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GEORGE NEWS - The largest increase of new avocado production is now being recorded near George, in addition to the Helderberg Basin and Riebeeck Kasteel.
So several speakers at a recent South African Avocado Growers Association's (Saaga) Southern Cape Study Group event at the Rooi Deur Stoor out on the Gwayang road on 25 March highlighted.
Saaga's provincial representative, Franco Stander, said the main focus of the day was to look at the prospects of the industry, and specifically what these mean for local farmers. The study group's next session is on Tuesday 6 May.
Agridrones and research
Stellenbosch University's raft of research projects on avocados for the next three years has been significantly increased, with the George region being a specific focus.
The university's subtropical research unit undertook to sign an agreement with the international high-tech NIK Group for the use of large AI-enhanced agridrones with a lifting capacity of 60kg.
The first trials are planned to be held in the George region.
VIDEO: AI-enhanced agridrones can be used for precision farming.
Stellenbosch University's two speakers at the Saaga event in George were Prof André Jooste, departmental head of agricultural economics, and Dr Anelle Blanckenberg, the lead researcher on subtropical fruits.
Jooste gave some valuable insights on the importance of diversification and the opportunities in both local and export markets, saying it is becoming increasingly important for South African producers to unlock markets in China and India.
Blanckenberg provided feedback on the recent research symposium in Tzaneen, as well as the planned research in the Southern Cape for the year.
She pointed out that while the production of avocados was previously concentrated in the subtropical northern regions, the trend was shifting. "The Western Cape climate provides an attractive opportunity to extend the export season to Europe, with its strong demand for avocados as a superfood," she said.
On the subject of maintaining South Africa's position as a major international supplier of avocados, Blanckenberg emphasised the importance of using the most advanced technologies available, including artificial intelligence.
Good local supply
In his presentation, Dr Guy Witney of Great Brak Avos said the Western Cape is a rapidly growing avocado production area - growing from about 135ha in 2017 to just over 1 250ha currently.
"We are a late-season producer and our crop is harvested after the main Lowveld crop finishes in September. We pick fruit in the Western Cape from September through January. In this period [last season, 2024/early 2025] we harvested just over 3 000 tonnes of fruit in the Western Cape. Since there are a lot of new orchards coming into production in 2025, the early-crop estimates put the crop somewhere between 5 000 and 6 500 tonnes."
Witney said while at least 80% of this fruit will be exported, there will be a very good supply on local markets this Christmas season.
"From December 2024 through February 2025, local markets were undersupplied with local fruit, and prices escalated. We expect that consumer prices will moderate this coming season versus the previous season, since we have a much larger supply of fruit.
"There is considerable volatility of export markets as a result of President Trump's tariffs on foreign goods, notably from avocado-growing countries."
The meeting was concluded with a presentation by Bram Snijder, who shared practical management guidelines for the coming two months.
Hugo le Roux, the CEO of NIK SA, explains how the agridrone works at Welgevallen, Stellenbosch University's experimental farm.
Massive drones that can lift up to 60kg are currently being explored as an option for precision farming.
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