AGRICULTURAL NEWS - AMW Boerdery, on the farm Jakkalsvlei southwest of Clanwilliam, has been producing between 460kg/ha and 470kg/ha of rooibos in net clean weight annually, since the farm began formal record-keeping in 2001.
Wimpie Smit, co-owner of the farm, credits the results to sound production management and favourable climatic conditions.
He says the average annual rainfall on Jakkalsvlei is around 425mm, which is almost double the precipitation for most farms near Clanwilliam.
The higher rainfall is nevertheless a double-edged sword. In dry years it buffers Jakkalsvlei against the drought conditions other producers might have to endure.
But it has a negative impact on production during wet years.
“Spring rain does not really affect farms in the drier regions, but it causes serious fungal problems on our farm,” he explains.
