19 Feb 2020
Agriculture producers in the region of the Clanwilliam Dam who still need water for the next few months, are concerned about the level of the dam. The dam currently stands at 36% compared to last week’s 40%.
Mr Cornie Swart, President of Agri Western Cape, says although it is almost the end of the season, temperatures are still very high. Citrus producers, vineyard producers that need to apply post-harvest fertilizer and producers who have replaced vineyards in the drought with cash crops like vegetables, still need water.
Mr Swart says there is a possibility that producers may be subject to water restrictions if the dam level drops to 25%. He says there is no clarity when construction work on the Clanwilliam Dam will begin and agriculture has no security that it will. The Department of Water and Sanitation last year said that construction work would be completed by March 2023.
“Agri Western Cape will welcome the commencement of the construction work. The area is a large citrus producing region with the ideal climate for it, but water remains the challenge,” he said. He says with a water quota, approximately 5,000 ha of land between the Bulshoek and Clanwilliam dams can be developed with high-value export crops such as citrus and table and wine grapes. It will also create opportunities for land reform projects and the establishment of new producers.
VLAK VAN CLANWILLIAM-DAM WEK KOMMER VIR LANDBOU
Die huidige vlak van die Clanwilliam-dam het landbouers in die omgewing wat nog vir die volgende paar maande water nodig het, bekommerd. Die vlak van die dam het Dinsdagoggend 18 Februarie op 36% gestaan, teenoor 44% die vorige week. Mnr Cornie Swart, President van Agri Wes-Kaap, sê hoewel die einde van die seisoen naby is, is dit steeds baie warm en het sitrusprodusente, wingerdprodusente wat na-oes bemesting moet toedien en produsente wat hul wingerde as gevolg van die droogte uitgehaal het en kontantgewasse soos groente aangeplant het, nog water nodig. Hy sê die moontlikheid is groot dat produsente wéér aan waterbeperkings onderwerp kan word as die damvlak tot by 25% daal.
Mnr Swart sê daar is nog geen duidelikheid wanneer bouwerk aan die Clanwilliam-dam gaan begin nie en die landbou het geen sekuriteit dat dit wel gaan gebeur nie. Die Departement van Water en Sanitasie het in Augustus verlede aangevoer die bouwerk sal in Maart 2023 afgehandel wees.
“Agri Wes-Kaap sal dit verwelkom as bouwerk kan begin. Die gebied is ‘n groot sitrusproduserende streek met die ideale klimaat daarvoor, maar water bly die uitdaging. Ongeveer 5 000 ha grond tussen die Bulshoekdam en die Clanwilliam-dam kan met ‘n waterkwota hoëwaarde uitvoergewasse soos sitrus en tafel- en wyndruiwe ontwikkel wird en geleenthede vir hervormingsprojekte en die vestiging van nuwe produsente skep. Die vraag is wanneer gaan die regering ingryp om in die waterbehoeftes van die provinsie en die land te voorsien.