Company
Profile:
Four decades ago, back in 1964, a group of potato seed growers had the
vision to combine skills and expertise and formed a company to be known as
Western Free State Seed Growers. Over years the company has grown to its
current status as the largest supplier of seed potatoes to the South African
market.
Company Overview:
WVAMK (Pty) Ltd. currently numbers fourteen shareholders growing over 3 000
hectares of seed under irrigation annually, thus making it the largest
organization of its kind in Africa.
Our region experiences extremely hot and dry summers with winter
temperatures plummeting well below freezing point for several months a year.
Adequate irrigation water and highly suitable soils allow us to propagate
potato seed during the period historically proven to be virtually aphid
free. No plantings are allowed to be done before 1 November, thus giving
producers the opportunity to destroy any volunteer plants from the previous
season.
Approximately 37 500 tons of seed are produced annually and marketed
throughout South Africa as well as exported to various countries. Seed for
the early season is consigned from May onwards. The balance is retained in
our cold storage facilities (6 000 tons) for distribution from November
through to February the following year. The cold storage facilities, laboratory and
head office complex are situated at the hub of our growing region in
Christiana in the North West province of South Africa
Marketing:
WVAMK (Western Free State Seed Potato Growers) is a member of the Seed
Potato Traders Forum and supports the rules and regulations of the forum.
WVAMK furthermore only uses seed potato traders that are members of the
forum.
Western Free State has implemented various strategies to ensure that we can
supply our clients with physiological aged seed at all times throughout the
year. This is done via contract growers in Natal, Eastern Free State
and Mpumalanga to supply early plantings
in Limpopo and the Eastern
Cape (i.e. from March to May), and from
April to February the following year from Western Free State.
Clients have the opportunity to order their seed potatoes directly from
WVAMK, or alternatively from a seed trader in their region. (Click
here for list) This is to ensure that we give our clients the best
service possible. WVAMK has selected certain agents to act as an
extension of our business, and has taken care to select only agents that can
add value to our clients' businesses.
