Departmental spokesperson, Zandisile Luphahla, tells OFM News the infestation started in the ZF Mgcawu and Pixley ka Seme Districts, and quickly spread to parts of Namakwa. Luphahla says the outbreak is the result of changes in weather patterns and recent rainfall in the province. He says they expect more outbreaks from other districts, as the Province received good rain in the past few weeks. With the assistance of the National Department of Agriculture, a team of locust controllers was dispatched to control the spread - under strict Covid-19 regulations - in the affected areas and nearby farms, Luphahla says. They further call on all landowners to cooperate with the controlling teams by allowing them access to their premises.

Agri SA awaits the delivery of the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana’s first maiden Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) due to commence on Thursday 11 November.  Agri SA’s Agricultural economist, Kulani Siweya, tells OFM News that the statement is aimed at providing an update on the projected fiscal policy direction in the medium term (three fiscal years). He says that they are expecting the statement to be underpinned by two leading themes. The first is the rate of fiscal deterioration being abated markedly, brought on by the commodity price windfall boosting revenue, and the positive impact on the fiscal ratios of higher nominal GDP post-Stats SA’s benchmarking/rebasing exercise, says Siweya. And the second expected theme is the precarious debt outlook, though it does come at a better starting position, adds Siweya. Whilst these may be positives in the short term, there is still some caution on the long-term view, Siweya warns, particularly when considering that many structural challenges remain.

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The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development welcomes the new Director-General (DG) to the department. Speaking to the departmental spokesperson, Reggie Ngcobo, he tells OFM News that the Minister of Agriculture, Thoko Didiza, excitedly announces the appointment of Mr Mooketsa Ramasodi as the new DG of the department. Ngcobo says that the incoming DG’s experience speaks for itself as he has accumulated more than a decade worth of experience in the industry.

OFM News/Lee Simmons