A “terrible situation could become worse”, say South Africa's Western Cape producers, concerned fruit may become scarce and meat prices “skyrocket” as hundreds of farmers battle drought and hundreds more recover from last week‘s big freeze.
In the Central Karoo, the situation is so bad that even one of Africa‘s most drought-adapted antelopes, the gemsbok, are “dropping like flies”.
Fruit harvests on more than 500 farms were damaged, some completely ruined, because of last week‘s cold weather and the agriculture department said up to 600 Central Karoo farms were suffering because of a severe drought. The situation was “very bad and cause for concern”.
Ceres Fruit Growers manager Frederick Odendaal said he was concerned that fruit, especially pears, could become hard to find in shops next year because up to 8,000 tons, worth about R20-million ($3 million), were destroyed by hail. “There will definitely be less available because of the damage. We export 65 per cent of our fruit.”
Growers supplying the company had also lost about R20-million in peaches.
“The worst damage was to nectarines, plums, peaches and pears. It‘s still too early to know exactly how much was lost because some fruit may have internal bruising.”
Katishi Masemola, general secretary of the Food and Allied Workers‘ Union, said: “We‘re worried that as animals die (in the Central Karoo) and meat becomes more scarce, the prices will skyrocket. It‘s a terrible situation which could become worse.”
But the Red Meat Producers‘ Organisation (RPO) said it was too soon to start worrying. Western Cape RPO chairman John Durr said: “(A price increase) could become a problem, but at the moment the demand for that type of meat, such as lamb, isn‘t great. If or when the demand increases, then there may be a problem.”
Areas like Beaufort West, Prince Albert and Murraysburg were having the worst dry season since the drought started two years ago, said agriculture department development officer Charl du Plessis. “We‘re getting reports of animals dying every week. About 600 farms in the Central Karoo have been badly affected.” He said there was also a fodder shortage, which was driving up the price.
Agriculture MEC Cobus Dowry‘s spokesman, Alie van Jaarsveld, said: “A drought aid scheme is helping farmers . . . Those who haven‘t applied should at their regional agriculture department office. We are looking into the situation.”
The Herald-South Africa
