South Africa’s National Agricultural Marketing Board (Namc) has warned that the profitability and sustainability of the country’s citrus industry continues to suffer, which could pose a constraint on further investment, according to a Dec. 7 report on the Independent Media of South Africa website. The industry is facing adverse factors such as rising input prices for fuel and fertilizer, significant spikes in shipping costs, and operational challenges associated with ports. If the sustainability of the South African citrus industry is threatened, it could prevent new entrants in its value chain from playing a significant role in the sector. In addition to the prohibitive measures imposed by the EU market, the industry needs to work with government departments to invest more in research and development on cold sterilization innovations, breed pest-resistant varieties in existing and potential export markets, and make the cost of technology use more acceptable to producers and traders. In addition, industry players should consider market diversification and invest in establishing new markets.
Source: Economic and Commercial Section, Embassy of the Republic of South Africa
Post time: Dec-20-2022