Sweet prospects: the current state of litchi production in South Africa

Bram Snijder, agricultural consultant and chairperson of the South African Litchi Growers' Association, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about the litchi industry embracing new opportunities, tackling challenges, implementing innovation, and reaching markets both locally and internationally.

- Octavia Avesca Spandiel

South Africa’s litchi industry is entering a phase of cautious optimism. After years of stagnation influenced by restrictive markets and climate variability, growers are beginning to see new opportunities both domestically and internationally.

Bram Snijder, agricultural consultant and chairperson of the South African Litchi Growers’ Association, says litchi production has been fairly stagnant compared to five years ago.

“For a long time, South African growers were bound to the European Union (EU) markets, which are heavily influenced by Madagascar in terms of volumes and fixed pricing. This limited growth has made long-term planning challenging for producers,” he says.

He adds that the recent opening of the US market has sparked renewed optimism.

“With access to the US market over the past couple of years, there’s definitely a more positive vibe among growers. We're also exploring the Indian market, and we hope to have more clarity on that soon. These new opportunities are encouraging growers to invest more effort into picking, packing, and protecting their crops,” he says.

GROWING INTEREST FROM NEW PRODUCERS

The renewed market optimism has generated interest from both established and new growers.

“We're receiving numerous requests for information from people wanting to enter litchi production. Even the Western Cape is showing interest, where growers are exploring very late-season harvesting. This suggests a strong appetite for litchis and the potential for industry expansion into new regions,” he says.

REGIONAL PRODUCTION INSIGHTS

Mpumalanga remains the primary hub for large-scale commercial litchi production.

“The leading areas for commercial growth are in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, but there are small-scale growers scattered across the country, often with just 1ha or 2ha,” Snijder explains.