UCL LAUNCHES  AVOCADO DIVERSIFICATION PROJECT 

Cedric Mboyisa

In line with the objectives of the all-important Sugarcane Value Chain Master Plan to 2030, UCL has embarked on a massive avocado farming project.

Left top: Vanessa Barnabas (FNB), Portia Mpofu (SASA External Affairs Director), Ncumisa Mcata-Mhlauli (Chief Director: Agro-processing, the dtic), Rolf Lütge (UCL Managing Director), Imameleng Mothebe (Director: Agro-processing, the dtic), uMshwathi Local Municipality Mayor Mandla Zondi, Conrad Klipp (UCL Chairman) and uMshwathi Local Municipality Deputy Mayor Nokuthula Mdunge.

“Following the culmination of a lengthy due diligence process and alignment with recent government support interventions, the company has approved the construction of a greenfield avocado packing facility and 400 hectares of avocado orchards in Dalton, KwaZulu Natal,” said Rolf Lütge, UCL Managing Director. He added: “The UCL investment in the avocado packhouse and orchards will be approximately R310m and R120m respectively and will be financed by the company. The packing facility will be 150m long, 75m wide and will boast an annual throughput capacity of 16 500t of avocados from August to October of every year, on a single 8-hour shift. In addition, the facility has been designed to handle kiwi fruit and will be capable of packing approximately 5 000t of kiwis annually.”

UCL envisages that a total of 1 400 hectares will be utilised to grow avocados, with the rest (1 000) coming from private partners/farmers including small-scale farmers in the surrounding areas. The launch of the project at UCL's manufacturing premises in Dalton was attended by senior officials from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Management from the South African Sugar Association and Umshwathi Local Municipality Mayor Mandla Zondi and his delegation. Zondi hailed UCL for its contribution to the local economy and endeavours geared towards job creation, especially for the benefit of young people. The dtic Chief Director for Agro-processing, Ncumi Mhlauli, also lauded UCL and the sugar industry in general for their immense contribution to the rural economies of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. Furthermore, she stressed the importance of the involvement of small-scale farmers in the multi-million-rand avocado project.

Avocado clones waiting to be planted.

The project will result in the creation of more jobs in the area. “The total number of permanent full-time positions created by the project is estimated to be 508, while the total number of annual fixed-term positions is estimated to be 980. The total investment by UCL and its associated suppliers will be approximately R910m,” said Lütge. He hailed government for having played a key role through its continued support and interventions, especially through the master plan, which contributed to the decision to proceed with the multi-million Rand project, which is a huge economic booster for the region and augurs well for the farming fraternity in the area.