pear production in south africa: with special focus on
TRANSCRIPT
Pear production in South Africa:
With special focus on
Abate Fetel
Presented by : Christo Strydom
Wolseley Fruit Packers (Pty) Ltd
Wolseley, Western Cape, South Africa
RR
Ceres 4 665 ha (37%)
Main Pear
producing regions in SA
EGVV 2 608 ha (21%)
Langkloof 1 914 ha (15%)
Klein Karoo 1 103 ha (8%)
13.433
2.000
4.000
6.000
8.000
10.000
12.000
14.000
Ha
12 697
SA Pear Hectare Trend
+12% last 5 years
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
ABATE FETEL BEURRE BOSC DOYENNE DU
COMICE
GOLDEN RUSSET
BOSC
HA
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
0
500
1.000
1.500
2.000
2.500
3.000
3.500
4.000
4.500
PACKHAM'S TRIUMPH WILLIAMS BON CHRETIEN
HA
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
SA Pear Cultivar Trend
0
500
1.000
1.500
2.000
2.500
3.000
3.500
FORELLE ROSEMARIE CHEEKY FLAMINGO
HA
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
+25%
-13%
+36%
-42%
+9%
Green Pears
Brown Pears
Blush Pears
+18%+294%
-29%-33%
SA Pear Industry perspective
12 697 ha
410 840 tons
±R2.4 Bn p.a
(Fresh = 87%)
Planted
Produce
Value
Local = 15%
Exports = 48%
Processed = 35%
Dried = 3%
PACKHAM'S TRIUMPH,
34%
FORELLE, 23%
WILLIAM'S BON
CHRETIEN, 14%
ABATE FETEL, 8%
VERMONT BEAUTY, 8%
SEMPRE, 3%
ROSEMARIE, 3%
BEURRE BOSC, 2%
DOYENNE DU COMICE,
1%GOLDEN RUSSET BOSC,
1%CHEEKY, 1%
FLAMINGO, 1%
OTHER, 1%
2017 SA Pear Exports
1
2
3
USA EU
Africa
Canada
UK
Russia
(Direct)
China
IOI
Middle East
Far
East3%
5%
6%
1%
43%18%
20%
Main South African Pear
Export Regions
5%
Factors affecting production and
fruit size:
1. CLIMATE
2. ORCHARD PLANNING
3. PRODUCTION FACTORS
In the bigger scheme of things
SA: -33°S
CLIMATE
There is not sufficient winter chilling which causes
delayed foliation.
South Africa’s main pear production areas lies 33
degrees south of equator.
The altitude in production areas varies
between 200 and 1200m above sea level.
DELAYED FOLIATIONConsequences of DF
• Prolonged flowering period
• Less budbreak
• Less spur development
• Less crop
Solution to DF
• Artificial rest breaking
• Spray Mineral oil plus Cyanamide
at budswell
If you do not plan well…………
ORCHARD PLANNINGPlanting densities:
Soil
Rootstock
Cultivar
ABF: 1500 – 1900 trees/ha
Planting densities is a function of:
3,5 – 4,5m x 1,5 – 2,0m
1111 – 1900 trees/ha
ORCHARD PLANNING
Tree training: Central leader tree
Well established branches
Bearing units on branches
ORCHARD PLANNING
Rootstocks: BP1, BP3
Vigorous
Suitable for poor soils
Preferred rootstock for PTR and WBC
ORCHARD PLANNING
Rootstocks: Quince BA29 and Quince C51
BA29 more vigorous than C51
Not suitable for sandy soils
BA29 preferred rootstock for ABF and
blushed pears
C51 suitable for high potential soils –
weak and precocious
ORCHARD PLANNING
Row direction : North/South
Maximum sunlight interception
Sunburn control
Good quality spur development
ORCHARD PLANNING
Pollinators : 35%
Better fruit set
More seeds = better internal quality
due to calcium uptake
More seeds = bigger fruit with better
fruit shape
Rosemarie Flamingo Forelle
PRODUCTION FACTORS
PRUNING
GIRDLING
FERTILISING
PRUNING
• Create new bearing units
• Remove excessive blossom on weak
bearing units
• Increase fruit set
• Increase fruit size
GIRDLING
• Between full bloom and 6
weeks after full bloom
• Increase fruit set
• Increase fruit size
• Control vegetative growth
• Better quality return bloom
FERTILISING
• Control tree vigour and fruit quality
with correct fertilising
• Nitrogen: post harvest and full
bloom
• Potasium: 40 days after full bloom
Investigate the possibility of consistent high production and
realising larger fruit size as per market requirements.
Buchuland Farm, Ceres
Block 11: Abate Fetel
Plant year: 2005
Planting distance: 4.5m x 1.5m
Rootstock: Quince BA29
Pollinators: Forelle (28%), Flamingo (7%)
HARVEST YEAR PRODUCTION
(tons/ha)
FRUIT WEIGHT
2013 66 212g
2014 60 228g
2015 80 248g
2016 70 206g
2017 59 244g
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• Mr Jacques du Preez, Hortgro, South
Africa
• Buchuland farm, Ceres, South Africa
THANK YOU