ISHS Acta Horticulturae 453: IV International Protea Working Group Symposium
SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE FYNBOS INDUSTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO RESEARCH |
| Authors: | J.H. Coetzee, M.C. Middelmann |
| Keywords: | floriculture, indigenous flowers, Proteaceae, rural agriculture |
| Abstract:
The indigenous flower industry is a small, but integral, part of agriculture in the Western Cape region of South Africa. The flower industry uses a natural resource and turns it into valuable foreign currency as well as directly employing more than 4 000 people. The monetary value of the industry is approximately R81.7 million, of which the dried flower component is approximately R37.22 million. During 1995, 2 861 212 kg of fresh flowers were exported, a 15.5% increase on the previous year. The industry shows promising signs of growth potential, but certain aspects need considerable attention for this growth to be realized. The practice of harvesting in the wild, for the fresh flower trade, will have to be phased out and replaced with cultivated plantations. While the range of products currently marketed from South Africa is large, the quality of the products will have to be upgraded through greater use of cultivars. The use of economically viable cultivation practices, such as pruning, manipulation of flowering time and the use of fertilization will keep South African producers competitive with other protea growing countries. Phytosanitary problems with exported Proteaceae, Ericaceae and other indigenous fresh flowers exported need addressing. These problems are being addressed by the Agricultural Research Council Fynbos Unit research projects. Successful implementation of the research results will ensure the continued growth of the fynbos cut flower industry, both for established and new fynbos farmers. | |
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