GOOD rain in recent weeks has relieved some pressure for Eastern Cape farmers, but with cash flows all but exhausted due to the drought, the future is still far from certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Agri Eastern Cape president Doug Stern, farmers in the province have been under great pressure for four concurrent seasons, in which they have received \u201cway below average rainfall\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe recent rains were great news for some, with the level of the Kouga Dam rising from an unsustainable 7% to over 50%,\u201d said Stern. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut while that takes the pressure off farmers in the Hankey and Patensie area, who are reliant on that water to produce crops from potatoes to citrus, it does not help the rest of the province, especially the northern areas where there are huge problems due to the extremely cold weather experienced in August and September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe late, unexpected cold weather was not conducive to vegetation growth. That, and also there is a desperate need for follow-up rains<\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Stern pointed out that, due to the drought, many farmers\u2019 cash flows had been exhausted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe only thing which saved many farmers from going under is the huge increase in commodity prices for red meat, fibre and citrus. Without that increase, results would have been disastrous for all concerned,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese prices are expected to remain inflated for at least five years as farmers try to rebuild their herds.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" GOOD rain in recent weeks has relieved some pressure for Eastern Cape farmers, but with cash flows all but exhausted due to the drought, the future is still far from 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