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The Northern Cape is no stranger to drought and veldfires as well as locust outbreaks, and it is for this reason that the provincial department set aside about R3.2 million towards the project which was launched in the ZF Mgcawu district, on the farm Warmsand near Upington.

Other districts that are earmarked for the lucerne project is Pixley ka Seme and Frances Baard.

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Besides being implemented to assist farmers in times of a natural disaster, the project also aims to create more than 200 jobs.

The department adds it has taken hands with farmers' organisation, the National African Farmers Union (NAFU). 

“The provincial government has put aside about R3.2m towards this initiative, which will see NAFU planting lucerne and maize in various districts such as ZF Mgcawu, Pixley ka Seme, and Frances Baard.

“Districts such as the ZF Mgcawu and Frances Baard have contributed close to 600 hectares with a total of 14 irrigation farms participating in winter and summer cropping, mainly maize and wheat production, which is a staple food in the province.”

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Locusts update

The department’s MEC, Mase Manopole, says the locust situation in the province is manageable at the moment. However, the MEC states that access to abandoned farms remain a challenge. This as locust spraying teams on the ground are unable to spray swarms in inaccessible farms. The concern is that locusts lay their eggs that hatch and go unnoticed until they reach the flyer stage.

OFM News previously reported that the provincial department procured two helicopters from the national agriculture department in order to help with aerial spraying. Manopole says this assistance has helped ground teams in areas where they are unable to access, such as farms that are inaccessible.

OFM News