The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has started in earnest with the process of measuring the extent of damages at all areas which were hit by the recent veld fires, by distributing assessment forms to be completed by affected farmers.
The forms were distributed last week and are available at all Organised Agriculture Offices (Farmers’ Unions), and at District and Local Departmental offices where extension officers are guiding and monitoring the process.
This follows veld fires that ravaged through farms and agricultural land in most parts of the province, after extremely high wind with speed of up to 80km/h increased the intensity, to a limit that made the combating or controlling of fires very difficult.
One farm-worker in the Ditsobotla area has died and twelve across the four districts have been hospitalised due to injuries sustained while attempting to extinguish fires in different areas.
While the assessment exercise is currently being carried out, preliminary assessment estimates indicate that damage to grazing is estimated at 260 000 ha, approximately three thousand livestock which include game has been affected, about 8000 of fencing and various agricultural infrastructure, equipment and machinery have been damaged.
The MEC responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development in the province Mr. Boitumelo Tshwene says his department will have a conclusive report on the assessment exercise early next week, and will consciously respond to those affected after it had assessed the extent of the damage.
“Although the province is prone to veld fires during this time of the year”, MEC Tshwene explains, “the intensity, scope and range of the recent fires have never been experienced before, and this can be attributed to the good rainfall last summer that resulted in a lot of growth which had become highly flammable”.
“While the department regrets loss of life and injuries to people, we advice farmers to ensure that adequate firebreaks are in place to avert and minimise the extent of damage to livestock, property and injury to people, particularly in the summer rainfall areas where fuel load is high and may exacerbate the spread of fires,” cautions MEC Tshwene.
The department also advises farmers to ensure that livestock is moved out of grazing land to safe land during veld fires and where water is generally not available in sufficient quantities or at adequate pressure for the control of major fires, sand or other loose mineral soil material can be an effective method of control.
Contact Person:
Bonolo Mohlakoana
Tel: 018 389 5719
Cell: 082 901 2435
E-mail:bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za
Assessment forms distributed to determine the scope of damage caused by veld fires
Province
