We were alerted to trouble in the chicory sector by an email from a health product supplier wanting to know about alternative sources for chicory.
This had become necessary because Chicory SA was closing down. We pointed her towards Agri Eastern Cape (Chicory SA had been an affiliate there) and said that someone on the ground in the farmer organisation would be able to help, and then set about doing research on this development.
For years our page on chicory spoke about the sector’s vulnerability to imports, and now it had happened.
We found an article in Talk of the Town which says it all, really, and we will leave it to tell the story.
It draws from our Agribook notes on chicory to set the context, and proceeds from there. It gives an overview of Alexandria, its population before looking at the value chain. A commercial farmer, a transport operator, a farm worker and the municipal manager give their take on the developments.
Find the article “Chicory crash looms” at www.talkofthetown.co.za/2024/09/26/chicory-crash-looms/
Relevant Agribook pages include “Chicory“.
Photo by Tyler Nix: www.pexels.com/photo/cappuccino-in-white-ceramic-cup-on-white-ceramic-saucer-2396220/
