The Citrus Growers Association (CGA) has issued a call for applications for a R307 million Economic Transformation of Black Citrus Growers Programme that has been launched.

The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has made an application (through the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC)) to the Minister of  Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza for the approval of a substantially increased statutory citrus export levy for the next four year cycle - from 2021 to 2024.

The South African citrus industry’s quest to quench the European Union (EU) market’s thirst for its produce unencumbered by bureaucracy remains elusive. 

Ten months ago, in March 2020, we predicted a bumper export season, estimating that export volumes would reach 143 million cartons of fruit.

The Citrus Growers’ Association of South Africa welcomes the recent signing of a revised citrus protocol between South Africa and China by Minister of Agriculture, Land Affairs and Rural Development Thoko Didiza.

The situation in South Africa’s violence-hit areas has improved dramatically

It was in 2004 when Minister Didiza was in the same position as she is in now, that the first protocol for the shipment of citrus fruit from South Africa to the Peoples Republic of China was signed.

Escalating load-shedding is impeding the ability of fruit producers to irrigate their crops, various agricultural associations have said, warning that sustained power cuts pose a major threat to the cold storage chain required to keep produce in mint condition for export markets.       

The Orange Focus Group of the Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA) met on the 23rd of July to review the export estimates on oranges for the 2024 season.

This year’s unique citrus season was a happy reprieve for South Africa’s R30bn industry, but Transnet desperately needs to fix its ports or it’s make or break for the country’s growers in 2025.