THE BRUBOER GROUP

Senator Dries Bruwer, founder of the Bruboer Group, has been involved in commercial agriculture in South Africa and Africa for the past 45 years. Together with his colleagues he experienced first-hand a number of the problems that historically have beset the agri-industry, which must be addressed in order to make commercial agriculture a viable proposition in South Africa - and Africa generally. Bruboer concentrates on and specialises in developing solutions for all of those specific needs that exist in commercial agriculture generally, in order not to waste valuable time on issues that will not add value in the agri-businesses cycle.

Bruboer also realises that commercial agriculture is a multi-disciplinary undertaking that must be implemented in such a way that cognisance is taken of the four main pillars of the overall commercial agricultural business - namely Production, Processing, Marketing and Logistics – which should ideally always be integrated within any related group of agri-companies in order to maximise efficiency and profits and to make sure that profits are shared in a fair way between strategic partners, including the local communities.

The Bruboer Group of companies was established during the year 2000 in order to address as far as possible all the integrated needs of commercial agriculture in such a way that all Bruboer’s related agri-businesses can become profit centres, and it continues to form strategic partnerships to drive this purpose.

Mozambique
The primary leg of the Bruboer Group was already established in 1994 when it was involved in the establishment of 15 South African farmers in the Niassa Province of Mozambique. This was done in co-operation with the Mozambique national and provincial governments by a company called SACADA DC (formed by the founder of the Bruboer Group – Senator Dries Bruwer) that worked in close co-operation with the South African and Mozambique authorities. This pilot project delivered excellent information on what to do and what not to do. Five of the 15 original farmers are still in Mozambique and are well settled and successful. The pilot project was closed in the end of 1999.

Bruboer Group in Operation
Bruboer was subsequently approached during 1999 and 2000 by several traditional leaders in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, forming the ‘Agricultural Rural Development Co-operation of Limpopo’. Subsequent requests for assistance and involvement were also received from 21 African countries, such as Cameroon, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania as well as the High Commissioner of Nigeria, Dr. Tunji Olagunju to assist in their areas and their countries.

Nigeria
From the year 2000 Bruboer was also involved in the planning of agri-businesses in several States in Nigeria, ultimately leading to the formation of an agricultural, management and consulting company called “OBABRU” with President Obasanjo of Nigeria, on 14 June 2004. Obabru commenced the very next day with the establishment of the Iseyin Beef Project in Oyo State at Iseyin, a farm owned by the Honorable President. Obabru is currently also involved in various other projects in Nigeria in the Ogun, Oyo, Bauchi and Benue States and has received requests from several State Governors as well as several private sector individuals to assist in commercial agricultural developments on their properties.

The Bruboer Group can assist in all fields of agricultural development, production and management - with or without the involvement of Obabru (in which they have 30% shares) - due to their access to expertise in all disciplines of agriculture in South Africa and internationally. There is certainly no commodity in the agricultural basket in Nigeria for example, where Bruboer can not be of assistance. This includes production, processing, marketing and logistics.
25 August 2005 the Bruboer Group was awarded a distinguished Nigerian Partnership Award by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Angola
The Bruboer Group is currently involved in the strategic planning and implementation of commercial agriculture and food security for Angola with an Angolan group called UNIPREV. The first focus is on the much challenged South of Angola resulting from the long war.

New Business
Bruboer Business Development was established in 2004 as a company within the Bruboer Group to assist new businesses with their mobilization, by facilitating it through the African European Business Forum.

South Africa & Land Reform
Bruboer manages Limburg a land reform project the Limpopo Province, together with a number of other agri-businesses in the same province, managing inter alia three different private projects producing citrus, mangoes, Litchis and seed maize.

Through experience the Bruboer Group found that agriculture is an integrated development vehicle. To cater for the needs of the workforce on a commercial agricultural unit and surrounding affected communities it must be ensured that efficient and essential services are delivered by means of agri-eco-villages, or alternatively that existing rural communities be re-organised. This must also ideally be convenient to the land being developed to create a favorable environment for the provision of essential social services at the most efficient cost. The Bruboer Group provides the experts and strategic partners who work with these effected communities, from planning and building of the actual village to skills training, education and management programs in which the production of food security is addressed. Nutritional produce is generated by a ‘small farming program’ to assist with health care like rebuilding of people’s immune systems. A protein program with milk, fish and poultry is also addressed.

All this is done through management and training programs. For example; in the Agri-Eco-Village the administration office for co-ordinating community functions, also acts as a ICT-Center for administration, management and communication purposes. As a result of the implementing of the abovementioned initiatives, rural communities and traditional leadership have approached the Bruboer Group to assists with food security plans and to assist emergent, small and subsistence farmers with the management of their production, processing, marketing and logistics.

Trough the above, a new initiative of integrated farming between commercial entities and small farmers, either as back yard farmers or small operational farmers evolved where Bruboer Group assists with organic food security plans that can generate income. Organic practices, once implemented is the most practical and affordable solution on this level of operations.