N Cape farmers ask for state support after three years of drought

According to Fresh Fruit Portal, drought conditions in South Africa's Northern Cape region have prompted Agri Northern Cape to lodge a formal request for government disaster relief to aid struggling farmers, as local resources were not sufficient to address needs. The north and northwestern sectors of the region have been most impacted, with drought also reaching into the North West province.

Agri Northern Cape president Henk van Wyk told Farmers Weekly website that areas such as Calvinia, Loeriesfontein, Brandvlei and Pofadder, have received almost no rain for three years. "We need state support. The provincial government just does not have money to help us and can't even subsidise animal feed transport costs," van Wyk said, adding that, without help, a "considerable number of the farmers will be forced out of the business."

André Bruwer of Northern Cape's Fivestar Producers, told Fresh Fruit Portal that rainfall this year was quite low. "We received about 20% of our normal rainfall during March (and) April of this year. So, therefore, the area is quite dry, Abnormal(ly) dry."

Read the full article on www.freshfruitportal.com.