Farm for Sale in Knysna Rural

This 26.23-hectare farming enterprise is reached by means of the tarred Barrington Road turnoff from the N2 between Sedgefield and Knysna. It consists of 2 adjacent title deeds.

Various products can be produced in the fertile soil, e.g., citrus, macadamias, grenadillas, proteas, flowers, cash crops, and cannabis.

Currently there is no farming activity on the 10-hectares of the acreage which is covered by quality netting. A variety of probes are active over the entire irrigation area where the temperature, water usage and humidity data can be collected on a continual basis. The farming enterprise enjoys platinum audit status with GlobalGAP and SIZA accreditation and everything is audited and recorded. The carbon footprint data for the previous 3 years is available. Any pesticide use is in strict compliance with South African, European and CODEX laws and regulations.

All the blocks are under good quality, flat top, shade netting structures with a lifespan of about 25 years. The blocks’ perimeter is enclosed with 18-strand wire electric fencing. The fencing and netting are all in good repair.

An 3,5-hectare unplanted irrigation section is earmarked for further development to expand the irrigation area. This section has already been cleaned, enclosed with 18-strand wire electrified fencing and is ready to be planted.

The rest of the acreage consists of fallow land, undisturbed fynbos valleys, wetlands, storage dam, dwellings, sheds and storage, parking areas and various internal roads. The general condition of the farm and infrastructure is neat, well-managed and well-maintained.

The topography consists of slightly inclined slopes, descending towards the low-lying deep valleys where the storage dam and protected natural veldt are. Because of the topography there are multiple sensors in each block to monitor the climate over time.

Water and soil are the lifeblood of the agricultural industry, and its success depends on a variety of soil types and the management thereof. The arable soils vary from lower to high potential reddish clay and non-red duplex soils with calcareous subsoil. The slopes are well-drained. Drainage infrastructure is good and effective. Along the dam and valleys are wetlands which are too marshy to utilize as arable land. These areas can be used for cattle to graze on.

The daily summer climate is moderate to hot and humid, and winters are cooler with an annual average of 682 mm precipitation. The temperature varies from 16°C - 28°C in the mid-summer to 9°C - 22°C during winter. The winter nights are mostly frost free. The prevailing winds are the southeaster during summer, and the north-westerly during winter.

A single storey farmhouse, known as the Zink house, offers accommodation for a farm supervisor and his family. It is situated at the entrance to the farm from where the supervisor has good views of who enters the area by road. A 5-Kva inverter battery supplies electricity to this house. Hot water is from a geyser solar system. There are no staff houses.

An old labourer`s cottage has been converted into modern office space with a stoep overlooking the storage dam.

Farming infrastructure includes a 300 sq. metre cooler room shed with pre-cooling blast chill room, large main cooler room, maintenance workshop, receive/dispatch area, staff canteen and 40 sq. metre staff room, chemical container room and fertiliser storage area. The shed is a steel-framed building with corrugated steel roof and concrete floor. These buildings are situated conveniently close to the middle of the farming enterprise. There is also a separate staff ablution block with outside hand-wash basins. A 3-phase LOVOL 80-Kva diesel backup generator kicks in as alternative power source when Eskom`s loadshedding occurs.

The pumphouse with a little office and storage area, and the fertilizer storage room, are on the edge of the storage dam.

The registered water usage rights are 100,000 m3 per annum from the Karatara River. This water supply is efficient for the acreage under irrigation as well as for future expansions. Water is pumped directly from the storage dam and, after being filtered, it is reticulated around the various blocks from the booster pump station into the permanent drip irrigation systems.

There are no land claims, and the farming enterprise will be vacant on date of transfer. It is possible to build a main house on each title deed. The opportunity exists to buy the titles separately.

For sale at R14 million, including vehicles, farming equipment, and historical data. Detail information available on request.