Eastern Cape pineapple growers are currently reaping the benefits of a massive job creation drive by the provincial government. Currently, the baseline of total land under production for pineapple in the province is 7,800 hectares. Through the implementation of the agriculture growth and employment program, the government plans to increase the land under production to 10,300 ha.
If successful, this will lead to an increase in the baseline for jobs in pineapple production from 8,000 to 10,609 and to an economic growth baseline of R1,45 billion.
Summerpride fruit manager Pierre Tilney says they are now exporting the pineapples from the Ngqushwa farms to South America, Russia and Europe. The demand worldwide for more pineapple is massive, and the fruit from the Ngqushwa farmers is what the market needs, Tilnely says.
Source: foodformzansi.co.za
