NC needs long-term drought support plan
12 November 2019
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape will be increasing pressure on provincial government to implement a 10-year drought support and climate change mitigation plan in the Northern Cape.
This is critical because even if the Northern Cape has three years of good rain, it will take another seven years to recover from this crippling drought.
This is our commitment following a session held today between myself, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, and approximately 100 commercial and small-scale farmers from across the province, amidst the worst drought in the past 100 years. While Premier Zamani Saul and Agriculture MEC NomandlaBloem were also invited, they unfortunately could not attend.
I will, however, be engaging with the Premier on today’s deliberations, as I am convinced that the matter of the drought is of equal importance to him and I am eager to get our multi-party democracy working on level that has not previously materialised.
Although the conditions under which we met are tragic, given the devastating effects of the drought, we have been inspired by how commercial and emerging farmers have come out from their farms to engage with us on an apolitical platform, despite the dire circumstances in which they find themselves.
We are especially encouraged by the immense value that the WC government places on agriculture. This shows us that much more can be done by the provincial government to support agriculture, if the political will exists.
Dr Meyer shared with us how, within just seven days, he was able to successfully invoke Section 25 of the PFMA on the Western Cape provincial cabinet to set aside R50 million in drought relief within just seven days, after which drought relief coupons were ready to be handed out to farmers in dire need.
Dr Meyer further indicated that he has already submitted a request for another R147 million, as the R50 million will only take them through to December 2019.
In addition to this, the WC government has also availed an additional R100 000 for farmer support, which very importantly includes emotional, psychological and pastoral support to the many farmers who find themselves in dark times, some who have even committed suicide.
While we remain grateful for the R30 million allocated to the Northern Cape by Deputy President David Mabuza, earlier this year, the reality is that this money is just a drop in the ocean.
The situation in the Northern Cape is even more dire than in the Western Cape and warrants an immediate intervention on a provincial level, while we continue to wait for the drought to be gazetted as a provincial disaster so that additional funds can be allocated.
I therefore commit to continue pushing the provincial government to allocate more resources towards drought relief and to place more priority on agriculture.
I also look forward to a commitment made by Dr Meyer to develop a memorandum of understanding in Agriculture between the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape and the Northern Cape, that will enable us to share knowledge and ideas, and better support each other, especially in times as difficult as these.
Issued by Andrew Louw, DA Northern Cape Provincial Leader, 12 November 2019
