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Agri Hour

What’s new in Farmer’s Weekly?

───   ELSABÉ RICHARD 05:00 Fri, 18 Sep 2020

What’s new in Farmer’s Weekly? | News Article

In our Friday insert, only on OFM News’ Agri Hour, Elsabé Richard speaks to the editor of Farmer’s Weekly, Denine Erasmus, about the latest news in the agricultural industry covered in the magazine and on its website….


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Erasmus says readers can expect an investigation into the Covid-19 support vouchers that were supplied by the Department of Agriculture. These funds were to help specifically smallholding and emerging farmers who were affected by the coronavirus pandemic. She says that this aid fund received much scrutiny after many of the vouchers that were issued were deemed to be worthless. This, as some of the appointed vendors would not accept these vouchers.

This week's issue also takes a look at the rooibos industry. Erasmus says rooibos prices have fallen sharply this season. She explains that when looking at the past one to two years, farmers achieved prices between R50 to R60 per kilogram, while this season prices are down to R25 per kilogram of rooibos.

Also, this edition focuses on the blueberry industry as farmers in South Africa are expecting to harvest a record crop this year. This, as the production of this crop increases gradually in the country. However, farmers are finding it difficult to export blueberries this season because of travel restrictions that were put in place by government to help fight the spread of the coronavirus.

 


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