Table potato production
- Irrigation / dry-land:
- Nearly all plantings are irrigated. Only a small part of the production in the Darling area is produced under dry-land conditions. Irrigation is mainly from underground water.
- Table and seed potatoes:
- 69,5% of the plantings are for table potato production and 30,5% for seed production.
- Planting time:
- Although the Sandveld allows planting throughout the year, the two peak periods are the winter crop planted in June and July and the summer crop from January to April.
- Marketing period:
- Marketing takes place throughout the year - with the winter peak marketing season from February to April and the summer plantings from October to December.
- Processing:
- Nearly 15% of the table crop is processed.
- Cultivars:
- The main cultivars are - BP1, Up-to-Date, Buffelspoort, Vanderplank and Avalanche.
- Other:
- The Sandveld is the largest area for the production of potatoes in the Western Cape. It is also an important producer of seed potatoes in South Africa. The crop is produced in the white sandy soil which gives a naturally clean and attractive product. In the last 5 years the Sandveld has grown one of the macro production areas in South Africa.
- Exports: The region has developed as a major export area and 22% of the table potato crop of this region is being exported - mainly to Angola and Namibia.
- The Sandveld is also implementing a unique biodiversity project with the main focus on sustainable potato production through managing water resources.
Production statistics / produksie statistieke