The Western Cape Department of Agriculture has welcomed Government’s move to declare the on-going drought a national disaster, saying it will ensure that much-needed assistance and resources reach affected farmers.

MEC Ivan Meyer says though rain has been received in drought-stricken areas in the Western and Northern Cape, over the past few weeks, much still needs to be done as a lot of farming land still remains critically dry.

Meyer says the R 50-million grant, allocated by the Western Cape Provincial Government in 2019, assisted more than 1,700 farmers in the province to buy fodder for their animals.

Meyer says declaring the drought, a national disaster will bolster his Department’s efforts to continue supporting farmers, and will help in protecting jobs and the Western Cape agriculture economy.

Email: daniel.johnson@westerncape.gov.za