COVID-19: Understanding, consideration, and cooperation in Agri value chains imperative

Agri SA calls for understanding and considerate conduct in agricultural value chains during the COVID-19 lockdown period. The agricultural sector has a massive responsibility to ensure food security during the lockdown period, but also in the trying economic times ahead.

“In our endeavours, we have to acknowledge the interdependency of the agricultural value chain segments and the reciprocal effect that each has on the other. In our journey to stay economically sustainable as a sector, we should also be cognisant of producers as price takers who are currently absorbing a significant increase in inputs costs,” says Jolanda Andrag, Agri SA Commodity Chamber Head.

Agri SA takes note of the Milk Producer Organisation’s (MPO) press release on price reductions in parts of the dairy industry.

“In the current uncertainty, when prices are reduced significantly on the supply side of the market without any notable changes on the demand side, it creates unnecessary frustration and additional economic strain on producers – it remains imperative to keep farmers in business to ensure the viability of the whole food system, ” says Omri van Zyl Agri SA Executive Director.

Agri SA, alongside its members, will continue to work towards the competitiveness of the whole agricultural value chain.

Enquiries:
Dr Chris van Dijk
MPO Executive Chief
(S) 082 789 4499

Bertus van Heerden
MPO Chief Economist
(S) 083 300 3667

Jolanda Andrag
Agri SA Commodity Chamber Head
(C) 082 457 9937

Omri van Zyl
Agri SA Executive Director
(C) 082 417 5724