Product information
ARC-Institute for Industrial Crops
to showcase kenaf at Harvest Day
MARY JAMES,
ARC-GrainCrops Institute
R
esearch on industrial crops began more than 100 years
ago in South Africa, with research on tobacco and cotton
taking the forefront. Currently, the ARC-Institute for Indus-
trial Crops (ARC-IIC) conducts researchon cotton andother
fibre crops like kenaf, hemp, flax, tobacco and cassava.
Byconductingneedsdriven research, theARC-IICstrives to increase
the production of established crops like cotton and tobacco and
establishnew crops like kenaf and cassava.
For new crops such as kenaf and cassava to be effectively pro-
duced under local conditions, the research carried out by the
ARC-IIC is aimed at evaluating imported cultivars for adaptability
under local conditions as well as optimising production practices
such as planting and harvesting dates, fertilisation, weed control,
harvesting methods and processing. This will enable successful
production of these crops in support of local processing andmanu-
facturing industries.
Get more information about kenaf and other industrial crops at the
upcomingGrainSANAMPOHarvest Day. TheARC-IIC stand can be
found in theMicrobial Solutions hall.
1: TheARC-IIC conducts researchon cotton.
2: An exampleof kenaf.
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