SHILOWA: GOVT MUST NOT SHUT FARMERS OUT DAMAGED CROPS

The President of the Congress of the People (COPE) Mbhazima Shilowa called on the government to engage with the farming organisations in order to find a sensible solution to multi-million rand crops damage caused by the floods.

Last week the minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, declared that the government would not pay any compensation to crop damages as a result of the devastating floods. Although COPE commends the government for undertaking to assist with infrastructural repairs caused by the current disaster, it is too presumptuous for the minister to say that most farmers have crop insurance and refuse to lend a hand.

Even though ideally all citizens of the country should be insured and the government should be spared the burden during times of disaster, the realities of our tough times and economy should compel the government to be considerate. Furthermore, anyone who is familiar with commercial farming will be aware that insurance companies are often reluctant to cover damage to crops.

In addition, poverty stricken communities may be the biggest casualties of the flood disaster as farmers will pass on the loss of crops to the consumer and farm workers. We call on the government not to be inflexible and open its does to farmers and discuss the matter so that they can reach a common understanding and a reasonable approach.

Statement issued by Sipho Ngwema on behalf of COPE President, Mbhazima Shilowa, January 24 2011

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