End the silo mentality in citrus transformation – CGA-GDC’s Andrew Mbedzi

SOUTH AFRICA – At the recent Citrus Growers’ Association Grower Indaba in Boksburg, Andrew Mbedzi, Production and Technical Manager at the CGA Grower Development Company (CGA-GDC), urged the citrus industry to end fragmented approaches and commit to genuine collaboration.

Mbedzi said the industry cannot continue working in silos and relying too heavily on consultants. He stressed the need for data-driven decisions and practical solutions that directly impact farmers.

“Together we can make an impact,” he told delegates, adding that the sector must not shy away from ambitious goals. “Why do you have to limit yourself to say I can’t reach there, whereas you have not tried?”

He expressed frustration with the duplication of resources, citing an example of visiting farms where separate funding streams led to waste.

“It’s very embarrassing at times [when] you go to a farm [and] you find that the farm has got a double fence. Then you ask: What is this for? You find that this was funded by so-and-so, and this was funded by something else. That doesn’t add value.”

A vision for empowerment

The CGA-GDC’s vision, Mbedzi explained, is to be “a centre of excellence, empowering and advancing black citrus growers in South Africa.”

Its mission is “to facilitate and support the establishment, growth and empowerment of profitable and sustainable black citrus growers, thereby creating wealth for farmers at the farm gate.”

But he made it clear that good intentions are not enough. “It demands operational excellence and strategic focus.”

He noted that transformation guidelines such as Denmark’s model provide direction, with allocations for enterprise funding, skills development, and management control. However, he argued that these guidelines alone will not deliver impact.

“I maintain that the engagements should not only be during the times when we are having challenges. We should, from time to time, consult to see if we are staying in line with what we are doing.”

Resource constraints and practical realities

Mbedzi addressed the real difficulties faced by extension officers who must cover wide areas while dealing with limited budgets.

“For us to service our farmers, we really need to be there. You can’t make decisions or assist farmers when you are far away,” he said.

He insisted that cutting back on farmer visits is not the answer. Instead, collaboration and efficiency must guide resource allocation.

He called on the industry to stop over-involving itself in farm-level social issues, stop underreporting achievements, and above all, stop working in isolation.

Instead, he urged a focus on farm-level projects backed by data and open communication. “Communication is key, and without it, everything will not be right,” he said.

Looking ahead: Vision 50

Throughout his address, Mbedzi emphasised that data should shape every major decision. He linked this approach to Vision 50, which aims for 50 percent of citrus exports to come from black commercial growers by 2032, alongside a target of 260 million cartons in total exports and the creation of 100,000 new jobs.

Rather than dismiss these targets as unrealistic, he challenged stakeholders to pursue them with determination. “We need to engage key stakeholders on the targets and agree on measurements. This should take priority over continued discussions about how unrealistic it is.”

Mbedzi concluded by reminding growers that flexibility within the CGA-GDC guidelines allows different farmers to meet their own market needs. “The goal is to provide support without taking over farmers’ responsibilities, building long-term capacity rather than creating dependency.”

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