24 January 2023, 7:00 PM |Free State farmers say they are concerned about the high electricity tariff hike set to take effect in April. The farmers say they’re already paying exorbitant amounts for electricity. They say that they have also invested heavily in alternative energy sources to deal with the continuous load shedding.Anxiety around the impending electricity tariff hike is impacting Free State farmers.
Mokhothu has begun changing her working routine to accommodate the fluctuating load shedding schedules. She’s not hopeful for the future. Free State Agriculture says the critical effect of load shedding is mostly felt by irrigation farmers. The organisation’s Commercial Manager, Dr Jack Armour, reveals the affected farmers don’t get enough power in a day to provide crops with sufficient water.