The overflow of the Orange River caused more damage than the rain in the Northern Cape province, especially to farmers around Upington, Kakamas and Keimoes areas. That’s what members of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries noted during their visit to the Northern Cape province yesterday.
According to Mr Salamuddi Abram, who acted as the Committee Chairperson during the visit, the damage includes the erosion of vineyards and livestock leaving more than 24 000 farm workers of commercial and developing farmers without work as there is no production.
Developing farmers are the worst victims of the floods, and as a result, some are unable to continue repaying loans to the banks such as the Land Bank and other financial institutions that support farmers.
The floods that have left many parts in the Northern Cape and other provinces declared disaster areas started in the beginning of December 2010.
The Committee asked the Northern Cape Provincial Department of Agriculture to submit a comprehensive report about the damage caused by floods.
Appearing before the Committee at Parliament today, to brief the Committee on, among other things, the strategies the department has in place to assist the flood victims, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson said the department was still working out an assistance plan.
The Minister assured the Committee that such plan will be finalised before the end of this week.
For enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Mava Lukani
Parliamentary Communication Services (PCS)
Tel: 021 403 8738
Fax: 021 403 3931
Cell: +27 (0) 72 589 9355
E-mail: mlukani@parliament.gov.za
Source: Parliament of South Africa
