Bhisho juices R21m in citrus exports

© Konstantin Sutyagin – 123RF.com

While Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane assigned the majority of the R21 million for infrastructure support at the ageing Ripplemead citrus pack house in Peddie, smallholder citrus growers from the Amathole region will receive R4 million.

Qoboshiyane made the allocation while delivering his 2015-16 policy speech at the Bhisho Legislature this week.

"Though Amathole and Sarah Baartman are also crop-producing areas, they are the citrus and deciduous fruit hubs in the province.

"The department is supporting the smallholder citrus growers with inputs of R4 million in the next financial year.

"The department will also provide infrastructure support to revitalise the ageing Ripplemead citrus pack house in Peddie to the tune of R9.2 million and another R8 million to assist farmers with production and orchard upgrades to cover phase one."

The department would also support 120 citrus farmers with production inputs and create an estimated 162 permanent and 1,041 seasonal jobs.

Qoboshiyane said: "This support will enable Ripplemead to trade directly with the European Union as against the current scenario where they struggle to access international markets."

Citrus Growers' Association transformation manager Lukhanyo Nkombisa said: "We welcome the vote of confidence in the farmers and commit to the department that the items will be used effectively.

"The Eastern Cape is the second biggest producer of citrus in the country. Citrus contributed massively to employment and the GDP of the province."

Nkombisa said the condition of the roads to the Ripplemead citrus pack house was not good, similar to roads in other Eastern Cape citrus producing areas like Patensie and Sundays River Valley.

"But this is not the job of the department alone. It should be addressed by everybody as a team," Nkombisa said.

Katriver Growers' Association chairman Eric Nohamba said about 25-million oranges a year were produced and exported from the Amathole region.

"We appreciate the assistance from the government. The fertiliser and chemicals will all help with improving the quality of the fruits in order for them to be up to export standard," Nohamba said.

The Ripplemead citrus pack house was in a poor state, but with the new government investment it should return to a standard for exporting fruit.

But some roads needed attention, Nohamba said.

Qoboshiyane also allocated R2 million to support the chicory industry and R6.5 million for the deciduous fruit value chain in the Langkloof.