An Overview of Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) Production by Small and Emerging Growers in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Transcription

1 An Overview of Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) Production by Small and Emerging Growers in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa SM Magongwa and C Mathews Directorate: Crop Research & Development Department of Agriculture, Rural Development Land Administration (DARDLA) 1/2/2013 1

2 OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION 1. Introduction 2. Objectives 3. Methods / Materials 4. Results / Discussion 5. Recommendations 6. Conclusions 7. Welcome to community litchi orchards 8. Acknowledgement 1/2/2013 2

3 1. INTRODUCTION a. Area of production Total Area: 1731 ha Mpumalanga 70% & Limpopo 25%: 1/2/2013 3

4 1b. PRODUCTION Production: 7760 tons Average value: R50-70m Production on declining trend: highest in Imported ±300t (2010) Major variety: Mauritius (90%) -Notrje (2012) Litchi profile SA by DAFF (2010 ) 1/2/2013 4

5 1c.General Constraints Narrow genetic resource, Poor flowering / fruit set, Irregular bearing, Flower and pre-mature fruit drop, Fruit cracking, Insect pests, diseases, die-back complex, Poor water and nutrient management, & Land restitution Introduction continued. 1/2/2013 5

6 DUAL NATURE OF AGRICULTURE IN SOUTH AFRICA? Extreme diversities exist in ownership, scale of operation, technology used, resources etc. 1. Highly sophisticated and specialized commercial sector

7 2. Resource poor, small, subsistence and emerging sector 1/2/2013 7

8 The situation with fruit production is not different The share of smallholder African households in commercial fruit production has been negligible in the past. It was limited to households having a few stands of fruit crops (mainly mango) at their home garden for home consumption / cash. A few with litchi too. The Land restitution process on-going in SA has been changing that scenario slowly but steadily. 1/2/2013 8

9 Land Restitution in SA The South African Constitution gave people and communities who had been dispossessed of land as a result of racially discriminatory laws or practices the right to restitution of that property or to fair compensation as per the Restitution of Land Rights Act (22 of 1994). Since 1994, land restitution has facilitated the emergence of thousands of previously disadvantaged African households in participating in various farming activities across South Africa-thus the term Emerging Farmer 1/2/2013 9

10 Litchi growing Local Municipalities in Mpumalanga 1/2/

11 2. OBJECTIVES To determine the prospects and problems of small and emerging litchi growers in Mpumalanga province To suggest measures to improve their productivity To enable all role players, DARDLA, National Research (ARC) and Subtrop/SALGA to come out with appropriate strategy to improve productivity / profitability 1/2/

12 3.METHODS / MATERIALS a. Primary information source:- Farmers/managers from 10 projects Information was collected through personal interviews / discussion using structured questionnaires. All the farmers/managers contacted were from restituted farms.. PROJECTS 1. Giba 2. Endlovini 3. Mbuyane 4. Silver creek 5. Kalrug 6. Matsoma 7 Matsafeni 8. Laughing waters 9.Inala 10. Chapagne 1/2/

13 3.METHODS / MATERIALS cont. b. Secondary information source ARC-ITSC Ms. Regina Cronje SALGA/SUBTROP Mr. Rudolf Badenhorst Mr. Barry Christie GOLDEN FRONTIERS Dr. Deon Begemann DARDLA-CROP RESEARCH Mr. Kosy Dongo DARDLA-EXTENSION Ms. Rejoice Malumane, Mr. Thomas Mahlangu, Mr. Lazarus Pilusa, Ms. Emily Maboa Mr. Mike Mahlatji, Mr. Ben Gwebu 1/2/

14 4. RESULTS & DISCUSSION 1/2/

15 Bearing 10 to >20 Local municipality Total area (ha) Major crops Area Litchi (ha) No. of Beneficiaries Age of trees (years) 4a. Area and beneficiaries of projects Table 1: Total area, no. of beneficiaries, area under litchi Project 1. Giba Mbombela ±2500 Banana Endlovini Mbombela 235 Vegetables, macadamia Mbuyane Mbombela? Macadamia, Avocado 6 50? 4 Matsafeni Mbombela 5300 Timber, pecan nuts, Avos Silver creek Umjindi 399 Banana, Avocado, Vegs Kalrug Nkomazi 1035 Sugarcane, Banana ? 7. Matsoma Nkomazi 81 Sugarcane, vegetables Laughing waters Nkomazi 605 Sugarcane, Banana, citrus Inala Nkomazi? Sugarcane, vegetables > Chapagne Bushbuck 5000 Citrus, Mango >50 TOTAL ±15,155ha ±235 ±3064 1/2/

16 4b. Management The beneficiaries have no training or experience in commercial farming especially fruit production. As a result, The restituted farms have been managed by mentors / managers appointed by the community or managed with the technical support of other role players such as ARC-ITSC, strategic partner(halls) etc. Most mentors / managers (80%) do not maintain the orchard scientifically. Possible reasons? They have poor background / or training in commercial farming (fruit / litchi production) OR They are not interested in the development of the orchard. Lack of cohesion among beneficiaries 1/2/

