The Department of Water and Sanitation recently published this draft legislation in which it states that certain enterprises would need up to 75% black shareholding to apply for water licenses.

LEES OOK: Uitspraak oor watergebruikregte in landboukringe verwelkom

The legal and policy executive at Agri SA Janse Rabie added that the proposed regulations would have a devastating impact on South Africa’s commercial agriculture sector, and in effect, food security and job creation, if adopted in its current form.

Rabie said the organisation fully appreciates the importance of achieving an inclusive and representative agriculture sector in the country, but that these regulations were unlikely to achieve further transformation.

Another story takes a look at most fruit producers wanting to forget about the past season and get on with the coming season.

Jacques Jordaan, CEO of the Canning Fruit Producers Association, said a short growing season caused by a dry winter and a wet summer and the impact of load-shedding on irrigation, had resulted in smaller fruit than usual.

Ryan added that load-shedding and high input costs had also affected farm and processing margins negatively.

LEES OOK: Kontantgewas-boere moet op die uitkyk wees vir palmer amarant

Lastly, the palmer amaranth weed’s resistance to herbicides is eroding profitability in the grain industry. Once established, it proliferates quickly and can cause total crop failure in maize, sunflower and soybeans, among other crops.

Therefore, farmers are urged to take the control of the weed seriously and to implement a long-term strategy.

OFM News