KZN farmers dump milk as violence disrupts supply chains

Dairy farmers in KwaZulu-Natal have had to pour hundreds of thousands of litres of milk down the drain since protest action, looting and vandalism started across the province in the second weekend of July.

KZN farmers dump milk as violence disrupts supply chains
The South African Milk Producers’ Organisation has expressed concern that retail milk stocks may decline drastically because of the logistical problems caused by looting and protesting in parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
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Dairy farmers in KwaZulu-Natal have had to pour hundreds of thousands of litres of milk down the drain since protest action, looting and vandalism started across the province in the second weekend of July.

According to Colin Wellbeloved, a milk producer in the Boston area of KwaZulu-Natal and chairperson of the South African Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO), he and his neighbours have had to destroy 60 000l of milk over the past two days, because they were unable to distribute it.

“I am also concerned that retail milk stocks are going to decline alarmingly because of the logistical problems caused by the protesters. [Another concern is] that we find it increasingly difficult to get products such as animal feed delivered to the farms because of road closures and attacks by looters.”

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Well-beloved added that he was extremely worried that a number of milk farmers would be force to exit the milk production industry because of the protest and ensuing vandalism.

According to him, profit margins in the dairy production sector were very tight already, and some producers would find it extremely difficult to financially survive this setback.

Widespread rioting and looting first broke out over parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng following the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma for contempt of court on 7 July.

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Annelie Coleman represents Farmer’s Weekly in the Free State, North West and Northern Cape. Agriculture is in her blood. She grew up on a maize farm in the Wesselsbron district where her brother is still continuing with the family business. Annelie is passionate about the area she works in and calls it ‘God’s own country’. She’s particularly interested in beef cattle farming, especially with the indigenous African breeds. She’s an avid reader and owns a comprehensive collection of Africana covering hunting in colonial Africa, missionary history of same period, as well as Rhodesian literature.