AGRI WES-KAAP VERSOEK DRINGEND HULP VAN GRAANBOERE IN DIE NOORDE

12 Aug 2020

Agri Wes-Kaap doen ‘n dringende beroep op graanprodusente in die noorde van die land om mielies aan die organisasie se droogtehulpfonds te skenk.

Mnr Jannie Strydom, uitvoerende hoof van Agri Wes-Kaap, sê die realiteit is dat die droogte sedert 2015 in die Klein-Karoo, Sentraal-Karoo en Matzikama-distrik van die Weskus voortduur en dat landbouprodusente in uiterste nood verkeer. Hy sê die realiteit is dat talle boerdery-eenhede nie meer ekonomies winsgewend is nie en baie produsente nie meer die finansiële uithouvermoë het om die droogte veder die hoof te bied nie.

In die Klein-Karoo – waar wintergraanaanplantings besig is om te vrek omdat die reën wegbly – het volstruisprodukpryse halveer en daal dit steeds. Mnr Strydom sê dit is te wyte aan internasionale ekonomiese faktore wat die vraag na volstruisleer, -vleis en -vere tot ‘n stilstand gebring het.

“Ons kon die droogte in die Klein-Karoo tot op hede binne die raamwerk van vraag en aanbod van hierdie produkte relatief goed bestuur, maar met die uitbreek van Covid-19 het die situasie drasties verander.

“Ons is nou in ‘n situasie waar ons dringend skenkings in die vorm van mielies nodig het om vir veevoer te gebruik. Gradering is nie ‘n vereiste nie en graad 3 mielies kan help. Ons versoek ook finansiële bydraes aan die Agri Wes-Kaap droogtehulpfonds om ons in staat te stel om skenkings van veevoer by ons produsente in die droogtegeteisterde gebiede te kry wie se oorleefvermoë daarvan afhang,” het mnr Strydom gesê.

Agri Wes-Kaap lewer reeds sedert 2015 droogtehulp aan produsente en volgens mnr Strydom sou dit nie moontlik gewees het sonder die hulp van die publiek en landbouers wat die Agri Wes-Kaap droogtehulpfonds ondersteun nie. “Die welwillendheid wat die landbousektor die afgelope jare ervaar het, het ons hand gesterk om sowel droogte- as humanitêre hulp in die droogtegebiede te lewer. Ons is geweldig dankbaar daarvoor,” het mnr Strydom gesê.

Enigiemand wat tot die Agri Wes-Kaap Droogtehulpfonds wil bydra, kan hulle skakel by 021 860 3804, of soos volg help:

AGRI WES-KAAP

ABSA TJEK: 400 960 313

TAKKODE: 334 210

VERWYSING: Droogtehulp en onderneming/individu se naam en van.

* Dele van die Matzikama-distrik het wel die afgelope weke reën gehad, maar nie noemenswaardig genoeg om enige verskil aan die droogtetoestande te maak nie. Droogtetoestande heers nog in die Sentraal Karoo, met baie min reën wat sedert Februarie net plek-plek geval het. Die Klein-Karoo is baie droog met die vlakke van die Stompdrift-dam en Kammanassiedam by Oudtshoorn op onderskeidelik 7.0% en 0.1% en die Poortjieskloofdam by Montagu op 0%. Alle landboubedrywe in hierdie gebiede word geraak.

AGRI WESTERN CAPE REQUESTS URGENT ASSISTANCE FROM GRAIN PRODUCERS IN THE NORTH
Agri Western Cape is urgently appealing to grain producers in the north of the country to donate maize to the organization’s drought relief fund.

Mr Jannie Strydom, CEO of Agri Western Cape, says the reality is that the drought since 2015 is still continuing in the Klein and Central Karoo and the Matzikama district of the West Coast and that agricultural producers are in extreme distress. He says many farming units are no longer economically profitable and many producers no longer have the financial means to cope with the drought.

In the Klein Karoo – where winter grain plantings are dying because the rain is staying away – the prices of ostrich products have halved overnight and are still falling. Mr Strydom says this is due to international economic factors that have brought the demand for ostrich leather, meat and feathers to a standstill.

“To date, we have been able to manage the drought in the Klein Karoo relatively well within the framework of supply and demand of these products, but with the outbreak of Covid-19, the situation has changed drastically.

“We now urgently need donations in the form of maize for animal feed. Grading is not a requirement and grade 3 maize will help. We also request financial contributions to the Agri Western Cape Drought Relief Fund to enable us to deliver donations of feed to our producers in the drought-stricken areas whose viability depend on it,” Mr Strydom said.

Agri Western Cape has been providing drought relief to producers since 2015 and according to Mr Strydom this would not have been possible without the help of the public who still supports the Agri Western Cape Drought Relief Fund. “The goodwill towards the agricultural sector we have experienced over the past few years, has strengthened our hand to provide both drought and humanitarian aid in the drought areas. We are very grateful for that,” he said.

To contribute to the Agri Western Cape Drought Relief Fund, contact the office at 021 860 3804, or see the detail of the Drought Relief Fund:
AGRI WESTERN CAPE
ABSA CHECK: 400 960 313
THANK YOU CODE: 334 210
REFERENCE: Drought relief and company / individual’s name and surname.

* Parts of the Matzikama district have had some rain in recent weeks, but not significant enough to make any difference to the drought conditions. Drought conditions still prevail in the Central Karoo, with very little rain that fell since February. The Klein Karoo is very dry with the levels of the Stompdrift Dam and Kammanassie Dam at Oudtshoorn at 7.0% and 0.1% respectively and the Poortjieskloof Dam at Montagu on 0%. All agricultural commodities in these areas have been affected.