The chairperson of the association, Andrew Russell, says high input costs are already weighing the agricultural sector down and that the added burden of the health promotion levy on the sugar industry, poses an existential threat to South Africa's 21 000 small-scale growers. Russell's expectations come ahead of the medium-term budget speech in Cape Town. Russell made some suggestions on alternatives for the health promotion levy.

Meanwhile, Free State Agriculture says it expects the Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, to address the issue of road infrastructure and the massive arrears in local government's debt to Eskom and water utilities during the medium-term budget. The organisation says those in charge should be held accountable, and if necessary, should be replaced with competent officials who serve the citizenry and are not themselves or their political masters.

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The national Department of Agriculture has launched a Blended Finance Scheme of more than R3 billion with the Land Bank, with the aim of assisting farmers. The department's spokesperson, Reggie Ngcobo, explains the programme will be implemented over a 10-year period, with the department investing a minimum of R3.2 billion in this time.





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