AFASA: New fuel price hike ‘a disaster for farmers’
The African Farmers Association of South Africa (AFASA) has slammed the latest fuel price increases, warning it will lead to a definite rise in food prices over the short term.
The Department of Energy and Mineral Resources announced that petrol will increase by up to 81 cents a litre from Wednesday.
This will put the price of both grades of petrol above R20 per litre in Gauteng.
Diesel, the fuel used in the agriculture sector - will increase by up to 74 cents per litre.
AFASA Limpopo President Tshianelo Mathidi says farmers will have to pass the price to consumers.
“The current fuel increase is a disaster to farmers. We are harvesting, we are planting, we have to buy fertilizers and chemicals and the prices are already high. This is really a troublesome cost and what we will end up doing is we will have to pass this cost to the consumers because transport is too much for us, we can’t handle it. This is too much.”
ALSO READ
