FRANSCHHOEK – Wiesenhof Coffee Roastery has partnered with the Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI) to contribute to a disaster relief fund supporting farmers affected by the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak.
The partnership was formalised at a cheque handover at Wiesenhof Coffee Shop in Franschhoek on Friday morning.
The relief fund will provide emergency support to family farmers dealing with FMD-related challenges, including biosecurity measures, vaccine logistics and financial pressures caused by movement restrictions and market access limitations.
For the past four years, Wiesenhof has allocated a percentage of profits from coffee sales and various items at its Wiesenhof and Dulce restaurants to support farm safety and technological modernisation. The company said this commitment will now be expanded to include FMD relief efforts.
“When you enjoy a cup of coffee with us, you stand with our farmers. Together we are building a stronger agricultural sector and protecting food security for the future,” said Kobus Wiese, owner of Wiesenhof.
Dr Theo de Jager, chairman of SAAI, said family farms are critical to food security. “This partnership proves that the private sector is willing to take responsibility when systems fail,” he said.
The FMD outbreak has affected numerous farms across South Africa, with farmers facing movement permit delays and cash flow difficulties. SAAI said the fund will provide practical support to producers struggling to maintain their operations.
The organisation said it hopes to involve additional businesses in the partnership. “The FMD crisis has brought many family farms to a point where they will not survive without outside help,” SAAI stated.
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