Kakamas

Province

Kakamas is a village in South Africa's Northern Cape Province. Kakamas belongs to the municipality Kai! Garib in the district ZF Mgcawu. In 2011, the town had 9,538 inhabitants. In the language of Khoikhoi Kakamas means " barren pasture land."

History

Kakamas was founded in 1897 by missionaries of the Dutch Reformed Church on the banks of the Orange River. In the region of Kakamas should farmers who had lost their livelihoods due to drought in other regions of South Africa, will be offered the opportunity for a fresh start. The recruited farmers built a large-scale system for irrigation of agricultural land. In return, each participant was given a piece of land.

The hot, dry climate, the region around Kakamas is now suitable due to the existing irrigation economy ideal for growing soft fruits. It also outdated irrigation channels are used. The region has until today traces in the agricultural sector in South Africa behind in terms of the soft fruit cultivation: A single peach tree from Kakamas is now the father of three-quarters of all South African peach trees. Today, in the region of the cultivation of cotton plays a far more important role.

The region of Kakamas is known for rich deposits of precious stones.