How do weather conditions affect the pricing of food?

 

             Image: Tyrren Jameson 

Mdunge Skhumbuzo

The social grant benefits have reacted to the price hike of vegetables. Most of them said they only shop by the end of the month because they rarely travel into town. The earnings for this month have already started on 05 February 2020. 

 

The Botha’s Hill farmer, Fikile Mkhize, said they are vegetables that only germinate in the summer season. 

“By this time of the season, I only harvest Beans, Corn, Pepper, Pumpkin, and Sweet Potatoes. Then, in the winter season, I plant cabbages, carrots, lettuce, and spinach. The winter vegetables cannot survive under severe heat. For example, if you plant spinach in the summer season, you will notice that the leaves would be burn." 

 

The Botha’s Hill Spar Manager, Mr. JP, said the winter vegetables are becoming very expensive in the summer season.

"It very difficult to get the merchandise of winter vegetables in the summer season. For example, if I buy cabbages and spinach, the suppliers will increase their cost price to us. This has subsequently forced us to hike our selling price. The normal price of cabbage is R11, but now we’re selling it by R18 because of this issue of supply and demand."    

 

Snenhlanhla Hlophe said the prices of food are not growing at the same level that matches our income. 

"The social grant is too small because I cannot afford even to buy my full groceries. It becomes better if you are working or maybe getting another extra income." 

 

Thandeka Mkhize said we need to go back to the culture of opening our small gardens.

"Back the days, we use to have the ploughing fields, but now all of that has started to change. Most people are relying on the supermarkets to buy their veg groceries.”