Berry industry set for phenomenal growth over the next five years, with vastly increased plantings
Blueberries being processed at a factory. Picture: REUTERS/Neil Hall
The number of hectares of blueberries in particular will rise 136% in Limpopo and 102% in Mpumalanga. A significant attribute of SA’s blueberry varieties is their versatility, enabling production in virtually any part of the country. So the government and industry can target high-unemployment areas for increased production, the berry association said. Industry players say the blueberry sector also offers the highest wages in the fruit sector, ranging from 15% to 26% above the minimum wage.The industry is labour intensive and employs three or four workers a hectare.
“But to achieve this goal, the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development must prioritise market access,” said Kotzé.“Unfortunately, the SA market access protocol is creating an environment where the various SA fruit commodities are competing with each other, when in fact their real competitors are countries like Chile and Peru. We need to get more organised as a producing nation.
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