JOHANNESBURG - The Middle East war is straining South Africa's agricultural sector.
Economist Wandile Sihloba warns the war's duration could push up farming costs and further disrupt trade.
According to Sihloba, one challenge comes from the disruption in the shipping costs and the shipping lanes.
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"This is an area that accounts for about 8% of our agricultural exports. So those that are in fruit citrus exporting to that area, red meat industry, that's the one strain," he explained
Another challenge Sihloba noted was the impact the war has on citrus, strawberry, soybeans, canola, barley, and sorghum farmers.
This is because they are in a harvesting period right now.
Sihloba fears that should the war continue until October, it will have an even more massive ripple effect.