Dube AgriZone Lands First Flower Export Contract

In a highly significant move, Curcumaalismatifolia or, more commonly, the Thai Tulip is being grown in the facility's Block D to meet Dube AgriZone's first export contract. Some 30 000 flowers will be exported from this facility every week during the Dutch off season.

Dube AgriZone has secured other production contracts, but these are linked to the local market.

Commenting, Mlibo Bantwini, Dube AgriZone Executive, said the new export contract clearly demonstrated the start of confidence in the international market and, especially, the Dutch market - regarded as the centre of horticulture -that "we have the right producers and the right facilities to serve their market."

Importantly, too, the volumes being produced impact positively on the need for integration with Dube Cargo Terminal as the Tulips for export will boost Cargo Terminal throughput, with 30 000 flowers being exported every week from mid November until March 2013.

Dube AgriZone is intent on diversifying its cultivated product offering, inclusive of high- quality vegetables produce, high-value cut flowers and pot plants.

Currently Curcuma mother-stock is imported to South Africa, but future Dube AgriZone development plans include producing such mother-stock in its own tissue culture facility - located just minutes from Dube AgriZone's massive greenhouse complex. KP Holand has already supplied the first mother stock to the Agrilab to start working on this. This will effectively eliminate transport costs for the plant stock for the farmer. In another move, Dube AgriZone intends introducing the Cucurma plant, as a novelty flower, into the South African market. Leading retailers have already shown great interest in carrying Curcuma plant.

Dube AgriZone is already having a significant impact, assisting in stimulating the agricultural industry in KwaZulu-Natal through the introduction of ultra-modern technologies and the adoption of international best practice - all of which has given effect to improved yields and enhanced quality. The facility makes significant use of sustainable farming principles, including the adoption of renewable energy, such as solar panels and the active harvesting of rainwater, recycling of water for irrigation inside greenhouses, together with the utilization of green waste to create compost.