harbour for shipping purposes," Mncwango said.

Mncwango added that the delegation also visited Karan Beef in Balfour, which is one of the largest producers of beef in South Africa and throughout the continent. Karan Beef also complies with Halaal requirements.

Other areas of cooperation will include exchange programmes on veterinary services, agriculture researchers and extension officers, a direct airline to Oman and environmental management issues.

Premier Mabuza suggested that a permanent team be established to start working on the trade partnership.

Dr Al-Roqishi said: "With the facilities and opportunities you have in your beautiful province, we hope our business people will easily be attracted to come and invest here. Our priority is first to give a report to the minister of agriculture and our Cabinet, and based on their approval we need to quickly initiate the visit by our business people to come to Mpumalanga."