Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 25-01-2019
Agri SA has told Radio Islam if South Africa does not get any significant rainfall it will cause a catastrophe resulting in a shortage of maize and an increase in food inflation and malnutrition.
The organisation says crops are under severe strain, the livestock across the country is under pressure and they need animal fodder and other forms of aid to survive the current season.
More than 30-thousand jobs have been lost in the agricultural sector since January 2018 as a result of persistent drought.
Agri SA Deputy Executive Director, Christo van der Rheede says it will be approaching different banks and the government to help raise money or they won’t make it through the winter.
“We want government to make a clear commitment at the next budget speech that they will make up to R 3 billion available for drought relief. Part of that money must go towards cattle farmer just to keep the livestock alive.”
Rheede says if farmers have to “close shop” nobody will buy the farm as it makes no economic sense.
“If a farm closes down, it means it takes money out of the economy and what we’ve seen in the past few years is that many local economies literally came to a standstill, there’s just no growth.”
Rheede says food and water scarcity poses a severe risk to socio-political stability in the country.
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