Emerging farmers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, will now be able to export their organic vegetables to the UK and other international markets, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the national department of agriculture and Swiss firm BioSwiss.

The memorandum was officiated by agriculture and land affairs minister Lulu Xingwana on Saturday at the Dejarsdrift farm. BioSwiss is working with the department on three land reform projects in the Vryheid area, she said, and the agreement is now being extended to Dejarsdrift. She said the department hopes the memorandum will help farmers in the province.

The Swiss company has invested R100 million (£6.5m) into a new factory in Vryheid.

BioSwiss ceo Gwelyn Owen said the factory would be used to prepare high-value organic vegetables for export to the UK, France and the US.

“We would like to expand this project to other regions of the province, once we see it successful in Vryheid,” he said. “BioSwiss is committed to helping the farmers in KwaZulu-Natal, and that is why we decided to sign the eight-year agreement with the department of agriculture and land affairs.”

In conjunction with BioSwiss, which provides communities with financial, technical, mentoring/training and business management, land reform beneficiaries are producing goods for overseas export.

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