affecting a home for all - farming operations stopped due to power
failures
20 February 2006
In the Framework for the Development of the Western Cape Province: 2004 -
2007, the agricultural sector is identified as one of the key sectors to
contribute to growth and development in the Western Cape. Primary agriculture
is responsible for 4.5% of South Africa's gross domestic product (GDP) and the
Western Cape contributes more than 20% of the total agricultural production in
South Africa. In addition, the Western Cape produces between 55% and 60% of
South Africa's total agricultural export, with agriculture as the largest
sectoral exporter.
In the Premier's aim of accelerating progress towards the achievement of
higher levels of economic growth and development of at least six % a year in
the Western Cape, Agriculture will therefore be a very important
role-player.
In both the wine and the fruit industries, it is now harvest time with all
its relevant operations that ensure the maximum profit to these industries and
jobs to thousands of people.
The uninterrupted availability of electricity is of vital importance to
these industries. Therefore the power failures across the province on Sunday
and on Monday are posing a big threat to farmers as it is seriously affecting
farming operations. The catastrophic impact of cellars and cooling facilities
without electricity, irrigation pumps without electricity and sorting machines
without electricity is now threatening the success of months of hard labour and
overcoming the elements such as drought, a devastating hailstorm and the fuel
shortage at a crucial time, to name but a few.
Although Eskom informed organised agriculture earlier this year that more
planned power cuts are on the cards and was in a process of liaising with
organised agriculture to determine times when it would be most suitable for
farming operations. The power cuts over the weekend was, however, not planned
and will have an impact on farming operations especially as fruit needs to be
stored at certain temperatures, to be of export quality and indeed to be
exported.
An urgent meeting was convened this morning between officials of the
Department of Agriculture, Local Government, Eskom and organised agriculture to
iron out the problems. Eskom (Western Cape) reaffirmed its commitment that it
will engage with organised agriculture on planned cuts in the future and will
make the dates and times of cuts available to Agri Western Cape as well as on
its website. Both organised agriculture and the officials from the provincial
Department of Agriculture confirmed that the talks took place in a spirit of
co-operation and understanding of the seriousness of the problem.
As we understand and appreciate the enormity of the problem and challenges
facing Eskom we welcome the commitment from Eskom, to co-ordinate any further
planned power cuts with organised agriculture as this province cannot afford
its farming operations to grind to a halt and thus taking the bread out of the
mouths of thousands of farm workers and their families.
Enquiries:
Alie van Jaarsveld
Cell: 084 604 6701
Tel:(021) 483 4700
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Western Cape Provincial
Government
20 February 2006
