OVERVIEW
Agriculture Grain and beef farming is done on a large scale in the North West.
SECTOR INSIGHT Four district agri-parks will underpin the creation of processing plants and agribusinesses. • A Bonsmara bull was sold for R90 000 in 2016.
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concerted effort to establish sustainable agri-processing, to promote food security and to promote local black businesses is being made through the establishment of four district agri-parks across the North West. The North West Department of Rural Environment and Agricultural Development (READ) is working together with national departments to implement the project: Rural Development and Land Reform, Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries and Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. Each of the agri-parks will have a specific focus: • Springbokpan, grain (Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality). The silo at this site has been renovated and is ready for use. • Vryburg: livestock, red meat (Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality) • Moretele/Makapanstadt: red meat and horticulture (Bojanala District Municipality) • Maquassi Hills: pork and poultry (Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality) Various agri-processing plants are under consideration for the city of Mahikeng: a feedlot and a meat processing plant, including an abattoir and packaging facilities. In Taung the plan is to establish an animal feed manufacturing plant.
Variety North West’s distinct climatic regions are home to three very different types of agriculture. The dry western region is home to large beefNORTH WEST BUSINESS 2017
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cattle herds, and this is where the growing game-ranching and hunting industry has its base. An Absa Agribusiness study shows that a R5-million investment in cattle over six years makes a 4.8% return, against 27.7% for buffalo and 45.2% for sable. The eastern and north-eastern parts of the province receive relatively good rainfall and are suitable for the cultivation of crops.
Grains Nearly two-million hectares is planted with summer cereals, with about 50 000 hectares given over to winter cereals. The North West produces about 20% of South Africa’s maize and about 15% of its wheat. The central and southern sections of the province are dominated by maize and wheat farming. North West’s average contribution to the national maize crop over the six years to 2015 was about