GARDEN ROUTE AGRICULTURAL NEWS - The Garden Route (Eden) and parts of the Overberg regions received fodder support to the tune of R11,37-million in March and April.
It was distributed among 599 farmers who have been struggling due to the drought.
The Western Cape agricultural department said in a statement last week that drought support in excess of R40-million has been allocated to farmers in the province for the months of March and April. Livestock farmers have been provided with vouchers to buy fodder throughout the drought.
"During the second round of the summer provincial disaster risk assessment, conducted earlier in March, it was determined that monthly support to farmers in the Central and Klein Karoo will continue, as veld conditions in those areas had not improved," said minister of economic opportunities, Beverley Schäfer.
She said agriculture is an important sector of the provincial economy and support provided helps to preserve agricultural jobs.
Most areas of the Overberg had shown recovery and support is no longer being provided there. Specific areas which are deemed to be critical will continue to receive support. Support is also still being offered to farmers in parts of the Cape Winelands, West Coast and Garden Route.
The breakdown for fodder support for March 2019 is as follows:
- Central Karoo: fodder support to 631 farmers to the value of R8 982 048,22
- Part of the Cape Winelands: fodder support to 65 farmers to the value of R525 032,42
- West Coast: fodder support to 780 farmers to the value of R7 626 311,62
- Garden Route (Eden) and parts of Overberg: fodder support to 451 farmers to the value of R4 317 252,80
The fodder support for April 2019 has been provided as follows:
- Central Karoo: fodder support to 632 farmers to the value of R8 942 584,00
- Part of the Cape Winelands: fodder support to 59 farmers to the value of R434 822,18
- West Coast: fodder support to 443 farmers to the value of R4 788 615,30
- Garden Route (Eden) and parts of Overberg: fodder support to 599 farmers to the value of R7 048 245,28.
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