LANDBOU
As mentioned before , old farms are a challenge , and for that simple reason , production is not what it should be .
“ Labour is an issue . There is no shortage , but it is problematic . Mainly now there ’ s a problem with Zimbabweans and the permits story . They are traditionally our more productive pickers . The difference between them and the locals is that we pick on an incentive basis , and on any given day they will easily pick double what the local people do .”
Although pests cause damage to the fruit ’ s skin , wind is the main problem . And that is the simple reason why many orchards in the valley are under nets .
“ I have a small block under nets .
And I would like to add more , but it is a huge financial challenge to put them up . Also , last year we had a very difficult year financially .”
That was due to the strikes at the beginning of the previous picking season . At the same time , the price per export container went up astronomically as well .
“ There was a shortage of containers and our export harbours are a massive problem as the harbours are under-productive nationally . This meant that last year a lot of our fruit had to be trucked up the Durban at an enormous cost . And those are issues we cannot control .”
Nets , although a positive development , present their own challenges . Other than the cost of
What appears to be old threshing floors are actually the valves for controlling the gravity feed from the canal above the orchard .
13 MARKtoe ! Oktober 2023