Province ripe for tomato boom

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It wants to process 120,000 tons of tomatoes yearly, which would amount to about 20,000 tons of paste.

Company chief executive Mark Allice said at the meeting in East London: "This could potentially bring between R150-million to R180-million in revenue to the Eastern Cape."

The company has previously had to turn down orders for 20,000 tons of its products due to a lack of tomato supply. Taking a positive view of that situation, Allice said it was encouraging as it showed strong demand for company products. "If we can get the volume of tomatoes, the product will fly out and will establish the Eastern Cape as a tomato hub."

The company's plant is capable of processing 1,000 tons of tomatoes daily.

Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane, who facilitated the meeting, committed the government to help build the relationship between the farmers and Cape Concentrate.

Female friendly farming

Most of the farmers at the meeting were women. This is because the farms use a hydroponics process which is seen by women as an easier way of farming due to the lower labour intensity of this type of farming.

One of the farmers who hopes to benefit from supplying tomatoes, Thami Madliwa, of Great Kei, said some of the processes were computerised. "What makes hydroponics more interesting to women is that I can work with my children. It's easier than going to the fields. "You set the machines to water the plants while you are asleep and when you wake up, you go and check so it is more female-friendly" Madliwa said.

The agreement would allow farmers of any scale to supply to the plant.

The first target for Cape Concentrate would be to run the plant through the summer season, resulting in the use of 1,500 hectares, which would create direct employment for about 6,000 people, Allice said.

Source: Herald