National drought disaster declaration: A step in the right direction
21 July 2021
Urgent requests of farmers in drought-stricken areas of the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape provinces for drought relief did not fall on deaf ears. Agri SA welcomes the national drought disaster declaration published by Dr Tau, head of the National Disaster Management Centre, on 20 July 2021.
Parts of the Northern, Eastern and Western Cape that have faced an average of 6 to 9 years of droughts have received some relief through various state interventions. Further assistance is urgently needed to stabilise local economies and preserve what is left of core breeding herds. Farmers and communities have also received continuous aid from the private sector, doners and ordinary people.
“It is a positive step by the government to recognise the plight of these areas suffering from the severe disaster drought conditions by issuing a disaster declaration,” says Willem Symington, Agri SA chairman of the natural resources centre of excellence. “We hope that there will be sufficient action and assistance to help the agricultural sector and local economies in support to cope with the effects of the catastrophic drought.”