As it comes to an end, 2023 has been the worst year on record for South Africans enduring power cuts. The fruit industry – which is heavily reliant on consistent energy for both irrigation and packhouse and cold chain integrity – has had to become more independent and invest considerable resources into ensuring the sustainability of its operations.
Culdevco’s GM, Mishkaat Anderson: "We are seeing a massive impact on the country’s fruit industry, starting from the nursery level and extending to all parts of the supply chain. Load shedding causes frequent disruptions in irrigation and refrigeration systems which impacts fruit quality and size, agroprocessing , as well as farmer and worker livelihoods. It affects both domestic production and our export competitiveness."
"Across the industry, we are seeing that farmers have to take matters into their own hands and divert considerable resources if they can ensure the survival of their operations," says Anderson. "In terms of exports and South African harbours, the fruit industry is very involved in ensuring that the harbours are exempt from load shedding, especially during peak season times. It’s tough on the agriculture sector right now and it is compounded by the challenges of previous seasons which saw increasing fertiliser and diesel costs. However, I also see that South African farmers and producers are robust and have a resilient attitude. We just need to collaborate more and ensure that we provide mitigating actions that support the longevity of the industry.”
Source: bizcommunity.com