Since the outbreak in the area, a joint operation centre has been set up, consisting of veterinarians, farmer's unions, a provincial disaster management team and the National Department of Agriculture. The team is conducting inspections and surveillance through blood sampling in order to determine the extent of the spread. Departmental spokesperson Emelda Setlhako, says they call on farmers not to panic as relevant personnel are hard at work to ensure that all precautionary measures are undertaken to prevent the further spread of the disease. She advises farmers to be on the lookout for clinical signs that may resemble the disease and to report them immediately to the nearest state veterinarian.

The announcement of a temporary reduction of the general fuel levy by the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, is most welcome as it helps to curtail the bulging input cost pressures experienced by agriculture and other sectors. Paul Makhube, senior agricultural economist at FNB Agribusiness, adds that the almost two months reprieve in the fuel price entails a R1.50c per litre reduction in the general fuel levy, which will see the petrol and diesel levies lowered from R3.85c to R2.35c and R3.70c to R2.20c per litre, respectively for the period 6 April to 31 May 2022. He says these relief measures follow on earlier budgetary accommodation of no increases in the general fuel levy on petrol and diesel as well as the Road Accident Fund levy for the 2022/23 fiscal in the 2022 Budget presentation.

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AND...Crop production estimates for groundnuts increased from February, up 7%, to 74 250 tonnes. According to Wandile Sihlobo, the chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber, dry beans production estimates remains unchanged from the previous month, at 59 690 tonnes. Sihlobo further explains that as with the previous few years, the domestic grains and oilseeds prices primarily follow the global markets, where the Russia-Ukraine war concerns continue to present upside pressures on prices, which reflect in the South African grains market. He says the fact that supplies improved, provides comfort as far as the availability of essential grains is concerned.

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