Survival strategies of farmers in the Langkloof

Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, South Africa's largest exporter of apples and pears, hosted a media visit to the Langkloof to meet with its producers. Two of these farmers spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the techniques they use to overcome production challenges.

- Glenneis Kriel

The Baldies' farm boasts one of the oldest recorded apple trees in the Langkloof region.

Pome fruit production in the Langkloof is associated with high climatic risks, ranging from cyclical droughts to seasonal hailstorms. Calla du Toit, procurement manager at Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, says that most farms in the region have been family-run enterprises for generations, resulting in many years of intergenerational wisdom that has taught these growers how to thrive under these challenging conditions.

He adds that farmers here tend to be more conservative with their plantings and finances than those in other regions.

“Instead of planting as much as they can, they plant fewer hectares to ensure there's sufficient water to carry them through times of scarcity. They're also highly disciplined with their money, choosing to build reserves for difficult times rather than spend everything at once."

FAST FACTS

According to Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, farmers in the Langkloof are generally more conservative than those in other regions when it comes to their plantings and finances.

Farmer Jimmy Zondagh says he only uses crop insurance for high-value apple varieties.

The use of nets can help to protect fruit and increase packout rates.

Jimmy Zondagh, his wife Magdel and daughter Michelle hosted members of the media on their farm Belle-Vue, near Uniondale.

CROP INSURANCE

Insurance premiums for farms in the Langkloof are exorbitant because of the high risk of hail in the area. Jimmy Zondagh, owner of Belle-Vue farm near Uniondale in the Western Cape, estimates that it can cost anything from R16 000/ha in the region.