Dairy industry operations and overall agricultural economic growth are significantly stifled by the shocking conditions of rural roads across the country says leading dairy industry logistics role-player, Tip-Top Milk.
This statement comes in the wake of concerns raised by Agri SA, the KZN Agricultural Union, Kwanalu, and other provincial agricultural unions regarding the poor state of roads across the country and the severe implications this has on food and job security and overall economic progress.
“During a four-month period, from November 2021 to February 2022, Tip-Top Milk spent R176 000 in fleet repair costs due to poor road conditions in KZN alone. In addition to fuel price increases, it is the South African public who rely on this food supply, that are directly affected,” says David de Jager, CEO of Tip-Top Milk.
He continues, “Unfortunately, the current road conditions have forced us to make some difficult decisions on where we can collect milk from and deliver milk to, which comes at a great cost to the entire dairy value-chain and is affecting farmers and those we supply.”
Experiencing the deteriorating conditions of rural and agricultural roads first-hand daily, Tip-Top Milk drivers report serious damage as they traverse KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, North West, Mpumalanga and Free State collecting, delivering and supplying milk.
“Our drivers contend with dangerous potholes, uneven road surfaces, washed away roads, chronic corrugation, and sometimes impassable roads. Their safety is of the utmost priority, and we do everything we can to ensure that they are taken care of in terms of rest, food, safety, health and training, but the repair and maintenance of road infrastructure is beyond our control,” said de Jager.
Tip-Top Milk provides the Southern African dairy industry with milk logistic services and marketing of producers’ milk, while ensuring that the processes of collecting, sampling, testing, and delivering of this milk is timeous, safe and cost-effective for all.
The cost of fleet repair as a direct result of poor road conditions is costing all logistics companies greatly, which in turn has an impact on the price of fresh produce for consumers.
“Urgent action from government, municipalities, stakeholders and leadership in attending to these concerns is needed. If road infrastructure in rural and agricultural areas is not attended to timeously, this will have a devastating impact on the dairy industry and food security, as well as on the economy,” said de Jager.
