Representatives from Free State Agriculture (FSA) and Eskom Central East cluster recently met to address service delivery, load shedding, and smart metering concerns. A key outcome was exemptions granted, particularly to critical irrigation lines, to mitigate power outage effects on food production.
Kempen Nel, an irrigation farmer and member of the commercial committee of Free State Agriculture, emphasised the importance of ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply for irrigation purposes, especially during critical stages such as heatwave conditions.
Safeguarding food security
“As farmers we are subject to the laws of nature and the irrigation needs of crops do not follow the load-shedding schedules. Agriculture is therefore heavily reliant on electricity supply during critical phases of the crop season, specifically for irrigation purposes.”
The ad-hoc Eskom load shedding committee of the Central East cluster, which oversees the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal regions, has granted exemptions to specific irrigation lines to compensate for downtime during emergency repairs. These exemptions are contingent upon the ability to reduce energy consumption in targeted networks.
“Clarens in the Eastern Free State has been load shedding-free for six months now since trialing this technology with smart meters. This test case provides a positive solution to the irrigation challenges and can now be implemented elsewhere.
“This exemption should not be seen a special treatment since the exempted areas or lines remain subject to overall electricity usage limits. What is different though is that communities are now able to indirectly ‘manage’ their own consumption based on their economic production needs,” he said.
Limiting the risk of crime
According to Nel, these initiatives also contribute to combating infrastructure theft and vandalism. With power systems operational, including security systems, the risk of tampering is significantly reduced. Success in implementing load reduction projects hinges on community collaboration and leadership at the local level.
“The success of these projects lies in a champion taking the lead and getting people to work together at the local level. Community organisation leaders (including farmers associations) interested in implementing load reduction can contact Eugene Myburgh, customer relations manager at Eskom.
“Overall, the collaboration between agricultural stakeholders and Eskom signifies a proactive approach to address challenges related to energy supply and food production, underscoring the importance of innovative solutions and community engagement in ensuring sustainable agricultural practices,” he said.
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