08 Apr 2025

In its second harvest, which began this month and expected to conclude in September, the Selebi Phikwe Citrus project is set to achieve remarkable growth.

The multimillion-pula project, which sits on more than 1000 hectares of land leased from the Mmadinare Cooperative Society, was established in 2012 to revive and boost the economy of Selebi Phikwe town which had collapsed after the BCL mines closed.

In an interview, Selebi Phikwe Citrus Project Manager Mr Johan van Vuuren explained that this year’s expected harvest significantly surpassed last year’s initial yield of just 5,000 tonnes. This year’s estimates show a production of 20,000 tonnes of citrus fruits, such as grapefruit, lemons, and other varieties of oranges.

Mr Vuuren credited this year’s harvest to continuous improved farming methods and favourable weather, saying the expected bumper harvest also demonstrated the project’s commitment to sustainable agricultural practices while offering a chance to increase food security and lower import expenses.

On the market front, Mr Vuuren noted that 70 per cent of the harvest had already secured a lucrative market internationally in Europe, Asia, the United States of America and others, while the remaining 30 per cent will be for local markets.

The predicted harvest, he said, had also led to the creation of more short-term employment opportunities, with more than 700 people engaged compared to the 500 that were engaged for the first harvest.

In stark contrast to the concern raised by the recent nationwide power cuts, Mr Vuuren explained that the harvest process remained robust and unaffected. 

He said this was primarily due to the hand-picking method that did not require reliance on electric machinery. He said the hand-picking method not only guaranteed that only ripe fruits were harvested but also focused on sustainability, allowing for better care of the trees and the surrounding environment. ENDS