Floods also had a severe impact in Province’s agriculture

By Yamkela Xhaso
18 November

Last week floods over the Western Cape are known to be the most destructive in history, this is according to chief executive officer of Agri-SA Western Cape Carl Opperman.

Opperman says the floods that destroyed infrastructure in the Overberg and Cape Winelands regions have also caused severe damage to agriculture.

The floods left some vineyards and crops washed away with farmers estimating the damage to millions of rands.

“This is one of the most severe floods we’ve aver had, not only it was over a very vast area but the damage that has caused”

Opperman said the damage is more than they had in the past. Towsrivier, De Doorns, Worcester, Rosenville, Robertson, Swellendam, Caledon and Bedasdorp all the areas were severely damaged.

Carl Opperman said that a few vineyards have been lost and orchards have been completely washed away and also there has been a lot of wheat that was cut.

Some wheat that has not been harvested yet was also cut and other wheat was lying in the ground.
The land is still very wet and when one gets in it is very wet. Some roads are wet and people cannot get in with tractors.

“When a tractor goes in the there that it will actually fall flat in its tummy” said Opperman.

Opperman said they would have to wait for the water to dry up and then they can go in and make an assessment of what the cost is.