Lisa Isaacs
THE prospect of job losses among seasonal farmworkers in the Western Cape is looming large as the severe drought affecting the province bites deeper, with latest estimates suggesting a 10 percent drop in agricultural production.
Economic Opportunities MEC Alan Winde said: “We estimate there will be a drop in production, which comes at a great economic cost. Agricultural employees living in those towns which have been severely affected are at risk.
“Some seasonal workers will be without an income and they’re also going to be dealing with increasing food prices. This will put intense pressure on households.”
The main areas of concern are Witzenberg, Prince Albert and Oudtshoorn, the West Coast and Central Karoo districts.
Winde said the drought may cost the country more than R2 billion in trade losses, while it is estimated that national agricultural production has declined by more than 42 percent. “This drop in production resulted in a 1.1 percent decrease in the country’s gross domestic product,” he said.
The latest harvest estimates also show that the South African wine grape harvest may be significantly smaller, VinPro official Francois Viljoen said. “Larger crops than in 2015 are expected in the Orange River and Klein Karoo, while the other wine-, grape-producing regions all predict a decrease to a greater or smaller extent.”
The effects could escalate should current conditions continue and wine producers not be able to provide vineyards with the necessary water.
However, the vineyards and grapes are very healthy. The smaller berries may also lead to good quality due to concentrated flavour and colour, should the berries ripen at an optimal level, he added.
The Swartland’s grain industry had suffered a loss of between R500 million and R700m due to wheat that couldn’t be harvested, Agri Wes-Kaap chief executive Carl Opperman said.
“We are still in the process of assessing the damages our livestock producers are suffering due to a lack of grazing land. As a result, the dairy and wool industries are also under pressure.”
SA Weather Service forecaster Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said weather over the province is expected to remain mild this week.
“Into the weekend the weather is expected to go back to hot and dry conditions. Temperatures along the West Coast are expected to become especially hot.”
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