 |
Measured
in terms of value of production, the subtropical fruit industry is the sixth
largest horticultural industry, having earned R667 million in 1999/2000, an
increase of 2,3% on the 1998/99 figure of R652 million.
The
particular climatic requirements of some varieties make the cultivation of
subtropical fruit possible in only certain specific areas of the country. In
general, subtropical fruit varieties require warmer conditions and are sensitive
to large fluctuations in temperatures and to frost. The main production areas of
subtropical fruit in South Africa are parts of the Northern Province,
Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. Varieties such as granadillas and guavas are
also grown in the Western Cape, while pineapples are grown in the Eastern Cape
and KwaZulu-Natal.
The
total area of production of avocados, bananas, mangoes, litchis and pineapples
are estimated at approximately 12 000, 13 000, 7 000, 1 000
and 14 000 hectares respectively.
Production
of subtropical fruit from 1995/96 to 1999/2000 is as follows:
|
Fruit
type |
1995/96 |
1996/97 |
1997/98 ‘000
tons |
1998/99 |
1999/2000 |
|
Avocados Bananas Pineapples Mangoes Papayas Granadillas Litchis Guavas |
50,6 158,9 124,1 27,9 24,3 0,5 4,8 21,2 |
49,9 183,3 134,9 24,4 25,5 0,5 4,5 16,6 |
57,1 215,7 146,5 31,7 22,4 0,7 6,4 28,6 |
79,9 226,9 146,8 39,6 23,2 1,1 7,3 18,1 |
57,1 280,7 159,5 31,8 23,9 0,9 5,0 18,4 |
The total production of subtropical fruit
increased by an average of 11,8% per annum from 1995/96 to 1999/ 2000 and by
14,7% in 1999/2000. Avocado production decreased by 28,5% from 1998/99 to
1999/2000, while the total production of bananas showed a remarkable increase of
23,7%. Bananas, pineapples and avocados contributed 49, 28 and 10%
respectively to the total production of subtropical fruit in 1999/2000.
|
Total
quantity of subtropical fruit sold on the 16 major fresh produce markets (year
ending 30 June):
|
Fruit
type |
1995/96 |
1996/97 |
1997/98 Tons |
1998/99 |
1999/2000 |
|
Avocados Bananas Pineapples
Mangoes Papayas Granadillas Litchis Guavas |
16
312 152
374 23
375 14
594 17
667 419 2
069 3
863 |
23
377 167
588 19
697 13
108 18
942 369 1
823 3
097 |
20
073 202
013 23
784 18
170 15
559 528 3
177 3
946 |
28
051 212
785 18
166 20
852 17
029 749 3
717 3
696 |
18
005 214
158 25
356 19
964 17
019 705 2
291 3
330 |
|
Total |
230
673 |
248
001 |
287
250 |
305
045 |
300
828 |
The largest
contributors to sales of subtropical fruit on the fresh produce markets are
bananas, pineapples and mangoes, contributing 71, 8,4 and 6,6% respectively.
While avocados contributed 9,2% to the sales in 1998/99, its total sales
decreased by 35,8% in 1999/2000, contributing 6% to the sales of subtropical
fruit. Except for bananas and pineapples, the quantities of all subtropical
fruit types sold decreased in 1999/2000.
|
Fruit
type |
1995/96 |
1996/97 |
1997/98 Tons |
1998/99 |
1999/2000 |
|
Avocados Bananas Pineapples Mangoes Papayas Granadillas Litchis Guavas
|
1
544 428 94
431 8
795 1
021 5 67 16
588 |
330 340 108
499 6
999 380 5 183 12
914 |
2
158 1
233 115
552 8
428 242 104 266 23
883 |
2
017 614 121
569 13
230 257 141 465 13
676 |
1
206 801 125
596 6
479 982 59 24 14
502 |
|
Total |
122
880 |
129
650 |
151
866 |
151
970 |
149
649 |
The
three largest contributors to the processing of subtropical fruit are
pineapples, guavas and mangoes. In 1998/99, pineapples contributed approximately
80% to the total intake of subtropical fruit for processing. Total intake of
subtropical fruit for processing decreased by 1,5% in 1999/2000 after having
increased steadily from 122 880 tons in 1995/96 to 151 970 tons in
1998/99.
Exports
 |
The
main subtropical fruit type exported is avocado. Exports of avocados contributed
77% to the total rand value of exports of subtropical fruit in 1999/2000. Other
types that were exported are mango, litchi, pineapple, guava, granadilla and
papaya.
The
Agricultural Research Council's Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops
(ITSC) is responsible for research on all aspects of the cultivation of tropical
and subtropical crops countrywide. Some of the organisations involved in
specific subtropical crops are the Banana Growers' Association, Avocado Growers'
Association, Mango Growers' Association and Litchi Growers' Association.