17 Light to medium Common to all Weeding Pruning / training Fertilizer Spraying Irrigation Organized marketing Die-back Fruit drop Irregular bearing Performance Optimum production practices 4c. Cultural Practices carried out Table 2: Details of Production Practices carried out & overall performance score Project 1. Giba No No No No No No No 1 2. Endlovini No No No No No No Yes 1 3. Mbuyane Rare No No No No No No 1 Not 4. Silver creek No No No No No No Yes 1 aware 5. Matsoma Yes Rare Yes No Rare No No 3 of 6. Inala Rare Rare Rare No Rare No No 2 7. Kalrug yes No No No yes No No 3 8. Laughing waters Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No 5 Aware 9. Matsafeni Yes Rare Yes Yes Yes Yes yes 4 of 10. Champagne No No No No No No No Abandoned Performance score: 1-5 scale where 1 is very poor and 5 very good 1/2/

18 4d. Biotic & abiotic constraints Die-back a major problem in Mbombela area Caused by (?) poor management practices, unfavourable environmental factors & fungal complex? 18

19 Hail damage / Fruit cracking Sun burn Wind damage Moisture stress 1/2/

20 4e. Nutrient deficiencies / Poor cultural practices Zn and N-deficiency Poor management (Wild tree growing with litchi) No weeding 1/2/

21 4f. Success stories Not all restituted / emerging farmers underperform 1/2/

22 4g. Harvest, Yield & Marketing HARVEST Based on demand in most cases, and maturity judged mainly by size and colour of fruit. One project makes use of lab facilities to check the sugar: acid ratio Pack house: Formal sorting is done only at two projects (20% of the projects) YIELD: Average yield: 2-10 crates / tree, the yield for the current season is poor/low (0-5 crates based on visual observation). MARKETING Mostly at local markets (80% projects). At times, projects in Nkomazi to traders from Mozambique. Pack-house facilities only at two projects. One project exported 18t fruits in 2011 Broken / cracked fruits to juice factory. Challenge: Not accessible to pack-house facilities (except at two projects) and competition from commercial sector. 1/2/

23 4h. Other Constraints / Challenges Thefts / damage by wild animals Lack of funds for inputs / running costs Poor financial management where funds were provided Inadequate support / training on production & post harvest management Skill transfer (mentor/manager to beneficiaries) absent The ultimate result? Low yield / poor quality / lower income 23

24 5. RECCOMMENDATIONS Motivate beneficiaries to work as a single entity aimed at the development of the asset (restituted land) A few beneficiaries feel that passive / uninterested members should be paid off and the asset assigned to active members only Initiate joint efforts by all role players: Government,& Industry- to provide appropriate infrastructure / financial support Provide adequate on-farm training and extension support (by Research-ARC / DARDLA) Investigation on the die-back complex to be given priority by the Research (ARC) 1/2/

25 5. RECCOMMENDATIONS DARDLA the successful initiator of Masibuyele Emasimini in SA must take the lead and accelerate creation of an efficient structure to support, monitor and evaluate the functioning of these projects in view of the large sum of government funds involved. It should include efficient skill-transferring mechanisms. Introduce efficient co-operative structure for the beneficiaries. Our colleagues from China and India could share their experience in this regard. Extension personnel to be given training on fruit culture. ARC should consider including DARDLA Extension personnel (attached to litchi growing areas) in their training programmes. 1/2/

26 5. RECCOMMENDATIONS Another option: Involve commercial sector / strategic partners as done with the banana revitalization project (by DARDLA) at Giba. And as seen at the two litchi projects (Matsafeni & Laughing Waters) in the current study.. Ensure skill transfer mechanisms. 1/2/

27 5. RECCOMMENDATIONS Encourage household litchi production in the litchi growing areas of the Province (Mbombela, Bushbuck, Umjindi, Nkomazi local Municipalities) by providing few plants free as done during the Arbor-day celebrations. plants each to 5000 Households = >25ha / year Lowveld college to be mandated to produce the plants required. Household production would promote litchi consumption, enhance household income and reduce on-farm thefts 1/2/

28 6. CONCLUSION There is great potential for enhancing productivity of litchi production by the emerging sector. Concerted effort from all role players (government, industry, Research) is inevitable to enhance productivity and profitability of the small and emerging litchi growers. By providing physical and technological infrastructure required for production and postharvest management of litchi. Efficient monitoring / evaluation systems should be in place Government (DARDLA) is taking the leading role Viva DARDLA!!. 1/2/

29 6. CONCLUSION The Fresh Produce Market being established by DARDLA would also go a long way in providing access to organised market for the small / emerging litchi farmers. Increased production would help enhance household income and ensure food security and lead to the development of a vibrant rural community. (One of the presidential outcomes) A wider survey covering all the small / emerging growers across Mpumalanga & Limpopo ( >65 community / individual growers) would be vital in getting substantial information on litchi production by small / emerging sector & to strategise litchi research and development programmes accordingly. 1/2/

30 7. A short drive through the litchi orchards of the emerging sector 1/2/

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32 DARDLA For nominating us to attend the symposium SALGA For sponsoring our Participation Thank you & The Managers/members of all the 10 projects included in this study and personnel from ARC- ITSC, SALGA-SUBTROP, GOLDEN FRONTIERS and DARDLA who made this presentation possible. 1/2/