Upgrading farm roads key to strengthening food security: McPherson


The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean McPherson  says revitalising agricultural roads used by farmers will help improve the country’s food security.

McPherson says it is important to support farmers as they do not only feed the country but also employ thousands of people. The Minister officiated at the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation in Bloemfontein which aims to identify important rural roads to be prioritised for maintenance and improvement. The Free State is considered the breadbasket of South Africa.

McPherson says the initiative will ensure lower logistics costs for farmers and contribute to cheaper food for South Africans.

“We want to use our expertise and infrastructures to be able to plot and plan which of the 13 thousand kilometers on the roads in the Free State should be prioritised by the provincial government. We understand that there are fiscal constraints that exist, so this partnership will be a first of its kind between our department and agricultural unions.”