Vegetable production in South Africa

With a gross value of R126 million per year, vegetable production contributes about 3,3 % to the total gross value of agricultural production in SA. Vegetables are grown throughout the country with almost no evidence of concentrated demarcated production areas. About 1,4 million tons of vegetables were produced in 1978. The increase in tonnage amounts to an average of 3,9 % per year over the last 10 years, which is about one third higher than the population growth of the country. The wide diversity of climatic subregions in the country, including subtropical areas, results in a stable supply of vegetables on the local markets throughout the year, obviating the need to import vegetables or to store over prolonged periods. Vegetable production in SA is aimed almost exclusively at supplying the local market. Only about 40 000 tons of vegetables are exported annually which represent 2,8 % of the total crop. Exports do increase steadily but the scope for expansion is still extremely favourable and entirely unexploited. Ten percent of the vegetables produced are being processed. It is expected that dehydration will grow much faster than canning and freezing, although up to now it has lagged behind. Onions, garlic, mushrooms and melons are preferred for radiation research