Agriculture sector overview of Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga
Agriculture stands as one of the foundational pillars of Mpumalanga’s economy, contributing significantly to employment, food security and export earnings. Ehlanzeni District Municipality boasts a diverse agricultural landscape, encompassing fertile lowlands, rolling hills and subtropical climates.
Crop production: The region supports the cultivation of a wide range of crops, including citrus fruits, subtropical fruits such as mangoes and avocados, vegetables, maize and sugarcane. With its favourable climatic conditions and abundant water resources, there are opportunities for smallholder and commercial-farming ventures.
Livestock farming: Cattle, sheep, goats and poultry thrive and the availability of grazing land is supplemented by fodder production and feedlot facilities.
Agroforestry and forestry: Agroforestry practices, combining tree crops with agricultural production, are gaining prominence and the region’s extensive forestry resources support timber production, pulp and paper manufacturing and value-added wood processing.
Horticulture and floriculture: A favourable climate and fertile soils create conducive conditions for greenhouse farming, flower production and ornamental-plant cultivation.
Investment Opportunities
Project 1:
Agri Business Empowerment – Saringwa Valley Primary Cooperative and Kruger Saringwa Adventures
Core Business: Development of available farming land benefitting emerging farmers, skills development and agricultural training. Follow a specific initiative with an existing but unproductive black-owned farm.
Funding: R165-million
Project 2:
Highveld Apple Project
Core Business: Fruit tree nursery in collaboration with Caledonian Tree Company for apple, walnut, almond and pecan trees. Apple orchard of 20ha developed over four years; produce aggregated into the Highveld Fruit Packers packhouse in Ermelo. The packhouse was funded by MEGA and commercial apple farmers. Soya beans and maize on 250ha. Cattle on remainder of the farm, approximately 254ha.
Funding: R400 000
Project 3:
Inyaka Waterfall CPC
Core Business: Inyaka used to be one of the Zoeknog coffee farms. The following crops will be introduced: avocados (Koeltehof packhouse is 60km away); mangoes (Agricultural Research Council will assist with variety selection); coffee (Arabica SL-28 and SL-34 grafted on Robusta rootstocks will be introduced on a trial basis).
Funding: Budget not decided
Project 4:
Bancobi Farming
Core Business: Multi-farming: establishing a cattle feedlot, poultry, abattoir, pasture and grains.
Funding: R220-million
Project 5:
Mpumalanga Marula Tree Project
Core Business: Root & Ground, in partnership with Caledonian Tree Company, will propagate marula trees with a higher biological asset value than trees grown the traditional way. Air-Pot technology will enhance and shorten the period from propagation to production by up to 60%. The commercial phase will be developed through equity participation and structured debt. The investment will focus on aggregation and processing infrastructure and market development.
Funding: R400 000
Project 6:
Nkomazi Cotton Gin
Core Business: Cotton farming.
Funding: R306-million
Project 7:
Grass Roots Development NPO
Core Business: Establish a youth-based agricultural training academy and develop a communal agricultural farming project.
Funding: Budget not decided
Project 8:
Siboza Morse Nursery – Isinga Farm
Core Business: Siboza Morse Nurseries (SMN) will propagate fruit and nut trees for the emerging farming sector. Morse has been in the horticultural business for 55 years and therefore has extensive experience and is making the 23ha farm Isinga available under a 25-year lease to the project company. Percy Siboza will hold a 60% share in the project and Raymond Morse 40%. The project will produce trees near fruit-bearing or at the fruit-bearing stage.
Funding: R400 000
Contact / Enquire
Potential investors and other interested parties are encouraged to contact the project promoters with your contact details and selected project of interest, to initiate a discussion. Please fill in the secure form below:
