As veld fires continue to ravage the grazing land across many parts of the country agricultural leaders and oversight committees in different provinces have called for a more proactive and sustainable approach.
Chairperson of the portfolio committee on agriculture, land reform and rural development in North West Bitsa Lenkopane said while farmers were being assisted with animal feed, agricultural infrastructure remained the biggest elephant in the room.
According to Lenkopane, at least 150 000 hectares of land in the Kagisano Molopo municipal area have been gutted by fire.
What is the plan?
“It is concerning that though devastating veld fires have been persistent in the areas since October 2022, there is no mitigative plan in place – like having temporary working firebases stationed in those areas that are most affected,” she said.
Lenkopane called for a more aggressive and collaborative plan from the government and stakeholders to ensure that the much-needed help is given, before adding that even the committee itself was putting all hands on deck.
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“The committee is observing how relevant stakeholders are responding to these fires with great disappointment.
“The committee is intensifying its engagement with all involved to join hands and ensure that there is a reinforcement of fire officers as well as provisions of grading machines and equipment that can be used to re-activate access roads and fire belts in farms,” she added.
Lenkopane expressed that farmers should be given the necessary support and training so that they could be able to assist in bringing the fire under control.
“The committee felt that the crisis highlights the intricate relationship and lack of coherent plans between relevant government departments and district and local municipalities,” she said.
Farmers need lasting solutions
Meanwhile, in Limpopo, leader of the FF Plus Marcelle Maritz urged premier Stan Mathabatha to declare Bela Bela a disaster area following the weekend’s devastating veld fires which destroyed the Mabalingwe game farm and 52 farmhouses.
“The animals at the game farm have nothing to graze on and people’s homes have been destroyed which requires urgent intervention from the provincial government and the various stakeholders,” she said.
In the Northern Cape, thousands of grazing lands in the town of Danielskuil were destroyed while farmers also lost livestock and houses.
Saamtrek Saamwerk leader Sehularo Sehularo has called on farmers and the government to gather around a table and come up with lasting solutions since veld fires tend to crop every year, surprising most.
“It is high time we come up with practical solutions. Pointing fingers every year will not help us, In the end, people’s livelihoods can be compromised and jobs are at risk. It is not about who is wrong but what can we all do to bring this to an end,” he said.
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