Lack of work permits could halt litchi harvest

With the litchi-harvesting season due to start in December, farmers are concerned about the lack of work permits being issued to foreign workers by the Department of Labour, as this could see the crop remain on the trees.

- Lindi Botha

The shortage of labour for litchi picking was already a problem, since the peak harvest period was between 25 December and 1 January, but the non-issuance of foreign work permits was exacerbating the issue.

A farmer in the Malelane area of Mpumalanga, who spoke to Farmer’s Weekly on condition of anonymity, said that while local workers were not necessarily in short supply, few were willing to pick litchis. It’s hard work, so farmers need to rely on foreign workers to complete] the task, as they’re the only people willing to do the job.”