With the summer grains harvest in full swing, farmers and agriculture companies are spending millions to ensure the roads to the grain silos are passable.
Infrastructure collapse is a major problem for commercial agriculture in large parts of the country, and in the major grain-producing areas in the Free State and North West, agriculture companies have contracted or invested in road graders and other earthmoving machinery to ensure farmers can safely transport their crops to silos of the companies that buy their grains.
NWK, based in Lichtenburg in North West, plans to grade about 2 000 km to and from its various silo complexes using six graders. The project commenced on 22 April and costs an estimated R2 million. This is the third year that NWK is undertaking this work, following a memorandum of understanding with the provincial authorities.
“Initially only four graders were contracted to grade the roads. However, the project kicked off later than expected due to the roads being very dry as a result of significantly less rainfall in NWK’s operating area. The graders have consequently been increased to six to accelerate the pace and progress is now being made swiftly.”
Grading is being done in the regions of Coligny, Gerdau, Bodenstein, Boschpoort, Ottosdal, Sannieshof and Barberspan.
“The project is challenging because the roads basically have to be rebuilt in many places. This necessitates additional expenses,” said Jaco du Rand, senior manager of NWK Grain.
“We are therefore very grateful for producers who are also lending a helping hand with the repair process. It enables us to progress faster and grade even more kilometres.”
The work also eases transport for farm workers and learners. NWK expects the project to be completed at the end of June.
Senwes, based in Klerksdorp and with a wide footprint in the Free State, acquired its own machinery to grade roads leading to its silos.
In the Eastern Cape, producer organisation Agri Eastern Cape has been involved in lengthy legal action with the provincial government to establish a protocol by which farmers can obtain permission and compensation for repairing roads. Free State-organised agriculture was also obtaining legal advice on how to obtain compensation for farmers who are forced to repair roads.
