Expect price rises, shortages of fruit, veg
AS THE drought bites, cash-crop farmers and market vendors have warned consumers to prepare for price hikes and shortages.
With no rainy days on the horizon or government funding relief, the situation is dire, say farmers.
The supply of vegetables such as dhania (coriander), calabash, luffa (like cucumber) and brinjal have been hit hardest.
Raghu Govender, a cash crop farmer from Shallcross, said he was worried about his livelihood.
“We can’t grow fresh vegetables as we used to because we need enough water, hot and dry weather is damaging the crop. The situation is forcing me to increase prices of my products.
“We are no longer selling in large quantities as we used to, veggies like dhania, calabash and lettuce are very scarce because it is hard to grow them. I have increased prices of green beans as well, from R6/kg to R22. I have no choice.”
Govender also voiced his anger at the government “letting” the situation get out of hand and not helping farmers.
“Government is not doing anything for farmers. We always hear them talking about billions invested in the agricultural sector, but we are wondering what happened to that money. All I got was four packs of fertiliser.
“I don’t have an irrigation system, so I depend on rainfall to irrigate my crops.”
The farmer said last week’s hail storm in the city had a terrible impact. Almost everything he had planted, such as lettuce, cabbage, and herbs, was washed away.
“We are facing a tough situation and customers need to understand why we are increasing prices, at least they have monthly salaries unlike us.”
Joyce Pillay, a vendor at the Chatsworth market, said customers complained that they were no longer getting vegetables and fruit in their respective seasons.
“The drought has hit us very hard because when we buy from the market and the prices are always increasing.
“And we are not getting fruit like oranges in season, or potatoes. It means you won’t be able to cook the curries you prefer. Instead people will be forced to cook whatever they find at the market,” Pillay said.
She said increased prices were inevitable. “We have to make profit, even if it is a small amount.
Complaints
“Previously, I could buy a bag of cabbages for R120; now it costs R150. Customers have been complaining.”
The chairman of the Informal Traders’ Association, Nico Magwaza, said they were now relying on loyal customers to stay in business.
“Increased prices mean customers stop supporting us. Shen that happens, we end up with rotting stock, which is then thrown away, at a great loss to us.
“We now depend on our loyal customers, the ones who, although they also complain, still buy our goods.
“Whoever thought a box of bananas would cost R200. This is four times the normal price.
“We’re not getting our usual supply of fresh fruit and when we do get, it arrives in small quantities,” Magwaza moaned.
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development spokesman, Lelethu Manentsa, said the government was doing all it could to assist farmers with drought relief.
“There are many programmes in place to assist farmers – R114m has been set aside for livestock feed, water reticulation, support for food production and stock watering support,” he said.