Agriculture
With regard to the impact of the recent storms in the Western Cape on the agriculture sector:
(a) What is the extent of damage to the sector, (b) what is the detailed breakdown of the costs of the damage and (c) what is the number of (i) facilities affected, (ii) equipment and materials damage and (iii) injuries and casualties of personnel reported, (d)(i) what has been the impact of the storm on farm workers, (ii) how many families are affected, (iii) how many facilities were affected, (iv) what equipment and materials were damaged and (v) how many injuries and casualties were reported and (e)(i) how is the provincial government responding to the impact of the storm on agriculture and (ii) what are the details of the actions and steps taken to assist the poorest of the poor who were affected?
The recent floods in the Western Cape have had a severe impact on producers and agri workers, specifically in the Cape Winelands and Overberg Districts, which were the most affected areas.
- Our preliminary estimate of the flood damage amounts to R1.4 billion and is based on feedback from 1 370 farmers, water user associations, irrigation boards, and organised agriculture. The WCDoA Flood Mobile App was deployed on the 26th September 2023 for farmers to complete a survey on the damages to their farms and the humanitarian support required. The App allowed farmers to also upload photos of the damages on their farms. To date, 491 farmers have completed the survey on the Flood Mobile App where damages have already reached nearly R680 million of the initial estimate of flood damages. It can be expected that there will be a significant increase in the cost of the damages once the ground assessment is completed.
- The detailed breakdown of damages according to data supplied by farmers that completed the survey on the Flood Mobile App is as follows:
Type of damage | Estimated value |
Crop loss value | R238 663 178 |
Livestock value | R12 127 737 |
Erosion on land value | R173 877 489 |
Riverbanks value | R171 793 065 |
Job losses value | R13 917 059 |
Other Infrastructure damages value | R 69 621 472 |
TOTAL | R680 000 000 |
- i) Based on the information received from the App, 42 facilities, including animal housing, pack-sheds, greenhouse tunnels and houses, were affected. The value of these damages is not disaggregated, however, based on the respondents, the damage to the facilities is approximately R70 million.
ii) The equipment and material damages include implements, animal feed, chemicals and damage to stored commodities. The value of these damages is not individually analysed but is included in the above-mentioned table.
iii) No farmer or producer casualties were reported.
- (i) Farming communities in these areas were mostly cut off and inaccessible, due to damaged road infrastructure which resulted in road closures, thus isolating farming communities. The floods also caused the disruption of basic services such as access to water and electricity. The main needs were in terms of humanitarian relief.
ii) The WCDoA was notified of agri worker households who were affected by the floods and in need of support. These households consisted of 683 people (adults and children in agri worker households) in the Cape Winelands District, while a total of 551 people were affected in the Overberg District. The needs of these families were referred to relevant organisations and they received the necessary humanitarian relief support in the form of food packs, sanitary packs, blankets and mattresses.
iii) Agri workers whose houses were swept away in the Cape Winelands and Overberg Districts were linked to appropriate channels for assistance with support and rebuilding, especially as this happened on privately owned land.
iv) The data received from farmers on the Flood Mobile App does not distinguish between the different types of infrastructure (facilities). As such, at this stage, the number of agri-worker houses swept away is not available.
v) One of the confirmed fatalities recorded in the Overberg area, was of an agri worker, whose family and community have been linked with the necessary psycho-social support and where further counselling sessions will be provided.
- i) The Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) activated the Joint Operations Committee meeting, consisting of all the relevant role-players i.e. WCDoA, DoHW, DSD, DOM, DOI, WCED, District Municipalities, local municipalities and national departments, in order to provide immediate assistance to all affected by the storms, including producers and agri workers. In addition to the support provided by the Department of Social Development (DSD), NGOs like Gift of the Givers, Islamic Relief, etc. provided humanitarian relief to those affected.
ii) The WCDoA requested organised agriculture and producers to complete the Flood mobile APP survey electronically in order to obtain updated information regarding the impact of the floods (e.g. the humanitarian needs, infrastructure damages, etc.) Agri worker households have been assisted with relief packages and the appropriate referrals made to the Department of Employment and Labour for relief support will be made where required. To date based on farmers/producers that have completed the survey, current information indicates that the sector might be faced with potential job losses. WCDoA will continue to support, assist and monitor the situation in order to mitigate the secondary impacts of the storm in rural and farming communities.
