The
objective of the CIP is to increase the profitability of the Southern
African Citrus Industry, by ensuring that growers are supplied with
nursery trees of the highest possible quality made from the best genetic
citrus material and being free from any harmful pathogens.
The CIP was established in 1973 as a joint project between the S A Co-operative
Citrus Exchange and the Citrus and Subtropical Fruit Research Institute
(CSFRI). During the interim phase certified budwood was obtained from
trees of various cultivars that were selected in commercial orchards.
In 1977, shoot-tip grafting was introduced at the CSFRI in order to
provide a virus-free source of budwood material. The Outspan Foundation
Block was established in 1980, releasing the first virus-free certified
budwood in 1984 and the first certified seed in 1986. From April 2002,
Citrus Research International became responsible for the CIP and the
Citrus Foundation Block.
New cultivars are obtained from the discovery of mutations in orchards,
the breeding programme at the CSFRI (now called the Institute for Tropical
and Subtropical Crops [ITSC]), and the importation of promising cultivars
from other countries. Since the deregulation of the citrus industry
in 1997 private cultivar agents have also become involved in this process.
The ITSC and the CRI facility in Nelspruit are responsible for shoot-tip
grafting and pre-immunisation of material with a mild strain of Citrus
Tristeza Virus. The Citrus Foundation Block is responsible for increase
and release of propagation material to the citrus industry. The CRI
Division of Cultivar Development is responsible for the introduction
and commercialisation of new citrus cultivars to meet the changing requirements
of the markets, and optimise accessibility of cultivars to Southern
African producers. All promising cultivars are planted in suitable trial
sites and evaluated by the Cultivar Evaluators. The CIP Advisory Committee
is responsible for the co-ordination of these processes.
Nurseries producing certified trees must be accredited in accordance
with a quality management system and are audited twice a year for this
purpose. A certified tree must be made from certified propagation material,
tested for pathogens 4 times per annum, and found to be free of harmful
pathogens before delivery.
As a result of a sharp decline in demand for trees, the number of nurseries
participating in the CIP has decreased from 46 in 1999 to 23 in 2005,
of which 19 are fully accredited. An application has been submitted
to the Department of Agriculture to make the CIP a statutory scheme,
which, if approved, will make the sale of uncertified trees unlawful.
Tree certification is a pre-requisite for EuroGAP accreditation.
The Citrus Foundation Block also supplies citrus seed to nurseries around
the world. An order form can be downloaded from this page for this purpose
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Download Here>>.
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Contact
address: Thys du Toit / Louise Jackson
Citrus Improvement Programme
P O Box 2945
UITENHAGE, 6230
SOUTH AFRICA
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Tel:+27
(0) 41 9925366
Fax:+27 (0) 41 9227416
Cell: + 27 (0) 828892363
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