Region
Northern Cape
South Africa

Sector
Agriculture & Agri-processing

Summary:

The agricultural sector is a key component of all African economies from subsistence farming to large scale agricultural projects. The Northern Cape provincial government has prioritised the sector to ensure transformation at all levels.

Contact
Thabo Mothibi

Email
tmothibi@agri.ncape.gov.za

Tel
+27 53 838 9135

The agricultural sector is a key component of all African economies from subsistence farming to large scale agricultural projects that export produce internationally.

In the Northern Cape, the provincial government has prioritised the sector, working to ensure transformation at all levels as well as funding specific agricultural programmes that benefit the local community.

The Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has sought to broaden the province’s agricultural ownership boundaries through a variety of programmes:

Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) was established to enhance the provision of comprehensive support services and to promote and facilitate agricultural development, with a focus on beneficiaries of the Land Reform and Agrarian Reforms programmes.

Since 2004/05 to 2007/08, the department funded 98 projects to the value of R97.924 million, which benefited more than 8,000 people in total.

The Northern Cape province has also made headway since 1994 with the redistribution of land, having allocated just over 1-million hectares to 9,250 individuals. In addition, at the end of 2008 a total of 632,273 hectares were distributed for agricultural development.

LandCare is aimed at promoting the sustainable use and management of natural resources through poverty alleviation – job creation and food security. From 2004/05 to 2007/08, 55 projects were funded to the value of R12.072-million with 1,282 jobs being created.

Investment opportunities in the Northern Cape

 While the Northern Cape government has worked to increase production and broaden access to the agricultural sector, a number of investment opportunities still exist in the sector including:

• Pistachio nut production in Prieska where possible joint venture opportunities exist;
• Lower Orange table grape joint venture with Previously Disadvantaged Individuals (PDI);
• Flower bulb production at Niewoudtville;
• Niche milling of grain products for direct marketing;
• Carrot production and processing opportunities;
• Development of the date plantations at Pella and Witbank;
• Table olives and olive oil production units;
• Processing of animal hides, skins and meat;

For more information about any of these investment opportunities contact Thabo Mothibi on tmothibi@agri.ncape.gov.za or on +27 53 838 9135.

Since the first democratic elections in 1994, the agricultural sector in the Northern Cape has shown consistent growth, averaging at 4.1% per annum. In 1995 it contributed R931-million to the provincial economy, and by 2006 this had increased to R1.351-million. The agricultural sector in the Northern Cape grew faster than national agriculture during the same period, with the sector achieving average growth of just 2.8% per annum nationally over the same period.

For more information about agriculture farming in the Northern Cape contact the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development directly:
Name: Thabo Mothibi
Position: Director
Email: tmothibi@agri.ncape.gov.za
Tel: +27 53 838 9135.