The Giant of the Southern African Citrus Industry
Du Roi Nursery proudly holds the title of largest citrus nursery in Southern Africa. Smit le Roux shared some insights into the operations of this successful group. By: Jacqueline Staden
Du Roi Nursery is situated in Letsitele, Limpopo Province of South Africa and has been in operation since 1989. The nursery is fully accredited with the SA Citrus Improvement Program, which is itself regulated by the Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa. Du Roi Nursery produces quality, certified citrus, mango, pomegranate and guava trees and granadilla plants.
Du Roi Nursery also provides extensive technical support to both local and international customers through their various operations. The Du Roi group of companies is privately owned, and in addition to the Nursery includes the business operations outlined below. These operations allow Du Roi to be a leader in the subtropical fruit industry, and allow the nursery to influence the continued global competitiveness of a number of other subtropical fruit sectors within the African continent.
Laboratory
Du Roi Laboratory specializes in the production and distribution of disease-free, virus-indexed tissue culture banana plants. These plants are multiplied from superior selections that are obtained from an extensive breeding programme. Established in 1994.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Du Roi IPM specializes in the breeding and trading of predatory and parasitic insects which are beneficial insects that assist with the control of agricultural pests. Established in 1999.
New Projects
The cultivation and progression of new businesses and technologies is managed on a project level until these new developments are equipped to function as stand-alone companies. The Du Roi companies pride themselves in developing and growing focused, dedicated and professional products and services.
Du Roi Nursery caters mainly to the Southern African Market: South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland. Their market stake is currently in the region of 55% of the South African market. Their goal is to produce the best quality tree for their markets, accompanied by the best, accurate and friendly service.
Du Roi Nursery has recently, in conjunction with various research institutions, developed protocols for producing Citrus Black Spot and Greening free plants in specially constructed greenhouse structures. The obstacles associated with this were overcome by keeping good practices, following strict standard operating procedures and training employees adequately. “We are proud to say that we produced the first Citrus Black Spot and Greening free Citrus trees in the world,” says Smit le Roux. The Nursery has also developed techniques and protocols for commercial production of clonal citrus rootstock cuttings. The result is that customers are provided with a greater uniformity in tree performance. All the commercially recommended citrus varieties and rootstocks are grown from certified plant material, which is sourced from the Citrus Foundation Block in the Eastern Cape Province.
“It is also best practice to have a look at what the international industry is doing, especially on cultivar combinations,” notes le Roux. Farming techniques are adapted and diversified by constantly looking for new technology to keep the nursery on a competitive footing. When it comes to human resource management, Du Roi Nursery strives to be fair, firm and friendly with all its personnel. Our motto is “hard on standards but soft on people”.
Du Roi Nursery is constantly involved with community upliftment and training of its staff. This is because human resource training and upliftment is integral to the Du Roi company culture and the objective of achieving a working environment that is both positive and productive. The future plans for the nursery are summed up as “being a sustainable supplier of quality fruit trees to Africa,” concludes le Roux.
