Today, there are about 4 billion people worldwide who eat onions grown from seed produced in South Africa. This remarkable fact was music to the ears of seed producers attending the annual farmers’ day hosted by Klein Karoo Seed Production (KKSP).
By Joanie Bergh, journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
About 300 farmers gathered at KKSP’s experimental farm Besemkop near Calitzdorp on 2 October. This is the 14th year it has hosted the popular event for seed producers in winter rainfall areas, which include the Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western Cape. Producers from as far as Douglas and Kuruman travelled to Calitzdorp to attend it.
Early in the morning, attendees were transported – with the help of community members – to the farm in taxis. They were divided into eight groups that rotated through 10 stations on the farm, where various aspects of KKSP’s production process were explained and demonstrated.
Topics included:
- Pollination requirements for beehives; the importance of adequate ventilation; and the devastating impact that banded bee pirates (Palarus latifrons) has on colonies, and how to control it.
- The importance of monitoring plantings. This serves a dual purpose: to identify problems at an early stage, and to protect the producer if the client asks questions and proof must be provided regarding the cleanliness of the seed.
- Research KKSP is currently conducting includes methods to increase nectar levels and manipulate the flavour profiles of plants. The aim is to prevent a crisis like the one the industry experienced in 2012 and 2022, when Cape honeybee colonies failed to pollinate crops. The research seeks to determine which conditions prevented the colonies from pollinating, and how crops can be made more attractive.
- Flower trials on the farm were discussed, focusing on how they aim to replicate commercial production conditions in order to assess their quality and future potential in South Africa. The trials also examine how bees respond to each cultivar with its unique genetic profile.
- Fertilisation and irrigation aspects of seed production were also addressed.
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Seed Production, a Central Pillar
David Malan, managing director of KKSP and AgroFors, told African Farming the day was about giving producers insight into the processes the company follows on behalf of clients.
KKSP also paid tribute to seed producers during a gala evening. “Not every farmer can be a seed producer,” Malan said. “Ours are largely hand-picked.”
Producer numbers at KKSP range between 210 and 220 per year. The company’s main focus is on alliums such as onions, spring onions, shallots and leeks. Other crops include carrots, pumpkins, squash and salad varieties.
Of the seed produced, 98% is exported – to Japan, Korea, China, Europe, the United States and South America.
The impact of seed production in South Africa itself may be limited, Malan says, but its global footprint is large and still growing. “Many people talk about food security, but seed production is the central pillar of food security.”
Also read: Advancing agricultural research: Corteva’s collaboration with research institutions in SA
