Selibe Phikwe Citrus First Harvest Expected in 2024
Harvesting of the first fruits at Selebi Phikwe Citrus is expected in 2024.The project, which started in November 2021 in a 1 500-hectare farm has over 600 000 tree seedlings that were planted at different intervals.
“So far, we have planted 720 hectares of various kinds of citrus, grapefruits, lemons, Valencia oranges as well as few cultivars and mandarins. We expect our first harvest in 2024,” said the Farm Manager, Mr Johan Van Vuuren in an interview after a farm visit by Mmadinare and Tobane villages leadership on Monday.
Mr Van Vuuren explained that planting was halted during cold winter season and would resume once winter was over, with planting of the last 200 hectares. He said the farm currently employed 650 people, 150 of them employed on permanent basis. The numbers, he said would increase to 1 500 employees once the farm started operating at full capacity.
Furthermore he said the project was progressing well with minimal challenges, adding “we are very positive and impressed with the progress so far.”
He commended Batswana for their hard work and commitment explaining that all developments at the farm were done by Batswana.Selebi Phikwe Citrus is not only into production but also aims to promote skills transfer hence Mr Van Vuuren said some members of staff received specialised training by South African entomologist, Dr Cornell du Toit on removing pests.
“We are also in the process of grooming farm managers and already have two trainee production managers. Early next year we will train two more,” he said.
The project has the added advantage of creating necessary stimulus that will have positive effects on other downstream value-chain businesses. Chairperson of Mmadinare Cooperative, Dr Bernard Mosimanyana said the cooperative was also looking into starting a juice processing plant once harvesting commenced with the aim of making juice concentrates.
Dr Mosimanyana explained the citrus project was located on the 1728-hectare Mannaesi farm formerly owned by Mmadinare Cooperative. He said the privately owned farm leased 1500 hectares for 50 years whilst the remaining 228 hectares would be used by Mmadinare Cooperative to venture into dairy production.
“We have already submitted our loan application to CEDA to source funds to start this project,” he elaborated.
Dr Mosimanyana said dairy production was not new to Mmadinare Cooperative as the cooperative operated one in the past and they were aware of challenges that came with it.
