Commercial manager of Free State Agriculture, Jack Armour, says the reality is that potential electricity generation capacity already exists in South Africa. However, its trading and distribution are hampered by catastrophic policies of state control, BEE requirements, tenderpreneurship, and the monopoly of local authorities in Eskom, says Armour. Armour adds that this makes it difficult for farmers, who are already producing excess energy during peak sunlight hours, to pay off their systems or for new potential energy farmers to consider these investment options.

Meanwhile, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment briefed the media on the outcome of this year’s COP26. Minister Barbara Creecy said that South Africa welcomes the outcomes of the recently concluded Glascow Climate Conference (COP26), which provides parties with a firm basis for the full and effective implementation of the United Nations' Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement.  She says that COP26 sets the international community on the right track to address the existential challenge of climate change. For the first time the governing bodies of the Convention and Paris Agreement have agreed on the pertinence of supporting developing countries in financing Just Transition elements of their climate actions and to support and promote sustainable development and the eradication of poverty, the creation or decent work, and quality jobs, says Creecy.

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The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development invites all potential farmers and people to lease land, owned by the department, for a period of 30 years.  Accessible land across the North West has been opened to the public to apply for, for agricultural purposes, through a leasing process. According to the Departmental Facebook Page, areas in Mahikeng remain open for leasing. Departmental spokesperson, Reggie Ngcobo, says that there are various closing dates for various areas across South Africa but that potential applications will find the necessary information on their page. He encourages the agricultural community to make use of these opportunities.

OFM News/Lee Simmons