South African agricultural associations are warning that the ongoing energy crisis could have a detrimental impact on food security. The impacts of load shedding are expected to be even worse for emerging farmers.
The agricultural value chain is under severe stress as load shedding has led to major losses. However, the African Farmers Association of South Africa says the worst is still to come.
“There are time zones, timelines that have to be observed if there is slaughtering that needs to take place in 60 days, it must take place. Otherwise, not meeting those timelines will inevitably lead to farmers having to pay more for feed. Suppliers are not getting what they are supposed to get. It’s a whole value chain that affects the economy in the end,” says the CEO of AFASA, Thandeka Mbassa.
This is expected to spill over into possible higher inflation and threaten food security.
Source: sabcnews.com