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A Technical Guide for Wine Producers
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Database on farming activities of emerging wine grape producers established
E. Lotz, T. Hart & J.M. Mudzunga, ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Stellenbosch
Key words: Emerging farmers, Small-scale farmers, Black economic empowerment
The lack of information about emerging farmers, their production practices and problems is a serious constraint for researchers and other role-players in order to adequately assist this growing sector of agriculture. To help alleviate this problem, a database focusing exclusively on information about the farming activities of emerging wine grape producers was created by researchers at ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij. Winetech funded a portion of this project during a two-year period. Questionnaires were designed and data were collected over a two-year period. Seventeen projects in the Western Cape, Northern Cape and Free State Provinces were surveyed (see Table 1). The increasing number of new enterprises indicates that as the land-reform process progresses, emerging farmers will become increasingly involved in the wine industry.
A Microsoft AccessTM database was created which contains general information about the farm / project, geographical information, cultivars, cultivation practices and crop management, harvesting and post-harvest logistics, infrastructure, transport, marketing, training requirements and problems experienced. Personal information regarding age, language, education and training, involvement in enterprise / project and household information was also captured in the database. The identity of individuals will remain confidential.
The results of the survey indicate that a distinction can be made between equity schemes, where there is support from a commercial farm or company, and emerging farmers farming on their own land. The latter group often farms without adequate resources, support and guidance. They need greater support than equity scheme enterprises - especially in terms of access to resources and experienced management - and this presents a serious challenge to the wine industry.
Emerging farmers identified the need for training on all technical aspects of wine grape farming, as well as the development of financial, farm management and marketing skills as immediate priorities. Technical interventions should be well timed because certain critical actions, which can determine the success or failure of the farming venture, need to be taken during the production cycle.
The emerging farmers require bridging capital to start and sustain their venture for a number of seasons until the enterprises realise a sustainable income and profit. Land-reform grants usually only cover the costs of the purchase of the land and not all the other necessary inputs and infrastructure. Many of these farmers do not have a source of income to support their families for the first three to four years and are subsequently unable to commit themselves to full-time involvement in the ventures. This prevents the farms from realising their true potential. Although various organisations assist emerging farmers, efforts are often uncoordinated and not as effective as required. Coordinated efforts involving all role-players involved in assisting emerging farmers are needed to ensure sustainable wine grape producing enterprises and projects.
The information in the database will provide researchers with some baseline information about the different farming ventures (see Table 1 for example). This can help to ensure that appropriate and meaningful research projects are formulated in future. Winetech has committed itself to partially funding the feasibility of three emerging farmer enterprises in the Western Cape during 2004 and 2005. These three projects were identified from the database. The feasibility assessment will be conducted by researchers from the ARC and will concentrate on identifying what assistance is required to ensure that these projects are viable and sustainable.
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