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Eastern Cape farmers continue to suffer under drought stranglehold

By

Dear MyPE

The Eastern Cape is still suffering from one of the worst droughts in human memory while the provincial government is doing nothing to assist farmers in their time of need.

I recently conducted oversight inspections of the drought conditions in these areas, and have compiled a detailed report which has been handed over to the Eastern Cape Standing Committee on Rural Development and Agrarian Reform.

Farmers, especially in the south-western parts of the Eastern Cape, which include communities such as Aberdeen, Willowmore, Steytlerville and Jansenville, are still suffering from a severe drought.

These areas, which fall into the Sarah Baartman district municipality, have been plagued by the current drought for more than five years.

During a visit to these areas last week, several farmers confirmed how boreholes in their districts are starting to dry up due to the dwindling underground water table. In certain areas where there is still groundwater, the water quality is deteriorating and will soon be completely unusable.

Many farmers in these areas have already been purchasing feed and fodder for years, in a desperate, but unsustainable, attempt to try to keep their livestock alive. The purchase of feed puts significant financial pressure on disheartened farmers, who in many cases have not yet received any assistance from the provincial government.

The Democratic Alliance last month made an urgent appeal to the Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, to declare the Eastern Cape a drought disaster area again. This follows the news that the Eastern Cape will only receive R35 million in drought relief from the national government after applying for an aid package of about R643 million.

In the report I have compiled, I ask the standing committee to consider the following:

An urgent report regarding the current drought conditions in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality must be submitted to the committee for formal consideration;

That emergency funding should be made available to farmers in these areas for immediate assistance with the purchase of feed as well as the drilling of boreholes;

That the committee receives a comprehensive report on the planned projects that will be funded by the R35 million drought relief received from the national government.

The prolonged drought in our province has the potential to financially ruin hundreds of farmers.

These farmers are entitled to government assistance just as other farmers around the world obtain aid from their governments when they are affected by natural disasters.

Regards

Retief Odendaal

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