Potential of the citrus, table grape and subtropical fruit sectors and Opportunities for strategic interventions in support of agro-industrial production
Given the high levels of unemployment in the rural areas of South Africa this research explored the citrus, table grape and subtropical fruit subsectors of agriculture to better understand the potential for them to contribute to export growth, transformation and employment creation. The research finds that certain categories of agriculture are more labour intensive, better suited to South Africa’s climate and have significant potential for export growth. The research also makes a case for agriculture’s central role in growth, transformation and empowerment, advancing an argument that the distinction between agriculture and industry, and between processed and unprocessed primary commodities, is misleading.