The damage to agriculture infrastructure due to dangerous flash floods seen in parts of the Western Cape recently, is estimated at R1.053 billion.
According to the Western Cape department of agriculture (WCDoA) which assessed the extent of the damage on more than 130 farm sites, the financial cost of the damage is extensive.
The estimated costs are R7.7 million for irrigation and R1.4 million for fencing infrastructure. Meanwhile, crop losses have been estimated at R278 million.
“The costs of rehabilitating rivers, riparian zones, vineyards and orchards due to large volumes of sediment removed upstream and deposited downstream in rivers, riverbanks, vineyards and orchards, [are estimated at] R748 million,” Johnson said.
There is also the loss of income for seasonal workers, estimated at around R18.7 million. Added to this is an amount of R120 000 for the clearing of a weir to provide drinking water to 400 people.
“The estimates do not consider potential losses experienced along the agriculture value chain nor provide any insight into the impact on future exports,” Johnson said.
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Farms still waterlogged
Speaking to Food For Mzansi, Johnson confirmed that not all affected farms in the province were assessed.
A rapid assessment conducted during the period 26 to 30 June 2023 considered damage to primary agriculture sites. They visited 70 sites in the Cape Winelands, 60 on the West Coast, and 7 in the Overberg area.
Almost a month after heavy rains caused havoc in some parts of the Western Cape, Angelo Marman, the owner of Abitz farming in the Swartland, told Food For Mzansi that mop-up operations have not begun on his farm. This is due to water logging.
“Cleaning up is very difficult, however, we will be starting next week. In terms of the total damage that I have incurred, it is about R120 000. As a small-scale farmer, losing such an amount is a huge loss, it’s quite massive,” he said.
Community comes together
Since the devastation, good samaritans in parts of the province have extended a helping hand to affected farming communities.
The Drakenstein Farm Watch (DFW) fire and rescue group have been feeding and clothing people residing in informal settlements and rural settings in Paarl. Most recently, five informal settlements in the rural area of Paarl were provided with hot soup and bread, bringing the total number of meals distributed to 500.
DFW general commander Daan van Leeuwen Boomkamp said that they would continue doing it until weather conditions improve.
“We must show extra compassion under these extremely harsh conditions. A few weeks back, the area suffered a water storm due to heavy downpours causing huge damage, flooding and misery. Many vegetable gardens or other means of survival were washed away, roads destroyed and dwellings badly damaged,” Van Leeuwen Boomkamp said.
Repair work underway
Officials in the province, together with the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development, are set to approach the National Disaster Management Centre to have the flood-damaged areas declared a disaster. This is to unlock the relevant funding and support that could be provided.
Restoration work in Citrusdal is currently in full swing. The road infrastructure and connections between Citrusdal and the N7 have since been restored through a stop-and-go system, the department also confirmed.
In the interim, Western Cape agriculture said it would ensure that affected producers have access to the best technical information through its extension and advisory services.
”In addition, the department will also extend its current river protection works programme to flood-affected river systems as this will mitigate the impact of future flooding,” Johnson said.
The department said they would also reprioritise existing allocations, as well as approach its national sector department and the National Disaster Management Centre to cover the costs of river protection works.
In the meantime, the South African Weather Service said cold to very cold temperatures can be expected in most parts of the province over the next few days, with snow on the high lying areas.
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