Looking forward to 2019

Farmer’s Weekly spoke to some of South Africa’s top farmers about the challenges they faced in 2018, as well as their plans for 2019.

Farmers make a difference

Pieter Graaff, named the Agricultural Writers SA’s 2018 National Farmer of the Year, owns the agribusiness Witzenberg Properties, which is situated in Ceres, Western Cape. He spoke to Lloyd Phillips.

provide an overview of Witzenberg Properties’ operations.

Witzenberg Properties is comprised of six farming units. These properties are used to grow primarily apples for the local and export markets. On a smaller scale, we grow pears, nectarines, peaches, cherries and wine grapes, as well as onions, winter wheat, and timber. We operate a Red Angus cattle stud, a commercial Dohne Merino flock, and a Thoroughbred horse stud. It is not wise for a farming business to operate as an island as this puts the business, its clients and consumers at risk of experiencing the negative impacts of inconsistant supply and quality. To minimise this risk, we are the largest shareholder in the Ceres Group, which include Ceres Fruit Growers, Ceres Fruit Processors, Tru-Cape, and APL Cartons. We also have shareholding in Link Supply Chain, a fruit tree nursery, and a vegetable packhouse.

What opportunities does 2019 hold for South Africa’s fresh fruit sector?

Africa as a market for apples and other fruit still holds huge potential, especially with the upturn in the economies of oil-producing countries such as Angola and Nigeria. In 2018, the Western Cape had a much better winter rainfall season than the previous year and the season started off with much improved water levels. Winter was also much colder, which is ideal for the sizing and colouration of fruit. There are opportunities to improve production volumes and market better-quality and larger-sized fruit.

How did you experience 2018? We struggled to find sufficient water to irrigate orchards optimally, due to the drought. The drought did, however, provide us with the opportunity to revise irrigation practices, to improve orchard practices, and to use water more efficiently. The evaluation of orchard profitability was also done more strictly, and cost management thus improved.

how did South Africa’s fresh fruit sector experience 2018? The pome fruit industry had a tough year with product volumes dropping roughly 15% to 20% compared with the previous season as a result of the drought. The quality of apples for export was also affected, and internal quality problems were experienced with some apple cultivars on the global markets.

What investments are you planning for your agribusiness in 2019?

Witzenberg Properties plans to continue with its orchard renewal strategy in which we aim to replant 30ha to 40ha of our older fruit orchards. Within our normal orchard renewal strategy, we strive to continuously improve orchard yields by replacing old orchards with higher-yielding new cultivars and fruit types. We have also invested in the complete value chain and will continue to look for opportunities to further invest in the value chain. We hold 49% of shares in an empowerment farm in the Ceres region, and through its ongoing investment in the farm, we want to establish a platform for further growth in empowerment farming.

How do you feel about the future of South africa’s agriculture sector?

One has to be optimistic as a farmer, and the reward in farming lies in knowing that one makes a difference. Farming plays an important role in providing social stability in the country, especially in rural areas. With the farming sector being one of the largest providers of employment in the country, farming, and especially the fruit industry as an export industry, provides much-needed foreign income to the country, and plays a major role in stabilising the economy.

• Phone Witzenberg Properties on 023 316 1915.