AGRICULTURAL NEWS - Glenneis Kriel spoke to Anthony Rausch, chairperson of the Johannesburg Succulent Society, about the many exciting opportunities available, and ways to overcome production challenges.
Over the past decade, succulents have soared in popularity, thanks to the growing demand for alternative medicines, as well as gardeners seeking out drought-tolerant, easy-to-grow plants.
The fragmented nature of South Africa’s succulent industry makes it difficult to quantify the value of local production, but in the US, nursery sales grew 64% between 2012 and 2017, surpassing the edible and grow-your-own-food categories, according to the 2017 State of the Industry Report.
“An inability to keep up with the rising demand has fuelled illegal harvesting, creating a black market worth billions of dollars,” says Anthony Rausch, chairperson of the Johannesburg Succulent Society, an affiliate of the Succulent Society of South Africa.
“This, together with habitat loss and overgrazing in sensitive areas, is threatening the existence of almost a third of these plants.”
