Photo for illustration. (Photo: iStock).
Agri Western Cape has expressed its serious concern about continued challenges with diesel supply at retail depots in rural agricultural areas in particular.
The organization warns that these shortages pose a direct risk to food security and the sustainability of farming practices in the province.
Although the Fuel Association of South Africa (Fiasa) confirmed in recent discussions with AgriSA and Agbiz that the national fuel stock is stable, the stock does not seem to reach the local distribution points.
According to AgriSA, there are already depots that have reported that their stocks have dried up, which means that producers in critical production areas are currently without diesel.
The issue has since been brought to the attention of Alan Winde, the Western Cape premier, by the organisation, as well as the Western Cape disaster management.
Agri Western Cape welcomes the fact that pressure is now being applied at the highest provincial level to urgently remove the logistical bottlenecks, said Jannie Strydom, chief executive officer of Agri Western Cape.
He described the situation on Monday as unbearable.
“Diesel is an important input for agriculture – from planting and harvesting to transport and logistics. Any interruption in supply poses direct risks to production,” says Strydom.
The agricultural sector has made an urgent appeal to all players in the fuel industry to ensure full transparency. The focus now falls on the distribution network to determine why the available national stock does not reach the retail level.
Agri Western Cape has undertaken to monitor the situation closely and remain in close cooperation with authorities and industry partners until the supply is stabilized again.
Fiasa also warned consumers last week against panic buying so as not to negatively affect the country’s fuel stability.
According to Fiasa, South Africans fear severe fuel shortages as conflict continues in the Middle East.
Avhapfani Tshifularo, Fiasa’s executive director, warned that matters must be tackled collectively.