The department states it is alleged that Hendrik Pistorius was found murdered at his farm on Wednesday morning. The minister condemns this crime with the strongest contempt it deserves, and adds that the killing of farmers and farm workers has a negative impact on the agricultural sector. Didiza called for the police to do whatever it takes to apprehend the perpetrators as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the minister recently attended the funeral of seven people who were murdered on the farm Lismore outside Kestell in the Free State. Two murder suspects are expected to reappear in the Kestell Magistrate's Court next month.

Free State Agriculture ended its annual congress on a high note with Professor Johan Willemse, an agricultural economist, who shared critical information pertaining to the agriculture sector in South Africa. Some of the issues he highlighted were high input costs, which included high fertiliser and fuel prices, as well as the current and prospective commodity prices. Farmers present at the congress also shared their concerns and frustrations with Eskom and the effect that load-shedding has on their daily farming operations. Farmers are looking to move off the grid in an attempt to not solely be dependent on Eskom.

About 500 female farmers in the Free State are part of a Women's Day dialogue in Thaba Nchu, where Deputy President, David Mabuza, is accompanied by the provinces' Premier, Sisi Ntombela, and the MEC of Agriculture and Rural Development, Thembeni Nxangisa. The Premier's Office says the programme serves as the official launch of Women’s Month activities by the Free State. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has prioritised female-driven projects for the 2022/23 financial year. Thirty-one of these projects are receiving support amounting to more than R20 million.

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A series of virtual public consultations on the draft Game Meat Strategy for South Africa is underway and is hosted by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment between 3 and 12 August this year. OFM News' Elsabé Richard-May reports that the department explains that the strategy and implementation plan are aimed at creating a formalised, thriving, and transformed game meat industry in South Africa, that contributes to food security and sustainable socio-economic growth.

OFM News