Agriculture
Agri podcast: Remove tariffs on chicken - industry bodies─── 13:51 Thu, 05 May 2022

If Government can postpone a health levy and cut fuel costs to provide financial relief to the cash-strapped consumer, they should consider applying the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters' suggestion for tariff removals.
This is according to Paul Matthew, CEO of the Association. Meanwhile Rosheda Muller, National President of the South African Informal Traders Alliance, says the cost of living seems to be rising to unsustainable levels. Every day costs are going up - petrol, electricity, transport, and most importantly, food. Muller adds chicken is perhaps the most important part of our diet, and often the only meat that communities can afford. For this reason, she says Government would do well to consider removing both VAT, and all other taxes that come in the form of tariffs, to help its people survive.
Foot and mouth disease (FMD) in South Africa has been an ongoing topic of discussion in the red meat industry, especially since positive cases have now been detected in five provinces, which includes the Free State and North West. During a panel discussion where AgriVoice and the North-West University Business School took hands as hosts at this year’s Bloem Show, the FMD management policy came under the loop. One of the panellists, Professor Joseph Lekunze, says trace-ability in the red meat industry remains an issue.
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The Department of Water and Sanitation’s weekly state of reservoirs report is reflecting a water storage of 105.2% in the Free State, a minor dip from last week’s 105.9%. This is a manifestation of the fact that the rain has subsided and inlands are seemingly beginning to experience dry weather patterns. Bloemfontein Water Supply System, which supplies the capital of the Free State and other surrounding areas has witnessed a marginal downturn from 102.4% last week to 100.6%. Rustfontein Dam and Groothoek Dam, feeding Bloemfontein, is sitting at 101.0% and 98.9% respectively. Welbedacht Dam has recorded 100.0% and Knellpoort Dam has decreased slightly, sitting at 100.5% from last week’s 101.5% water capacity. Sterkfontein Dam stands at 102% at the moment hence water is being released in order to bring it down to 101%. It is important to note that the release of this water will take place over a period of about 28 days.
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