The chamber said there are reports that up to 25% of South Africa's staple food harvest, maize, is wilting in the fields due to power disruptions in the northern parts of the country.
“Among the interventions requested by farmers are a power generation subsidy for those forced to introduce alternative power due to Eskom's failure and an alternative load-shedding schedule that offers more protection for primary sectors, such as less load-shedding at times when irrigation is most needed,” the chamber said.