The Western Cape is currently experiencing severe weather-related incidents. Numerous schools have been shut and falling tree branches have impacted numerous roads. The agriculture sector has not been spared with farmers counting the cost of the damage.
This follows fires, heavy rains, severe winds, and infrastructure damage in some areas of the province. As of Sunday, 7 April 2024, the South African Weather Services announced an upgrade from a level 6 to 9 weather warning. The alert is valid through today.
Many fruit industries may be affected
This is the second act of disaster in as many months after another weather-related incident in October 2023 that resulted in the closure of numerous roads and bridges, some of which are crucial to the agricultural sector.
Right now, the marketing season for citrus, one of South Africa’s top exportable goods, is starting. Furthermore, some pome fruit products, including pears and apples, had not yet been picked, and high winds might seriously harm farmers who had not yet finished harvesting their crops, leading to losses.
This is noteworthy because the country’s exports of pears and apples normally come from the Western Cape, which accounts for at least 85% and over 80% of total exports, respectively.
Since citrus is often one of the major agricultural products exported and is predicted to expand even more for the current marketing season, some setbacks may arise from any major infrastructure damage. Some citrus is exported via the Cape Town port.
Apple exports from South Africa were valued at R8.9 billion in 2023, a new record, having grown by an average of 65.3% year between 2019 and 2023 and by 11.5% annually as of that year.
On the other hand, over an average of five years (2019 to 2023), pear exports increased by 37.2% in value terms to reach R3.6 billion in 2023, a small decline from the previous year.
Threat to jobs
There have been reports of damage to some infrastructure in the Winelands, Overberg, and Helderberg. There were also reports of fires affecting at least one farm. Rooftops have been cleared away, and it is unclear whether agricultural storage facilities in the impacted areas are at risk or impacted.
Due to the province’s significant contribution to the country’s overall agricultural job creation – particularly in the horticulture industries – these consecutive setbacks might negatively affect farmers, which would eliminate jobs in that sector.
In the agricultural sector specifically, since it’s the time of year when a lot of products, notably citrus, are getting ready for the market, prompt action from the government and industry will be needed to handle the situation and lessen the effects of these weather occurrences.
Considering that the events are now claimed to have had a major impact on residential areas, government officials would likely prioritise saving human lives over evaluating the events’ total impact. However, given the recent developments, infrastructure supporting the agricultural industry will need to be prioritised if it becomes necessary.
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