Business
Profile
Agrivet is an established commercial farming operation
in the Morebeng (Soekmekaar) District of the Limpopo Province
producing avocados, passion fruit and guavas for the local
and export markets with the following profile:
- Farm
land consisting of 1,376 hectares of very good soil
and more than sufficient water with a micro climate
that enable us to service a niche market for “late
season avocado” in Europe and South Africa
- Avocado
orchards consisting of 231 hectares under micro irrigation
- Passion
fruit orchards of 15 hectares high density plantings
under drip irrigation in erected trellising
- Guava
orchards of 11 hectares for late season domestic consumption
- A
well balanced team of about 110 permanent employees
(excluding seasonal harvest time appointments)
Business
Approach & Principals
The founders are committed to be worthy stewards of the
beautiful and fertile portion of God’s creation entrusted
to us. We will endeavour to meet our calling through sustainable
farming practices to the benefit of all our stakeholders.
We
want to retain customers by meeting their expectations for
quality and safe products produced with sustainable practices
that are:
-
Socially responsible
- Environmentally
friendly
-
Profitable to shareholders
Code
of Ethics
Enduring relationships, trust and perseverance are the hallmarks
of the way Agrivet people do business. These values are
reflected in our code of ethics:
- Serve
the Lord
- Obey
the law
- Be
fair
- Be
honest
- Respect
others
- Protect
the environment
Professional
and Responsible Management
Agrivet is committed to best practices with documented procedures
to ensure quality product based on environmentally sustainable
practices without compromising the safety, health and welfare
of our employees and the neighbouring communities. Agrivet
fulfil its management obligations by attending to, controlling
and/or implementing the following:
- Strictly
comply with the provisions of all laws, legislation,
regulations or practices to which the company may from
time to time be subject.
- Record
and maintain all necessary management information.
- Maintain
our quality management system on the guidelines of GLOBALGAP.
We were awarded a EUREPGAP (now called GLOBALGAP) accreditation
on 24 June 2004.
- Consult
with the shareholders, board members, employees, contractors
and suppliers regarding various aspects relating to
the management of the business.
- Only
use trained personnel and the necessary systems to ensure
that our products are safe for human consumption
- Protect
the bio diversity in our region.
Objectives
The shareholders and management are committed to the following
objectives:
- Optimise
the business to deliver sustainable good returns on
shareholder equity.
- Empower
our workers with training, development and equity participation.
- Grow
the business with funding that match the cash flow cycle
of new orchards.
- Use
Agrivet’s infrastructure, markets and networks
to assist our neighbours and the community with economically
viable and socially responsible projects.
- Contribute
towards the success of LRAD and ultimately towards a
peaceful and prosperous South Africa.
Competitive
Advantage
Agrivet’s competitive advantage is vested in an integrated
combination of the following:
- A
well balanced team with knowledge and experience of
all business aspects.
- Euro
based income with a rand based cost structure.
- Badirammoho
(here we work together).
- A
fertile and water rich farm at high altitude with a
microclimate ideally suited to the production of “late
season” avocado and similar crops. Only a small
percentage of SA’s production is in regions where
one has the possibility to hang fruit in to the late
market. Thus if the market is not good in the mid season
(the usual scenario), Agrivet has the possibility to
hang fruit in to the late market to get a better price.
- The
mesic climate which will probably be less affected by
global warming. Higher altitude areas are cooler, so
temperature should still be in the optimum zone for
avocado.
Social
Responsibility
The neighbouring farms are all subject to land claims and
Agrivet has made contact with various role players in an
attempt to make a contribution to assist the communities
as their “partner” in whichever capacity is
viable to create win-win relationships.
Agrivet
accepts that to provide a safe working environment and to
comply with all labour regulations is not enough but actively
participate in various development programs. Agrivet contribute
to the Whaiterose Foundation who’s aim is to assist
with the funding of development projects like adult education.
The
capacity-building interventions applied in the past improved
the understanding, participation and effectiveness of all
the farm workers. This strong foundation will be continually
reinforced and developed. |
