See PODCAST below

Erasmus says the news section of the 08 October issue of Farmer’s Weekly takes a look at a warning that has been issued to farmers, warning them to be on the lookout for brown locusts. 

There have been fears that this season could see some of the worst infestations of brown locusts in South Africa on record. Erasmus says this follows after outbreaks of brown locusts were reported in the Concordia and Springbok areas in the Northern Cape, as well as Graaff-Reinet and Aberdeen areas in the Eastern Cape.

Andrea Campher, Manager of the Risk and Disaster Unit at Agri SA, adds that good rainfall forecasted for the upcoming season, and the fact that locusts have laid their eggs near irrigation areas in the Eastern Cape earlier this year, could result in large scale infestations.

Furthermore, another article takes a look at feedback about the Covid-19 relief funds that were made available for emerging and new farmers last year. Erasmus says that in some cases, these relief funds are still being delayed, resulting in some farmers not receiving the much-needed funds. She adds that questions have been raised about this R100 million relief fund which was supposed to be dispersed by the Land Bank.

According to Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, the allocation of these funds was supposed to be paid out during the 2020/21 financial year. Erasmus says that in Didiza’s recent budget speech, she assured members of Parliament and farmers that the matter was being resolved.

In addition to this, another article sheds some light on fuel theft from the Transnet pipeline. Erasmus says that this crime is a huge problem in South Africa. Christo van der Rheede, Executive Director of Agri SA, says that there are indications that the theft was being coordinated and committed by syndicates from outside of South Africa. 

Erasmus adds that at the moment, millions of litres of fuel is being stolen, which has an impact on fuel deliveries in the country.  

OFM News