The Western Cape’s fruit industry relies on 30000 to 40000 beehives in the area to pollinate the plants.
According to Mike Allsopp of the plant protection research unit at the department of agriculture, the disease has spread throughout the Western Cape, to Vredendal in the north and Oudtshoorn in the east. The department has asked beekeepers to keep broods separate, sterilise equipment and ensure that beeswax is not transported to other parts of the country. It recommends burning infected beehives to prevent spread of the disease.
While there is an antibiotic to treat infected bees, it does not destroy contaminated spores, so bees can be reinfected.
A study last year by the National Agricultural Marketing Council found that commercial bee colonies added between R400-million and R1.6-billion a year to the deciduous fruit tree industry.
The most popular fruit exports are varieties of citrus — such as oranges, grapefruit and lemons — which make up about 60% of all fruit exports. Deciduous fruits such as apples, pears, grapes and plums account for about 38% and avocados, mangoes and litchis make up the balance. Western Cape produce represents almost 60% of exports.
Major markets are Europe, which accounts for 75% of the export market, the Middle East, and southeast Asia.
Another problem for the industry is the downturn, with large retailers in the UK and Europe asking for smaller shipments.
In addition, there has been some reluctance to pay for imports, with the quality of food being cited as the main reason. This has affected local farmers’ cash flows.
The fruit canning industry, which takes up about 85% of fruit exports, has additional problems, with the price of tin-plate having increased by about 70%. This adds about 45% to 55% to the price of a tin can for the export and local markets.
