Agrimark Porterville
A BUSY HUB IN A SUCCESSFUL PRODUCTION REGION
At Agrimark Porterville, in the heart of this Swartland-town, business is not only focused on agriculture and retail, but most importantly, on people.
Like many other Boland towns, Porterville was also named after an important British citizen who began exploring and cultivating the Cape farmlands in the 1800s. William Porter, after whom the town was named, was the Attorney General of the Cape Colony, at the time.
At Agrimark Porterville, the service and products one receives are of high quality, sincere and in service of the community. The approximately 28 staff members at the store are ready to assist customers, no matter how difficult the request may be. "And if it so happens that we don’t have something, we jump into one of our trucks and fetch it from another branch or our suppliers. Nothing is too much trouble," says Hendro de Witt, branch manager of Agrimark Porterville.
“At Agrimark Porterville, the service and products one receives of high quality, sincere, and in service of the community.”
Certainly, this seasoned team is ready to serve producers and townsfolk alike. This is also evident from the long service years of a large portion of the staff: Hendro has been with the company for 10 years, Rudolph Briers has 20 years of service and is second in command of the store, Marius Fransman, a trade clerk, celebrated his 20th year at Agrimark this year, and Caroline Zinke has been with the company for 26 years – proof of the loyalty of the staff, but also their dedication to the service they provide.
The spacious store is located roughly in the middle of the town and a beacon of business. The shelves are neatly packed, and ample space makes it easy for customers to find and view products. On the upper level, there is a Safari Zone with items such as camping and fishing gear, as well as the all-important braai equipment. "It’s important to understand the needs of the farming businesses and the town's residents to ensure we supply the products they require. Of course, it is mainly a grain-producing area, but there are also numerous livestock, citrus, wine, table grape, and berry farms, as well as a dairy, each with its own unique needs. It is a close-knit community and a humble town."
Producers in the region have faced difficult times over the past few years, and last year strong winds just before harvest time caused significant problems and resulted in the wheat yield being lower than initially expected. The wet weather also had a big impact on production. This year is no different, but producers are satisfied with the condition of the grain, although they are struggling in some areas to get into the fields to complete the spraying programmes.
“We focus on the needs of the producers and the townspeople. We are a one-stop destination and offer a wide range of products – from water boots for workers to building materials for contractors. We take into account the needs of producers in the different industries. For example, livestock feed is offered in bulk and can be delivered directly to farms, as can building materials and fuel. We have two fuel points in the town – one at the Agrimark store and the other elsewhere in town and three of our vehicles are used for deliveries.”
“Supplier representatives are regularly in the store to provide product training, and their support in this regard is invaluable.”
In the Agrimark store itself, the paint department is one of the major focus areas. There are two paint-mixing stations, both quite busy, one for Plascon and the other for Dulux. Another popular section is irrigation and gardening equipment for household use. The livestock medicine section offers a wide range of products, and livestock farmers rely on the expertise of the staff to assist them. Supplier representatives are regularly in the store to provide product training, and their support in this regard is invaluable. The clothing department offers a wide variety of protective gear, while pet products such as dog beds, various types of food for dogs, cats, and even fish, as well as leashes and medicines, are very popular. Monthly promotions, in collaboration with suppliers, offer customers great value and excellent bargains. Another very popular service is the hardware "pick-and-mix" section, where customers can select screws, nails, and similar items according to their specific needs.
MECHANISATION, GRAIN SERVICES, AND PACKAGING MATERIALS
Other Agrimark services are available near the store. Leon Tarr manages the Agrimark Mechanisation branch, where repairs are done, and parts can be ordered. "We mainly service and repair New Holland products, but we also assist with other brands. We work on 18kW Fieldtrac tractors, some of the smallest on the market, to the gigantic New Holland harvesters and tractors, and we stock parts for all the models, which we purchase directly from New Holland's depots in Centurion or Isando.
Maintenance is an important part of our service, and we have three fully equipped vehicles that enable our mechanics and technicians to perform repairs on producers' farms. We also offer training upon request, and there are contractors who assist us with specialised services such as auto-electric work," he explains.
In a nearby building, the Porterville branch of Agrimark Grain is managed by Charles Williams, who oversees the silos, seed distribution, and propagation activities. They process between 30,000 and 35,000 tons per year, depending on the harvests. There is also an Agrimark Packaging warehouse located about 10 km outside of Porterville, which meets the specific packaging material needs of producers in the area.
Agrimark Porterville also houses the headquarters of KAL Academy, which trains new-generation farmers, with Lerina Nel as the coordinator. Students can enrol in Animal Production or Plant Production courses. These courses are National Certificate programmes, and the course material focuses on commercial farm management, sustainable farming practices, as well as livestock and crop cultivation. Training is a combination of online classes and practical experience in Porterville.
In Porterville, Agrimark is truly an integral part of the community and much more than just an agricultural and retail business.
As one of the founding members of Porterville Community Association’s Wheat Cultivation Project, which utilises community land for wheat cultivation, they contribute to four local community organisations. This year, for example, Porterville Primary and Porterville High School each received R60,000 from the project.
Agrimark is a hub of support, and with its extensive services and products, it plays an indispensable role in the sustainable growth and development of the region.