Fuel price increase 'another blow' for under-pressure farmers
The Family Farmers Network (SAAI) believes the latest fuel price hike will make life difficult for farmers, who are already under financial pressure due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown.
Fuel prices will on Wednesday increase for the first time in three months.
The price of petrol is set to go up by R1. 18 cents and diesel by between 21 and 22 cents a litre.
SAA's Dr. Theo de Jager says the lockdown has had a massive impact on farmers' cash flow.
"Although farmers were allowed to continue their operations during the lockdown, it was not business as usual as many of their markets have collapsed especially value chains like restaurants, street sellers, schools feeding schemes and canteens at the workplaces and many farmers now have financial difficulties and are struggling to pay production loans."
He adds that the hike in the price of diesel is quite a blow.
Meanwhile, African Farmers Association of South Africa (AFASA) president Tshianelo Mathidi says any increase in the price of fuel is bad news for the farming sector.
"Any increase in fuel is the cost in the farming community, especially now that there is a winter crop and harvesting, it is a cost that we would like to save."