The Free State, which is often referred to as the breadbasket or granary of South Africa, produces about 70% of the country's grain, says Dr Jane Buys, safety and risk analyst at Free State Agriculture (FSA).
She adds that 40% of South Africa's annual maize harvest comes from the province, as do large quantities of its sorghum (37%), soya bean (34%), wheat (18%), groundnuts (35%), sunflower seed (56%), milk (22,4%), wool (23%), cherries (90%), and red meat (14,6%).
"Each farmer in the Free State is responsible for feeding approximately 3 028 people every year. This sector is also a major source of employment, but our research shows that, in 2017 alone, for example, 5 454 jobs were lost in the Free State's commercial agriculture sector as a result of
