FF Plus demands urgent intervention in load shedding crisis paralysing agricultural sector

27 January 2023

The FF Plus sent an official letter to the Minister of Agriculture, Ms Thoko Didiza, requesting an urgent intervention in the load shedding crisis, which has resulted in great losses for the farming community over the last three weeks.

The FF Plus has received many complaints, voice notes and videos from farmers who are predominantly dependent on electricity on their farms.

Electricity is used for, among other things, rearing broiler chickens, irrigating thousands of hectares of crops using centre-pivot irrigation and climate-controlled greenhouse production.

But at the moment, broiler chickens are dying due to the heat, irrigation crops are scorched by the sun and fruits are rotting in warehouses because the chill rooms are not working.

In its letter to the Minister, the FF Plus requested that her department must urgently engage with the relevant role players to exempt farms using large-scale irrigation from load shedding.

Food security is jeopardised by the load shedding crisis. South Africa simply cannot afford another crisis.

The reality is that extensive damage has already been caused, food shortages are inevitable and sky-high food prices will probably continue to skyrocket.

The FF Plus demands that the Department of Agriculture must fulfil its mandate and put the interests of South Africa's farmers first.

South Africans and the agricultural producers who ensure food security deserve better than the ANC.

Issued by Tammy Breedt, FF Plus MP and chief spokesperson: Agriculture, 30 January 2023