Agriculture
Question by:
Hon Andricus van der Westhuizen
Answered by:
Hon Ivan Meyer
Question Number:
4
Question Body:
- a) What is the latest position regarding the drought experience in the Western Cape and:
b) which areas are currently still in need of drought relief?
Answer Body:
- (a) A national drought disaster was declared on the 4th of March 2020. On 20 April 2020, the department issued fodder support vouchers to 1 468 farmers in the critical and extremely critical areas to the value of R9.8 million. The vouchers issued to the 1 468 farmers are only 50% of what they qualify for due to the availability of funds. Unfortunately, the weather forecast predicts below long-term mean annual rainfall over the next three months in the affected areas, which could lead to a continuation of the drought conditions.
(b) The drought persists in the Central and Little Karoo, part of Cape Winelands and northern parts of Matzikama.
Date:
Friday, April 24, 2020
