This week, Mzansi’s most-downloaded farmers’ podcast turns its focus to hot topics in labour and employment law. An expert, Stephan Pietersen, looks at workplace-related injuries while Limpopo farmer Dr Theo de Jager discusses the importance of good relations in agriculture.
“The issue of labour relations is one of the biggest threats to the profitability and the sustainability of farming,” says De Jager, who is also the chairperson of Saai.
He says farming is particularly vulnerable to labour-related protests, especially around harvest time. This has resulted in, among others, Saai’s new 24-hour hotline for labour queries.
“Farmers are also vulnerable in terms of the safety on their farms when it comes to labour action. This is why we found it of utter importance to give the best possible service to farmers, to advise them on how to deal with labour disputes and how to structure their labour.”
Brand-new feature
Meanwhile Pietersen, the founder of Pretoria-based Work Accident Support, joins the podcast hosts, Dawn Noemdoe and Duncan Masiwa, in a new monthly feature. This week, his focus is on the occupational injuries and diseases act.
Noemdoe describes Pietersen’s handy tips on farmers and the Compensation Fund as invaluable. Work Accident Support helps with the consultation and administration of work-related accidents and injuries across South Africa.
ALSO READ: What farmers should know about workplace injuries
Besides Pietersen and De Jager, the 30-minute podcast also has many other highlights. It can be listened to for free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or right here on Food For Mzansi.
Here’s what else you can look forward to:
- How to land an agri-internship: Landing an internship in the agricultural sector can be difficult. Journalist Nicole Ludolph chats to award-winning dairy farmer and founder of the Future Farmers Foundation Judy Stewart about the best way to go about it.
- Farmer’s tip of the week: Our farmer tip of the week comes from backyard gardener Nelly Komape. Her mission? To teach future generations about the link between food gardens and food security, all from her backyard!
- Book of the week: Our book of the week is Farming while black by Leah Penniman. The author wants to reconnect people of colour to the spirit of the land. Our Sinelizwi Citizen Journalist of the Year, Terri-Ann Brouwers, reviews this book.
- #SoilSistas: This week’s soil sister, powered by Food For Mzansi and Corteva Agriscience, is North West vegetable farmer Nomathamsanqa Dyonase. Her dream is to expand her business into cattle farming and to create employment for people from her community.
- Mzansi Flavour: Tefo Mokgoro believes that food tests both patience and ingenuity. He gives us tips on how to cook the perfect home-cooked meal.
How to listen to Farmer’s Inside Track
Spotify: Click here to listen on Spotify (all mobile and other devices).
Apple: Click here to listen on any Apple device.
Google Podcasts: Click here to listen on Google Podcasts.
Browser: Click here listen using this player. Just click “play”.
