7 July 2020

Grain producers in Eendekuil and Darling donated 45 tons of wheat, barley and oats seed that were left over after the planting season to producers in Bitterfontein and Nuwerus in the Matzikama district of the Western Cape. Agri Western Cape also purchased barley seed for producers in Landplaas and Bitterfontein from the Agri Western Cape drought relief fund and producers in the province have also donated diesel.

Producers in the Matzikama district haven’t had a harvest in five years. Parts of the area has had some rain over the past few weeks and some producers have already started planting the donated seed for grazing for livestock in the summer.

Mr Jannie Strydom, CEO of Agri Western Cape, says the donations are intended to assist producers whose sustainability is under severe pressure and who no longer have any cash flow. He says drought assistance by Agri Western Cape to the Matzikama district over the past five years has been provided in the form of animal feed, but that producers also need other assistance.

“Producers may be able to deal with one or two years of below-average rainfall, but the effects of five years of drought can probably only be eradicated by five consecutive above-average years,” Mr Strydom said. He said the entire Matzikama district needs plenty of rain to get out of their drought condition.

Mr Strydom thanked all the producers who contributed seed and diesel to producers in the area.

Pic: Barley that was planted in Nuwerus in the drought stricken Matzikama district of the West Coast.

BOERE SKENK GRAANSAAD VIR KOLLEGAS IN DROOGTEGETEISTERDE MATZIKAMA

Graanboere op Eendekuil en Darling het 45 ton koring-, gars- en hawersaad wat na hulle planttyd oorgebly het, aan produsente op Bitterfontein en Nuwerus in die Matzikama-distrik van die Weskus geskenk. Agri Wes-Kaap het ook uit die Agri Wes-Kaap droogtehulpfonds garssaad vir produsente op Bitterfontein en Landplaas aangekoop, terwyl talle boere in die provinsie ook diesel geskenk het.

Produsente in die Matzikama-distrik het vyf jaar laas ‘n oes gehad. Dele van die distrik het egter die afgelope weke ook bietjie reën gekry en sommige produsente kon reeds die saad vir weiding begin saai om teen die somer kos vir hulle vee op die lande te hê.

Mnr Jannie Strydom, uitvoerende hoof van Agri Wes-Kaap, sê die skenkings is bedoel om produsente wie se volhoubaarheid as gevolg van die voortslepende droogte onder ernstige druk is en wie nie meer kontantvloei het nie, by te staan. Hy sê droogtehulp aan die Matzikama-distrik deur Agri Wes-Kaap is die afgelope vyf jaar in die vorm van veevoer gelewer, maar dat produsente ook ander hulp nodig het.

“Produsente kan dalk een of twee jaar van ondergemiddelde reënval hanteer, maar die uitwerking van vyf jaar se droogte kan waarskynlik net uitgewis word met vyf agtereenvolgende bogemiddelde jare,” het mnr Strydom gesê. Hy sê die hele Matzikama-streek het nog baie reën nodig om uit hul droogtesituasie te kom.

Mnr Strydom het alle produsente wat saad en diesel aan boere in die gebied geskenk het, vir hulle bydraes bedank.

Foto: Gars begin reeds opkom op Nuwerus in die droogtegeteisterde Matzikama-distrik van die Weskus.