Vegetable farmers hit hard by drought

THE worst drought Zululand has seen in 95 years has left the local agriculture sector high and dry, with rural farmers only producing 10% of the vegetables they managed two years ago.

Fortunately the recent rains have allowed community members to plant more crops, but according to Zululand Nurseries Managing Director Gareth Chittenden they are by no means out of the woods yet.

‘Rural farmers depend 100% on rain or they cannot plant.

‘While we have seen an increase in sales of vegetable seedlings, we could be in for another dry winter.

‘Commercial farmers who can still bank on irrigation also produced much less – down by about 40%.

‘In Mhlathuze Valley farmers are only managing to prepare half the soil they would do during normal climate conditions.

But Chittenden emphasised it does not point to a looming food crisis.

‘KZN has always imported most of its fresh produce from Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and other provinces, so even in times of drought we may not be in too much trouble.

‘Midlands for instance have had enough rain to produce good crop.’

Food crisis concerns

But Congress of the People (COPE) is not as confident about food security in the future.

‘In November 2015, Stats SA released GDP figures showing three consecutive quarters of steep decline in agricultural activity,’ said COPE spokesperson Dennis Bloem.

‘Maize, sunflower and sugarcane farmers have been hit very hard by the drought.

‘Maize and wheat and other food will therefore have to be imported and the weaker rand will drive up the price quite considerably.

‘Data also showed that 22% of households in the country ran out of money to buy food some time during the 12 months prior to the survey.’

With food price hikes, Bloem believes the situation of food security is going to be severely compromised this winter.

‘In the same way that Operation Hydrate came into existence, someone will need to start an Operation Feed very quickly.

‘Almost half of all South African households have been unable to afford the food they need to purchase.

‘Many more will soon be going to bed hungry and dispirited. Action is needed very urgently.’

Economist Ian Cruickshanks also last week warned that price increases will put too much pressure on financially stressed households.

‘The latest estimates from the South African Crop Estimates Committee suggested a maize harvest of just over seven million tonnes this year – down from almost 10 million tonnes in 2015.

‘Potato prices, as one example, is already at record highs bringing home the full impact of the drought.’