Agriculture MEC Alan Winde announced an additional R23m in drought relief for the Agri Western Cape on Thursday 31 March. The decision is welcome news to the Agri Western Cape, whose Chief Executive Officer Carl Opperman commended the department, saying it was doing "an excellent job at utilising available funds optimally".
"The Western Cape receives no drought assistance from the national government, despite the fact that the West Coast region and Central Karoo had been declared drought disaster areas. The additional money will go a long way in supporting both emerging and commercial farmers in the province," Opperman said.
He also called on the national government to have the Western Cape declared a drought disaster area.
Opperman said the department's Smart Agri plan to manage climate change - an initiative that Agri Western Cape is part of - would benefit agriculture in the Western Cape.
"Although Western Cape producers [experienced] a period of extreme heat and drought, they are grateful for the rain of the past few days and remain positive about the production season," he said.
Source - freshplaza.com
