The fruit industry is on the brink of an exciting phase packed with opportunities, according to Anton Rabe, executive director of Hortgro.
“I am incredibly bullish about the next five to 10 years,” he shared with Tru-Cape’s management at a recent strategy meeting, adding that the local industry may not have enough fruit to meet the global demand if more markets open up.
“Agriculture makes up around 15-18% of the gross domestic product when you factor in the value chain, and people increasingly appreciate the industry’s value. Agriculture has the potential to create jobs, earn foreign currency, and develop stable and safe rural communities.”
At the new Tru-Cape offices in Paarl’s Main Road Roelf Pienaar, managing director of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, said he was particularly enthusiastic regarding prospects in the Far East.
“There are great opportunities in emerging markets where our competitors struggle with logistical difficulties.
“Although we need to tackle the infrastructure issues in South African ports and on our roads.”
South African producers operate in a failed-state environment in which electricity, logistics, water and security are often lacking.
“Our message to the government is to implement the plans already on the table, such as the National Development Plan and the Agriculture and Agro-Processing Master Plan.”
He predicted that the logistics crisis would last another year to 18 months.
