Simamkele
Vakaza
04
February 2016
The
Western Cape regional fruit production sector has suffered losses amounting to
R720m. The wine industry alone has suffered damage to the tune of R 20m thus
far, as around 82 hectares of vineyards have been lost due drought and fires.
Recover will not be quick as some affected regions will take years to recover.
The full extent of the damage caused by the drought and fires will be assessed
in the few weeks to come.
“I think we have no choice as a country to
continue to focus on the drought and find solutions going forward”, said Beverly
Schafer.
“We have
been engaging in with farmers regularly not necessarily with these
organisations. We've engaged with farm workers, we've gone on over site visits,
said Schafer.
“I think the real key is for the committee to
understand the reality of where we’re at in the Province that’s very important
because we can’t drive issues”, she added.
“As the
committee we don’t actually understand it and we not getting passionate enough
to make sure that the government is actually doing what they need to be doing
to minimize the risks”, she concluded.
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