Agriculture
Drought debate may be too little too late─── SABRINA DEAN 18:14 Mon, 30 May 2016
Bloemfontein - Agriculture roleplayers say although they are delighted at an announcement last week that Parliament will open the debate on declaring the drought a national disaster, fears still remain that it may be too little too late.
Agri SA Executive Director, Omri van Zyl, says they have been lobbying for the drought to be declared a national disaster for a long time now. He says this is necessary to protect South Africa’s food production base and assist farmers.
However, Van Zyl says with the debate only expected to get under way following the election in August, the fear is that time is running out.
“Clearly if this happens it will probably only happen in August/September – the winter would be almost over by that time.
“Our other concern is the next planting season that’s approaching. Some of the interventions that we’ve been asking for need to be in place to assist our farmers by that time.”
Van Zyl last week confirmed that Agri SA's drought relief fund is currently standing at around R18 million with the aim to collect about R50 million.
OFM News
Drought debate may be too little too late:
