A new vegetable packhouse at Mor Farming near Bloemhof is set to strengthen post-harvest handling, improve market access and help emerging farmers in North West compete in formal markets.
By Lebogang Mashala, editor, African Farming
Madoda Sambatha, North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, officially opened and handed over a state-of-the-art vegetable packhouse at Mor Farming’s Matlabane Stad Farm, just outside Bloemhof in the Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality, on 24 August 2026.
As part of its commitment to farmer development and agricultural transformation, the department invested in the construction of the packhouse to enhance Mor Farming’s operational capacity. The facility will serve as a critical hub where harvested produce is cleaned, graded, sorted and packaged to meet food quality, safety and market standards before reaching consumers.
From farm to formal markets
Mor Farming has grown into a successful horticultural enterprise producing a range of vegetables, including butternut, pumpkin, beetroot, watermelon, green beans and green peppers.
The farm currently supplies markets across North West, as well as neighbouring provinces including Gauteng, the Free State and the Northern Cape. It also supplies local and informal markets in Bloemhof.
The department has supported the enterprise beyond the construction of the packhouse, providing essential agricultural inputs and equipment, such as seeds, packaging materials, harvest bins, baskets, a forklift, food processors and vegetable cutters.
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SA-GAP training strengthens compliance
To support the long-term sustainability of the enterprise, farm owner Moroeng participated in the South African Good Agricultural Practices (SA-GAP) training programme. The programme focuses on food safety, quality assurance, good agricultural practices and the safe handling of fresh produce.
Moroeng said the training had equipped him with valuable knowledge and practical skills in areas such as food safety, soil management, chemical handling, post-harvest management, quality control, traceability, record-keeping and compliance with agricultural standards.
“Most importantly, SA-GAP has shown me how to maintain high-quality standards and ensure the produce leaving my farm is safe for consumers. This has improved the marketability of my products and opened opportunities to access more profitable local and potential export markets,” he said.
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Seven packhouses planned
Addressing stakeholders at the launch, Sambatha said the Mor Farming packhouse was one of seven facilities the Department constructed across the province. The remaining packhouses are expected to be officially launched in the coming months.
“We are deliberately investing in infrastructure that enables farmers to grow and expand their businesses,” said Sambatha. “When farmers grow, they create jobs, strengthen local economies and contribute meaningfully to provincial economic development. Through investments such as these, we are creating opportunities for current and future generations of farmers, while building a more inclusive and competitive agricultural sector in the North West Province.”
Sambatha said the Department’s investment was aligned with its objective of increasing the number of successful farmers in the province while encouraging more young people to enter agriculture.
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