Region
Cederberg Local Municipality
South Africa
West Coast District Municipality
Western Cape

Sector
Agriculture & Agri-processing

Summary:

The cultivation of buchu and essential oils plant material is taking off in line with local and international demand. Investment opportunities exist throughout the Western Cape, but specifically in the ideally-suited Cederberg region.

Contact
Mr Avril Hein

Email
amhein@wcdm.co.za

Tel
+27 22 433 8530

The cultivation of buchu and essential oils plant material has been identified as an economic growth sector at different levels of government and industry. The Graafwater region in the Cederberg is ideally suited to production in this niche sub-sector. An amount of R250 000 has been requested from the District, and additional investment is sought from interested parties, to launch an Organic Buchu and Essential Oils Plants Cultivation Project for Graafwater in the Cederberg local municipality.

Background
The Graafwater region falls in the growth region for buchu, especially the high-value Betulina variety. The area has, as such, been identified for the development of an organic cultivation project, the Graafwater Landbou Project. With the support of government across national, provincial and local levels, niche-agriculture is thriving in South Africa, and the natural environment and climate of the Cederberg region makes the municipality an attractive prospect for potential investors.

Project site location
There are two sites available to the project, at Maastrust farm (4 747 hectares with 10 boreholes) and in the form of a leased farm in the Graafwater region. Both have the potential to grow buchu and other indigenous plants, and provide the project with access to different grow-out sites.

Potential benefit
The venture gives previously subsistence farmers the chance to engage in the commercial production of a high-value and high-demand niche product. The organic market is huge, both in South Africa and on an international level, and this provides these small communities with the opportunity to export their products overseas. On a more local level however, the real benefit of the project is in job creation within the surrounding communities and in growing the local economy to support the people of the region. 

For more information
Contact: Mr Avril Hein
Email: amhein@wcdm.co.za
Tel: +27 22 433 8530