Crop Farming History

Bufland farming traditionally produced maize and wheat crops. Since 2001 extensive expansions occurred with the introduction of centre pivot and irrigation systems to the farm.  It equipped the farm with around 380ha of irrigated land and facilitated the introduction of growing maize for seed production and peanut farming. Thereafter Bufland still produced commercial maize and later ceased the peanut farming and just continued with bean varieties.

Around 2017 the amount of seed contracts started to decline and alternates needed to be found to retain labour and operations. The crop farming thus expanded to the following sectors:

Peppadews

Bufland Agri generally plant around 20-25 hectares of Peppadews a year. A Global gap was identified initially and the Bufland Agri peppadews are delivered internationally. It however carries a high risk as the crops are exposed to hail, the insurance does not cover such an event and therefore limitations are placed on the amounts of Peppadews delivered to the market.

Potatoes

As part of the diversification plans in 2017 the business considered growing potato crops, with the aim of adopting and applying the labour force employed. Bufland initially partnered with Uitdraai Boerdery one of the well established potato farmers. This assisted Bufland with training and production methods. Initially potatoes were delivered on a contract to Uitdraai while Bufland could start to equip their own packhouse.

Since 2021 Bufland Agri has expanded the potato production further and deliver to the markets in December and January. It proved a unique aspect in the business and provide consistency in the cashflow for the months of February and March when their other operations do not provide cashflow.     

Seed Maize Farming

The aim is to plant and grow the maximum hectares available and to meet the inspectors requirements. The value chain has been improved with the adoption of new technologies and maize processing machinery to extract the maize seeds. The processing equipment also includes two gravitational tables and a scanmaster equiped with an electronic scanner to detect rotten pips.

The adoption of technologies and equipment ensure that Bufland Agri can provide exceptional quality of maize to the market. The equipment and skills developed over the years are adopted on the farm but also utilized to assist other farmers who face similar challenges.

Wheat

Wheat is only planted and considered when there is sufficient water stores and rainfall, as various of the other operations also require high amounts of water. Nevertheless, wheat crops still provide good opportunities for Bufland Agri and assists in part with the overhead costs.   Wheat crops can also be insured and provides improved risk mitigation between the spread of crops. It also requires a high labour force and Bufland Agri aims to assist in this manner by improving the social economic conditions for all their staff employed.    

Beans

Bufland Agri also plant and produce beans and bean seeds, the equipment and harvesters are available not just for their own use, but also made available to assist other farmers in the region.