19 November 2015 | Volume 9 | Week 47 | Tel: 018 294 3924/17 | northwestindependent@telkomsa.net | Potchefstroom | Gratis • Free
Crisis looms due to drought ¢¢ LYNDLE HAAGNER
S
outh Africa is experiencing its worst drought in decades and farmers in the Potchefstroom area are suffering. Ac cording to Jannie Keet; Agri Potchefstroom Chairperson, this has been the fourth conse cutive dry year. The drought, he says, is affecting the farming community on all levels. The devas tating effects of this year’s drought are inten sified by its early onset. “In the past few years the drought occurred later in the planting season. With this early onset many farmers have been prevented from planting their crops, as the underground moisture is very low. “The farmers who have, however, already planted their crops are suffering due to the immense heat and are worried about their yield,” says Jannie. The worst hit in our area are livestock farmers. Pastures are dry and there is a major shortage of feed for the animals. The grass simply isn’t growing due to the drought and considerable heat we are experiencing. “Many farmers are forced to slaughter their livestock as they cannot supply them with feed,” ex plains Jannie. According to an article that appeared on eNCA on 13 November, the last national drought of this extent occurred in 1992 and cost 70 000 people in the agricultural industry, their jobs. The agricultural industry contri butes approximately 5% of SA’s GDP and all sectors of our economy, even if indirectly, are linked to the agricultural sector. “There are still five weeks remaining for farmers to plant their crops before it is too
late. We can only hope that the rain comes, and stays. We will need ongoing rain to harvest successful crops,” says Jannie. NWI also spoke to the CEO of the Agricul ture Business Chamber and General Manager of Grain SA, John Purchase. “The drought from the previous season is continuing into the new season, placing massive constraints on crops especially in the Eastern parts of the country. “The Western areas still have roughly a month to plant but the soil lacks serious mois ture. 100mm – 150mm of rain is needed and planting will be risky,” says John. He explained that if South Africa experien ces above average rainfall it will still be able to meet its maize demand. If there is only average rainfall, roughly a million tons of maize will need to be imported. In the event of the continuing drought, with only 70% of the expected rainfall - 4 million tons of maize will be needed. “In the worst-case scenario seeing South Africa experiencing a catastrophic drought with only 40% of the expected rainfall, well over 7 million tons of maize will have to be imported to ensure food security. This is a serious problem as our infrastructure (har bours and railways) cannot cope with this,” explains John. No decisions have yet been announced re garding water restrictions. However Jannie Keet says that none of the dams on his have water. “As far as I know most, if not all, dams on farms are also empty.” In the meantime residents of Potchefstroom are encouraged to use water sparingly. Take shorter showers. Fix leaks immediately. Don’t leave taps running.
If the current drought continues, South Africa will be forced to import millions of tons of maize to ensure food security in the country.
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