Agriculture
FS govt urged to apply for drought aid ASAP─── SABRINA DEAN 17:40 Mon, 23 Feb 2015
Bloemfontein - The Free State government is being urged to conduct necessary investigations and declare drought disaster areas as soon as possible so that relief aid can be requested from national government before it is too late.
DA provincial leader Roy Jankielsohn says farming communities are struggling to cope with what could be the worst drought in twenty years.
He says he today addressed his concerns in writing to Premier Ace Magashule, Cogta MEC Olly Mlamleli and Agriculture MEC Mamiki Qabathe:
'Roy Jankielsohn'
He says he hopes the Premier will raise the issue during tomorrow’s State of the Province Address.
Free State Agriculture (FSA) has meanwhile added its voice to concerns over the drought currently holding large parts of the province to ransom. Henk Vermeulen, FSA Chief operating Officer, says the impact of a drought on farmers has far reaching consequences for rural communities.
"Any small rural town is so dependent on the farming activities in that town and all the businesses in that town are dependent on agriculture," he says.
Vermeulen says when agriculture fails to produce there is a huge impact on the rural community. "The impact is devastating in terms of employment, job security, the creation of jobs and so forth," he says.
'Roy Jankielsohn':
