Agri podcast: Drought disaster declaration welcomed

The announcement of a national drought disaster declaration has been widely welcomed in the farming community. This follows after farmers in drought-stricken areas of the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape provinces made urgent requests for drought relief after they have been faced with severe drought for about six to nine years. The national drought disaster declaration was published on Tuesday 20 July by Dr Mmaphaka Tau, head of the National Disaster Management Centre. Agri SA welcomes this declaration and says in a statement that further assistance is urgently needed to stabilise local economies and preserve what is left of core breeding herds. Farmers and communities have also received continuous aid from the private sector, donors and ordinary people. Dr Tau has also called on state organs to strengthen existing structures and activate contingency plans to address the disaster. Meanwhile, Agri SA, in collaboration with Agri Western Cape, Agri Eastern Cape and Agri Northern Cape, launched a drought project this month due to the critical drought conditions experienced by agricultural communities. This project showcases touching stories of farmers that give a human perspective on the disaster.