By Free State farmers, as price-takers in the value chain, are unable to absorb the escalating input costs caused by consistent above-inflation tariff increases.
The status of the Free State Province agricultural industry as the breadbasket of the country is in serious jeopardy as the sector is battered by draught, stock theft, lack of support from government and low prices for their produce.
Farmers have but little influence on the market and its value chain, as price takers, they take whatever is put before them; which can be detrimental to the survival of the industry. Free State Agriculture told The Business Weekly that things are not good in the industry.
According to Gernie Botha, the CEO of Free State Agriculture (FSA); global warming is having an adverse impact on the industry affecting production capabilities and hitting the pockets very hard of farmers.
He says 2024 began on a hopeful note with promising crop conditions until mid-January. Unfortunately, drought soon followed, leaving lasting effects across the province.
“The Eastern Free State also experienced unusual snowfall later in 2024, transforming the landscape into a picturesque winter scene. However, the beauty came with hardship—motorists were stranded, infrastructure was damaged, and roads became impassable for weeks. Farmers faced significant difficulties in tending to their livestock during this time.
Drought conditions persist across large areas of the province, with water shortages continuing to limit agricultural productivity. Rainfall has been sporadic, benefiting only select regions. Alongside water scarcity, deteriorating infrastructure—particularly the poor state of roads—remains a critical concern for farmers. FSA is actively engaging with authorities to secure long-term improvements to the province’s road network,” said Botha.
As if that is not enough, the industry is also faced a challenge of tariff increase by Eskom and minimum wage increase; to this Botha said it will have a huge impact on farmers if approved.
“Free State farmers, as price-takers in the value chain, are unable to absorb the escalating input costs caused by consistent above-inflation tariff increases. The proposed hikes (both Eskom and minimum wage) will exacerbate the economic strain on intensive agricultural operations like irrigation, dairy, and poultry farming. This, in turn, jeopardizes the region’s role as South Africa’s breadbasket, contributing significantly to the nation’s food security through staples like maize (43%), sunflower (58%), and beef production (19%),” said the CEO.
It is becoming more and more expensive to be a farmer, to top it off, the Free State has been dubbed number four in livestock theft; a scourge that sets farmers back significantly.
According to Gernie Botha, reported livestock theft cases in South Africa are 6 649 – a decrease of 4.1% (286 cases) most of which are in the Eastern Cape (1 819) followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 1 425 cases and North West with 745 cases – Free State is fourth in RSA with 726 cases, a decrease of 9.4% (75 cases).
A total of 70 544 animals were stolen in the three month period (22 958 sheep, 16 895 chickens, 14 603 boer goats, 13 769 cattle, 1612 pigs, 439 game, 164 horses, 96 donkeys, and 8 ostriches) – no figures for recovered livestock or per province. Four (4) high crime towns in the Free State are Dewetsdorp, Zastron, Phuthaditjaba (QwaQwa area) and Selosesha – representing 113 cases (15.56%) of the Free State’s reported stock theft figures. Large decreases in stock theft reporting from 11 to 15 cases can be seen in Harrismith (15 cases), Vrede (13 cases), Koppies (12 cases) and Ficksburg (11 cases).
Large increases of eight to 12 cases can be detected in the reporting of stock theft cases in Bainsvlei (12 cases), Hennenman (11 cases), Senekal and Koffiefontein with 8 cases each. The 13 border towns represent 181 cases (24.93%) of the Free State’s reported stock theft figure for the period – the Thabo Mofutsanyana district represents 274 cases (37.74%) of the Free State’s reported stock theft cases for the period – although there was a decrease in that district of 49 cases.
Last year, the province experienced a number of veldfires resulting in farmers losing a significant size of grazing land for their flock. FSA confirmed to The Business Weekly that farmers have not received any help from government to help them recover.
“No help was received from the government that we are aware of. We are however very grateful for neighbour’s and neighbouring farmers associations who assist from out of their own fodder banks. And make grazing available. This helps with the immediate need for grazing but not the long term financial loss of fixed capital infrastructure such fencing and livestock handling yards (kraale), water supply etc. that needs to be replaced prematurely. This is what can place a farmer in an unsustainable debt trap!
Free State Agriculture (FSA) ground level structures stepped in to coordinate fire aid after a series of seven devastating veldfires occurred during 26 to 29 September 2024 in the Vrede, Memel, Verkykerskop area. Free State Agriculture paid R100 000 from the Free State Agriculture Disaster Fund to the Memel Farmers’ Association and arranged 2 loads of roughage that was delivered to the Farmers’ Association who coordinated the distribution among their members where everything burned down.
Free State Agriculture Disaster fund also received a big donation by SENWES to assist affected farmers in the Free State,” said Botha.
While road infrastructure remains a challenge for farmers, at least some positives in 2024 were recorded as the Provincial Government handed over some of the roads to SANRAL for maintenance; these roads include:
R26 Rouxville to Zastron
R26 Bethlehem-Reitz-Tweeling-Frankfort-Villiers
R30 Odendaalsrus-Bothaville-NW border
R704 Trompsburg-Jagersfontein-Koffiefontein
R48-R705 Koffiefontein-Jacobsdal-NC border
R59 Hertzogville-Hoopstad-Bothaville
R64 Boshof-NC border
