Alternative crops: subtropical fruit

Looking for a different crop to grow in the Western Cape? At the Subtropical and Minor Crop Workshop held earlier this year, Glenneis Kriel spoke to a number of experts about the fruits highlighted at the event.

- Glenneis Kriel

FAST FACTS

Mango farmers should target the late market from April to May.

South African farmers have an opportunity to replace imported kiwi fruit with locally produced kiwis.

Improved collaboration between local passion fruit farmers is needed to make the most of the market.

Mangoes offer a potential turnover of R1 million/ha, but whether this is achieved depends on your production per hectare, when your crop hits the market, and supply and demand, says Bernie van den Heever, co-owner of Cape Mango in the Olifants River region in the Western Cape.

South African mango production has seen little growth over the past 10 years, as farmers prefer to plant citrus fruit, which grow faster and reach break-even point sooner.

“Mango trees take up to eight years to reach maturity in traditional production regions such as Hoedspruit, but they can take up to 10 years in Olifants River and probably 12 years in the Southern Cape, due to the cooler climates in these regions,” he explains.

Depending on where and how well the crop is grown, the break-even point is usually at six to seven years. According to Van den Heever, farmers wishing to grow mangoes should target the late market, from April to May. Approximately 21 000t of fresh mangoes are sold on the local market each year, 27 000t are used to produce atchar, 8 300t are juiced, and 16 000t are dried.

“If you’re going to farm mangoes, it makes sense to invest in technology to add value to fruit that doesn’t make the grade for the fresh market,” he advises.