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A Technical Guide for Wine Producers
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RECENT ARTICLES | WYNBOER HOME
NURSERY INDUSTRY FOR RESOURCE LIMITED PRODUCERS ESTABLISHED WITH NIETVOORBIJ AID In 1997 ARC-Nietvoorbij initiated a project to train interested resource limited farmers in Ebenhaeser and Saron in grape vine grafting for the purpose of establishing nurseries. Small nurseries were established at Mrr Petrie and Abraham Hahn, at the Trust Experimental Farm in Ebenhaeser, as well as Mr Evan Mathews in Saron. Being an entirely new experience for these people, much adjustment and training were required from Mrr Danie van Schalkwyk and Danie le Roux to foster an understanding of nursery management. Due to the co-operators' inexperience, especially with regard to irrigation management of a nursery, the success of the nurseries was erratic. The most successful nursery was on the Ebenhaeser Trust Experimental Farm. Although the vines in the nursery were damaged by a herd of goats, a large percentage of the vines budded again in 1998 and all indications are that many vines will be taken out in 1999 (Photo 1). 
Training in the preparation of vine grafting material, long whip grafting and callus was continued in July 1998. At Ebenhaeser and Saron, seven and 13 persons respectively participated in the training (Photo 2). The Saron team included five South African agricultural students (from the Saron community and the Free State) whose training is financed by the Belgian government. The majority of inhabitants of these communities are manually skilled and easily mastered the long whip grafting method. Persons who participated in the previous year's training quickly regained their skill and could assist with the training of new people. 
With resource limited farmers lacking suitable equipment and facilities for the grafting of vineyard material, alternative methods and facilities for the wax treatment and callus of vines had to be found. A gas stove and an old pot were used to melt the grafting wax. Interested parties were shown how to control the temperature of the grafting wax to prevent it from overheating. The unavailability of callus cases and callus rooms also necessitated alternative methods. The vines were placed against the warmest wall of available rooms, using untreated shavings as callus medium. Wheat straw treated with Kaptanflo had been used as callus medium the previous year. The straw dried out easily, however, and efficient regulation of the humidity status was difficult. Initially the success of the untreated shavings as a medium was unknown and it was feared that fungal growth might occur on the vines, which, however, did not happen. Plastic bags were used below and on the sides of the stacked vines to prevent drying out. The moisture status during callus was controlled with wet hessian bags which were placed on top of the vines. These bags were treated with a 2% Kaptanflo mixture and kept moist throughout. With the vine stacks being relatively high, this method of cold callus requires good management to prevent the vines on the sides and at the bottom from drying out. If sufficient space is available, it is recommended that the stacks are not piled higher than 40 cm. Good callus formation was achieved within nine weeks of grafting. In October 1998 the grafted vines were established at the four nurseries in question, namely at Mrr Gert Goliat and Petrie Hahn, in Ebenhaeser, on the Ebenhaeser Trust Experimental Farm, as well as at Mr Evan Mathews in Saron. During the establishment of the nurseries the resource limited producers were trained in the methods of establishment. Guidelines were also drawn up as an aid to the grafting, establishment and management of the nurseries. The nurserymen are extremely enthusiastic and small quantities of vines have already been grafted on request. If these nurseries are successful, it will make a big contribution to the economic prosperity of the communities and help to meet the demand for grafted vines. The skills developed by the participants in the course of training activities will also enable them to sell their services to commercial producers. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The financial support of Winetech for the project is greatly appreciated. Mr Jannie Bosman of Lelienfontein Kwekery is also thanked for the donation of shavings for the project and also Mr Piet Brink of the Department of Agriculture, Western Cape, in Vredendal, for his involvement in the Ebenhaeser community. |
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