As the veld fire season approaches, farmers have been urged to be proactive in dealing with fires to minimise the impact of loss of crops and livestock.
Media liaison for the Northern Cape department of agriculture and land reform Bassy Silingile said farmers should continue to practise precautionary measures when dealing with veld fires.
Silingile said between May and July this year, a total of 15 393 hectares of grazing land were ravaged by veld fires in some parts of the province, mainly in the Kuruman area.
Working together
“Farmers are encouraged to form fire protection associations and to be members as well. Farmers and farming communities, through the associations, need to be capacitated on the importance of preventing veld fires and the construction strategy of fire belts.
“It is also important that farmers be trained on how to control veld fires and to use different fire-fighting equipment,” he said.
Silingile said all stakeholders must prioritise reducing the risk of veld fires as well as preparedness to combat fires that might occur during this season.
“Annually, veld fires result in disastrous damage to natural grazing land, animals, and properties, while in some instances it leads to loss of human life.
“The department is making a plea to farmers, farm dwellers and motorists to continue acting wisely when dealing with open fires and when operating machinery or smoking,” he said.
Government, get your house in order
North West Umbrella Fire Protection Association chairperson Eric Stoch said municipalities and provincial governments are not well equipped to deal with veld fires that continue to have a negative impact on food security and cause job losses.
Stoch said immediate problems needed to be attended to before it is too late. “There is no adequate local water supply, how do you put out a fire without water?
“The working in silos by all stakeholders is what is leading to these problems. A lack of consequence management, theft and loss of water equipment and electricity remains some of the problems that need to be dealt with.”
Veld fires strategies needed
According to Stoch, government need to play its part as decision-makers and people with resources.
“The provincial governments need to develop a five-year strategic plan and annual performance plan on how to deal with veld fires, establish an incident command system training and roll-out plan.
“Improve and develop relationships and the involvement of traditional leaders and we should stop working in silos,” he said.
Stoch said it was important that government implement a veld fires strategy and get everyone on the board, with a key focus on safeguarding food security and many jobs in the rural community that are solely relying on agriculture.
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