THE Department of Water and Sanitation has marginally eased farmers\u2019 Kouga Dam water allocations from 20% to 40% of their usual annual drawings, after negotiations with the Gamtoos Irrigation Board (GIB) and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The department\u2019s move follows rains in the region which raised the level of the dam in September from 7% to its current 54%, with the combined levels of dams in the Algoa water system also sitting at 54%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But farmers and the irrigation board, while grateful for the marginal easing of restrictions, maintain that the department could have been more lenient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is more water available, and the allocation could perhaps have been increased to 60%. But we are grateful to the department \u2013 and especially to the department\u2019s regional representatives \u2013 for fighting to achieve the lifting of restrictions to 40% [of farmers\u2019 annual allocations],\u201d said GIB CEO Pierre Joubert, adding that 200 farmers drew water from the dam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf the Algoa system reaches 65%, then all restrictions pertaining to irrigation will be lifted per the government regulations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
GIB chairman and farmer in the valley, Tertius Meyer, agreed that the department had erred on the side of caution and could have been more lenient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn October 2017, the Kouga Dam was at 12,4% capacity and farmers were allocated 40% [of the usual annual water allocation]. Today the dam is sitting at over 50%, yet they get the same allocation. It just does not make sense,\u201d said Meyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
GIB financial and HR manager Rienette Colesky says the increased allocation, however marginal, was still welcome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe news is welcome,\u201d she said. \u201cFarmers using the Kouga system were under severe stress due to the extremely low water allocation. This will make a bit of a difference and we can all breathe a little easier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Grewar Oosthuizen, First National Bank\u2019s agricultural manager for the western parts of the Eastern Cape, the easing of restrictions would put farmers in a better position to plant crops and employ more seasonal workers during harvest time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAn allocation of 40% is more in line with the amount of water allocated last year, and farmers will be able to manage their land better, although the future still depends on how much rain we get in the next few months.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Oosthuizen, the biggest knock-on effect of the restricted allocations could be on seasonal workers and hard-pressed consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe first thing that happens when a drought grips is that farmers cut back on vegetable production, resulting in products being imported from other provinces at an increased cost,\u201d he said. \u201cThis also has a massive impact on seasonal workers, with many breadwinners failing to get work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAny water restrictions have a negative socio-economic impact on especially seasonal workers due to smaller crops. At the present allocation of only 40%, this impact is significant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHowever, even if just some farmers decide to start growing cash crops again, seasonal pickers will find work, and with a reduced need to import products, prices could actually drop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Oosthuizen, banks are aware of the risk of seasonal droughts and assist wherever possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBanks have a massive interest in farmers\u2019 well-being, but the drought is always a concern in highly intensive farming, so the easing of restrictions will provide some financial relief,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDrought is part of normal risk and, while it obviously differs from client to client, the easing of restrictions should make it easier for farmers to access finance.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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