Ga onbeperkt met Magzter GOLD

Ga onbeperkt met Magzter GOLD

Krijg onbeperkte toegang tot meer dan 9000 tijdschriften, kranten en Premium-verhalen voor slechts

$149.99
 
$74.99/Jaar

Poging GOUD - Vrij

Powering up SA's pomegranate industry

Farmer's Weekly

|

Farmer's Weekly 19 August 2022

Gerhard Meyer has achieved export success with his top-quality pomegranates. Now he and a group of other Klein Karoo farmers have established a brand specifically for pomegranates grown in this area, promising substantial employment and attracting government support. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the project.

- Glenneis Kriel

Powering up SA's pomegranate industry

 FAST FACTS

Producer Gerhard Meyer says that pomegranate trees make an excellent investment, producing the highest yield per litre of water in his area of the Klein Karoo.

The crop, he adds, can transform the region by creating many new direct and indirect jobs.

The establishment costs of pomegranate trees are relatively low, and break-even is reached by year four or five.

In March 2021, Farmer's Weekly reported on how Gerhard Meyer transformed the farm he inherited near Oudtshoorn in 2008 by building a dam to store his water allocation. He also installed a desalination plant to make the water more suitable for fruit production and converted 15ha of lucerne under flood irrigation to 40ha of pomegranate under drip irrigation.

In addition, he changed the farm's name from Langverwacht to Celebratio, in remembrance of the happy times he spent there as a child and in honour of his father, grandfather and other relatives who managed to keep the farm in the family despite severe hardships.

Since then, he has established an independent pomegranate brand that will enable other farmers to cash in on production of this crop in the Klein Karoo.

"Pomegranates present the best return on investment in terms of land and water usage of all crops in this part of the Klein Karoo. The yield per litre of water is second to none," says Meyer.

He adds that the crop also has excellent job creation potential, with 1,5 jobs being created for every hectare planted.

MEER VERHALEN VAN Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

From planning to peak lay: building a profitable egg business

Mpumalanga poultry farmer Lebogang Mashego spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel, and shared practical insights on planning, building systems that work, breed choice, feed management, and markets to build a profitable and sustainable egg business.

time to read

5 mins

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Geely is intent on hanging around

Having fallen off the radar around a decade ago following a short local stint, Chinese manufacturer Geely has announced its proposed return to South Africa towards the end of 2026. The Citizen's Jaco van der Merwe reports.

time to read

4 mins

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Great reads to enjoy during ‘me-time'

Patricia McCracken has plucked an assortment of fascinating titles covering different areas of interest, from coastal exploration and dining in the wild, to African traditions surrounding love and marriage.

time to read

3 mins

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

South Africa's famous wandering hippo

From 1928 to 1931, a hippopotamus trekked 1 600km from what was then northern Natal to the Eastern Cape's Keiskamma River near Peddie, where it was shot dead by a posse of farmers. As Mike Burgess writes, this journey would immortalise the hippo in South African history.

time to read

3 mins

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

The heroics of fighter Gideon Scheepers

The execution by the British of a young Boer commandant is seen by many as a miscarriage of justice. He was captured after he fell seriously ill and was unable to flee. Graham Jooste reported.

time to read

6 mins

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

How coral reefs can help combat hunger

With the global population reaching 8,3 billion, scientists are increasingly looking to the oceans to solve burgeoning food security crises.

time to read

1 min

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

The importance of netting in horticulture

Once viewed mainly as a shield against hail, wind and sun, netting has evolved into a core business strategy in modern horticulture. According to various sources, as margins tighten and climate risks intensify, undercover farming is increasingly non-negotiable for premium horticultural production. Petri de Beer reports.

time to read

6 mins

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Five-ingredient chocolate pots

These five-ingredient chocolate pots are proof that a decadent dessert doesn't need to be complicated. Made with rich dark chocolate, cream, and egg yolks, they deliver a silky-smooth custard with deep chocolate flavour and just the right level of sweetness.

time to read

1 min

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Botswana's cattle industry and the road to premium export markets

Botswana's beef industry has gained global recognition and premium market access through quality, compliance, and strategic branding. Maintaining its position as one of Southern Africa's top beef exporters will depend on sustained long-term planning and a commitment to sustainable growth. Petri de Beer reports.

time to read

3 mins

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly

Balsamic roasted veggies with penne and avocado

A vibrant, feel-good meal that brings together sweetly caramelised veggies, creamy avocado and perfectly cooked pasta. A splash of balsamic vinegar and brown sugar adds depth and balance, while crunchy lemon-infused breadcrumbs deliver a satisfying finish.

time to read

1 min

January 30 - February 06, 2026

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size