Exports: Commercialise and bloom

Government urged to fund research and development of indigenous species

BLOSSOMING: John Meijer, managing director of Finlays Horticulture in Tarlton, outside Johannesburg PICTURE: SIMPHIWE NKWALI

The commercialisation of indigenous flower and plant species is necessary for South Africa to increase its global market share, says the South African Flower Export Council.

After about 50 years of commercial farming, South Africa still holds only about 0.5% of the world market.

Council CEO Jac Duif said growth of the floriculture industry depended on the export of "niche" products.

However, for this to happen the government needed to fund research and development to get indigenous species to a level where they can be commercially farmed.

The Agricultural Research Council did not at present have the budget and capacity for this, Duif said.

Many indigenous species had been "stolen" and were now being mass-produced in other countries such as the Netherlands, New Zealand, the US and Japan, he said.

John Meijer, MD of one of South Africa's biggest flower farms, Finlays Horticulture, said Australia was working to commercialise a hybrid of South Africa's national flower, the king protea.

"It is important for South Africa to start protecting its natural wealth," he said.

Among the bestselling flowers in the world is a South African species, the Gerbera (or Barberton daisy), which was taken to commercialproduction on a massive scale through research carried out in other countries, said Meijer.

Inflationary pressures, tariffs, a volatile rand and restrictive, slow-moving, regulatory issues were putting additional stress on South Africa's high-volume, low-margin flower industry.

Finlays Horticulture began producing c hrysanthemums in Gauteng in 2003.

Meijer said the company wanted to expand its operations and assist small, independent farmers to set up their own operations, but had been struggling to get the necessary permits and water licences to proceed.

"We plan to provide small farmers with the necessary expertise and access to markets to start up their own farming operations on a contracted-out structure. This is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to create new jobs," said Meijer.

Mmbara Ntuweleni, senior manager on the farm, said flower farming had great potential to create employment and social opportunities.

"I have learned a lot from working on this farm during the past eight years and have travelled the world. I believe this industry has the potential to do the same for others," said Ntuweleni.