New R55m facility will boost EC citrus farming

Citrus farmers from Ngqushwa are the beneficiaries of a R55m packhouse which was officially opened yesterday.

The state-of-the-art packhouse – built by the Eastern Cape department of rural development & agrarian reform (DRDAR) – replaces a 90-yearold corrugated iron structure and the worn-out equipment that farmers had to share previously.

With the new packhouse, boasting hi-tech equipment and machinery, the farmers will be able to increase their farm hectarage, doubling their citrus production from 5,000 tons to an expected 10,900 tons.

The new packhouse also complies with international food packaging standards, meaning the farmers will be able to export the fruit to a larger international market.

Their fruit, which includes navel oranges, valencia oranges and lemons, is currently exported through the Lorna brand to Europe, the US, Asia and the Middle East.

According to DRDAR chief director of communications Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha, a total of 70 new jobs has been created at the facility when production began last month.

DRDAR MEC Xolile Nqatha said the facility heralded the start of bigger achievements for the local farming community. “This is a very historic occasion, to hand over this project to black farmers,” Nqatha said.

“It demonstrates once more that black people are equally capable of being farmers. We are here to celebrate black success.

“The building we are handing over today meets international standards for them to be able to compete with other farmers on an international platform.”