Farmers and transporters of agricultural goods will have to think differently about when and how they transport their goods this festive season. High volumes of traffic are expected on South Africa’s key national roads as holidaymakers make their way to their destinations.
With the festive season in full swing some farmers and food processors across the country are under immense pressure to ensure they deliver goods to stores and retail markets on time.
According to Road Freight Association chief executive Gavin Kelly, farmers should factor in increased traffic on major routes, especially to holiday destinations.
“There will be increased traffic on the major routes to holiday destinations. There are road works on the southern corridor through to the most popular destinations which will bring many frustrations and delays,” he told Food For Mzansi.
He emphasised that heavy traffic on the major routes leading to delays, should be expected as exports and imports continue.
“Traditionally, road freight operators try to ensure that their peak loads for the festive period are all delivered before the traditional holiday season, and that there will be less freight or delivery vehicles on the roads.
“This is more in terms of long haul, but this is always subject to market demands and retail,” he explained.
Delays on input deliveries
Happy Letsitsa, a maize and sunflower farmer in Welkom in the Free State, said he is not expecting traffic volumes to be high this year following the hard Covid-19 period, which some South Africans are still recovering from.
“December is a holiday month, but I think this year people will not be travelling as usual because we are mostly still recovering from Covid-19 pandemic shock, and financially it has not been an easy year,” he said.
Kelly shared the same sentiments citing the loss of jobs that the country had faced in the previous years.
“There will probably be less traffic due to the financial situation many South African finds themselves in, but then there will still be enough traffic on the major routes,” he said.
With the Christmas weekend behind us, Letsitsa does expect deliveries to go slow from hereon. Especially fertiliser deliveries coming from coastal areas, he pointed out.
“[For] top dressing fertilisers we are expecting deliveries, however we know that they can take a bit of time because of the heavy rains that we have experienced, and the expected traffic and poor roads leading to far-flung farming communities. So, it is something that is usual at this time of the year,” he said.
Travel earlier or less
Meanwhile, sunflower farmer from North West Minky Kgopa said she usually tries to order in advance so that her deliveries do not get caught up in traffic.
“I think the weather conditions is also affecting the traffic. In some places it is still raining or [recent rainfalls] are delaying collections or deliveries.”
Kgopa has already been affected by the increased traffic.
“Because I do not have a lot of storage on the farm for diesel, I can only buy a limited quantity. Now with traffic and weather I have had a delay and stressed because the work on the field was at risk.
“But I have very lovely neighbours who fortunately had enough and shared with me,” she said.
To avoid the holiday rush, Kgopa said she intended to travel earlier than usual and would not travel the day before any major public holidays.
“I am [also] doing less trips. It is way too busy everywhere, so I keep my trips to a minimum.”
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