Bethlehem Farmers Trust
Business Profile
The Bethlehem Farmers Trust is an apple project situated in Bethlehem in the Eastern Free State, where 94 previously disadvantaged farmers each farm one ttwhectare of land with 1500 apple trees on each hectare.
This project was started in 1998 when the Industrial Development Corporation, The Development Bank of SA, Department of Land Affairs and the Department of Agriculture financed this project. AFGRI Ltd is responsible for managing the Farmers Trust including all the technical inputs and empowering the farmers.
Initially all 94 farmers were without work. Today they are properly trained and each farmer farms on his allocated land. 30% of the farmers are women. These people started on a piece of veld where there was nothing. Today it is a huge apple farm with an entire infrastructure available.
The cost tthe Fundees of the project at full production is approximately R30 million. The latest apple cultivars namely, Royal Gala, Pink Lady, Braeburn, Early Red One and Oregon Spur have been planted. All the trees are under hail nets for protection against hail, snow and sunlight. The whole area is enclosed by electric fence and is under irrigation.
The Project Coordinator, together with his small team and the farmers, handles the project with strict discipline, which is a reason for the success achieved.
Apple farming is highly technical. Apple trees need tbe manipulated for early and high production levels. All trees need tbe irrigated and sprayed regularly according tstrict UK chain store specifications. Tree branches should be horizontal with only one main branch in the centre. These are only a few of the technical aspects that need tbe managed.
In 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 the Farmers harvested 2648, 3448, 3623 and 3909 tons of apples, of which approximately 30% was exported tthe UK, Europe and the Far East. The apples are graded, packed and marketed by the Trust. Apples in this area normally ripen twweeks earlier than those in the rest of the country, giving the farmers certain marketing advantages. Pick and Pay and other chain stores are some of the local customers.
All the farmers went on a study tour tthe Cape's fruit producing areas. Intensive courses run by the NPI and Skills for All on business principles, marketing management and financial management have been completed. This is all part of a comprehensive training programme. Some of the Farmers are alsbusy with the AfgriSETA's learnership course.
The project will harvest 5221 tons of apples in 2006/7. This will result in a turnover of R18 million per year.
The project received the National Peace Garden Award in November 2000 for the best development project for upcoming commercial farmers in the country.
On 21 November 2002 the project received the Certificate of Excellence: Free State Premier's Award - emerging exporter of the Year 2002 and in 2004 were the runner up in the Female Farmer of the Year award.
In November 2004 they received the national gold award for productivity from the NPI. In 2005 the Farmer-ladies won the Free State Exporters' Award.
The Farm was alsEurepgap accredited in 2004 and in 2005.
Farmers are trained as business entrepreneurs and some Farmers have already started up their own secondary businesses tutilize related service or value adding opportunities.
The challenge now is tempower Bethlehem Farmers Trust tits full extent and trepay all outstanding loans.
Vision
Farmer prosperity from Apples.
Mission
Land reform by establishing emerging farmers tproduce apples in the Eastern Free State as a profitable agricultural project. The log term objective is testablish a model that will increase private sector involvement in capital intensive agricultural projects.
Values
- Honesty
- Respect
- Exceeding client expectation
- Enthusiastic - empowerment of farmers
- Encourage personal growth - personnel and farmers
- Everyone is a Manager - can follow
- Team effort (we).
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