Agriculture
(a) What are the details of the financial support promised in the recent drought disaster announcement for agriculture in the Western Cape, (b) what is the term for which the support is intended, (c) which areas qualify for support, (d) What is the total amount of promised support and (e) what is the average amount per hectare per month in the designated areas?
(a) No specific amount has been promised to stakeholders in the Province, however, the WCDoA has made a submission to the National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC) for financial support. Although the WCDoA has not promised any financial support to farmers in the Province, we have conducted assessment workshops and veld assessments to determine the critical and extremely critical areas that continue to experience the 8 year prolonged drought.
(b) Depending on the funding, the intention is to provide support to our farmers for a period of eight (8) months.
(c) Farmers in all 5 district municipalities are support with disaster relief. The entire Central Karoo, Little and Tankwa Karoo are supported with drought relief. In addition, the northern parts of the West Coast District Municipality, and the Matzikama local municipality are provided with drought support. Barrydale is the only town supported in the Overberg District Municipality.
(d) The amount requested from National Treasury via the NDMC equates to R116 000 000.00 (one hundred and sixteen million rand)
(e) The amount of support provided to farmers is based on numerous contributing factors, but is mainly provided according to the large stock unit (LSU). This support is within the guidelines of the Draft National Framework and is provided on the basis that farmers are within the carrying capacity of the farm. During a drought farmers are advised to reduce their livestock numbers by a third of the carrying capacity in order to cope with the drought conditions.
