In February, South Africa's vegetable sector generated R345 million from 22,001 tons of produce, surpassing the fruit sector, which earned R219 million from 53,526 tons, according to the Smallholder Market Access Estimates (SMAE) analysis by the National Agricultural Marketing Council (Namc).
This trend, where vegetables consistently outperform fruits in revenue and quantity, was observed across National Fresh Produce Markets (NFPMs). Bernard Manganyi of Namc highlighted a month-on-month decrease in market value for fruits by 1.34% and vegetables by 1.68%, with a volume increase for fruits by 0.58% and vegetables by 1.31%. The analysis focused on the top 20 vegetables, revealing potatoes as the dominant vegetable with a 44.13% market share, followed by tomatoes, onions, peppers, and carrots, collectively accounting for about 79.35% of the SMAE.
Johannesburg, Tshwane, Durban, and Cape Town were the primary markets, representing 84.7% of the estimates, with the rest spread across other markets. The report indicates a disparity in volume and revenue distribution among vegetables, with high-weight vegetables not necessarily yielding high revenue. For fruits, bananas and apples led the revenue charts, with grapes, mangoes, and nectarines also showing significant contributions, aligned with their harvest season from November to February. The analysis underscores the concentration of market access in major markets, highlighting the challenges of market diversity and price volatility for smallholders.
[ R1 = €0.05 ]
Source: iol.co.za