Relief for Clanwilliam farmers

Janurary 2015 THE WESTERN Cape government has channelled close to R1 million in emergency funding into the agriculture-dependent Clanwilliam area, in a bid to prevent millions in losses in agricultural produce, after a canal break earlier this month. The break caused panic amongst farmers in the area, who are heavily dependent on water from the dam, for their cash crops which includes fruit and vegetables as well as several vineyards. Johan Matthee, chief executive of the Lower Olifants River Water Users Association said the region’s water was mainly supplied from the Clanwilliam dam, which was distributed to farmers through the canals.

Janurary 2015 THE WESTERN Cape government has channelled close to R1 million in emergency funding into the agriculture-dependent Clanwilliam area, in a bid to prevent millions in losses in agricultural produce, after a canal break earlier this month. The break caused panic amongst farmers in the area, who are heavily dependent on water from the dam, for their cash crops which includes fruit and vegetables as well as several vineyards. Johan Matthee, chief executive of the Lower Olifants River Water Users Association said the region’s water was mainly supplied from the Clanwilliam dam, which was distributed to farmers through the canals.

Published Jan 29, 2015

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Cape Town - The Western Cape government has channelled close to R1 million in emergency funding into the agriculture-dependent Clanwilliam area, in a bid to prevent millions in losses in agricultural produce, after a canal break earlier this month.

The break caused panic among farmers in the area, who are dependent on water from the dam, for their cash crops which include fruit and vegetables as well as several vineyards.

Johan Matthee, chief executive of the Lower Olifants River Water Users Association, said the region’s water was mainly supplied from the Clanwilliam dam, which was distributed to farmers through the canals. Matthee said the direct damage caused by the break was estimated at about R11m while the damage to the vineyards and cash crops must still be determined.

Economic Opportunities MEC Alan Winde explained that a section of one of the canals running off the Clanwilliam dam collapsed earlier this month.

“It is a 184m section of the canal near Klawer. The break dramatically reduced water supply to farms downstream. More than 300 farmers, 6 000 hectares of irrigation and residents in nearby communities were affected. This presented a huge threat to the farmers working with table and wine grapes as well as vegetables. It also threatened seasonal jobs for local residents.”

Under the National Water Act, the association is responsible for the maintenance and management of the facilities.

Winde said with the costs of repairing the ageing infrastructure adding up, the association did not have the funds to purchase the additional pumps and generator.

But the provincial Department of Agriculture, in a bid to avert any further losses, spent R975 000 on a generator and water pumps to stabilise the water supply to farms and residents in the area.

“While the infrastructure is owned by the National Department of Water and Sanitation, the Western Cape government stepped in to avert a water crisis in the area,” said Winde.

Winde said while only an interim solution, the funding would ensure that water was pumped across the damaged section.

Winde was expected to conduct a site visit on Friday where he was expected to meet the association to get an update on the situation.

Cape Argus

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