Agri SA, govt to meet over looming locust outbreak
Agri SA will be meeting with Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza and Director-General Mooketsa Ramasodi next week to discuss a looming locust outbreak.
The organisation is worried that above-normal rains expected this summer could lead to another catastrophe.
The last outbreak last summer hit parts of Northern, Eastern and Western Cape and was the worst in 25 years.
It affected more than 23 million hectares of land.
READ: Govt embarks on pest control awareness drive
Andrea Campher, who is with Agri SA, says their meeting is happening on Wednesday.
"We will also address urgent matters such as issuing of locust officers contracts, securing pesticide supplies and spraying equipment, the distribution of protection equipment for officers, training of new officers and the department's capacity to finalise payment claims.
"We are hopeful that working together, we can still act to mitigate the impact of the locust outbreak on South Africa's food security."
