Call for further assistance in drought relief

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“During the past year Agri SA launched various initiatives to provide needy farmers countrywide with drought relief. The shortage of funds has now resulted in Agri SA being unable to provide further assistance and we therefore call urgently on the private sector to make further contributions to the Agri SA drought relief fund. The time has now come for the government to provide further assistance to commercial and small-scale farmers to help them survive,” said Johannes Möller, president of Agri SA.

“A drought is not a one-year phenomenon – the western parts of the country, where devastating drought conditions have been experienced over the past three years, can testify to this. This has had a serious impact on cash flow and production credit arrangements, which in turn will increasingly affect farmers’ financial survival. The drought also had an extremely negative effect on the socio-economic conditions of rural farming communities and the development of our rural areas,” said Möller.

Large parts still in grip of drought

Despite widespread rains over large parts of the country, parts of the Northern Cape, Western Cape, North West, Limpopo and the Free State are still in the grip of the worst drought this decade. Agri SA is concerned about the current welfare of farmers and farm workers and the humanitarian impact of the drought, as well as their ability to survive.

“Similarly, we are concerned about the lack of stock feed to pull animals through during this time. We are grateful for the generous support that Agri SA’s drought relief fund has already received and which can be used again to assist various farming communities.

“Agri SA alone cannot meet the farmers’ needs and therefore we call urgently for financial contributions,” concluded Möller.

For an overview of the assistance that has been provided during the course of the year, and to donate go to www.droughtaidfund.co.za.