DESPITE the welcome rains of the past week in some areas of the drought-stricken Eastern Cape, the situation could become catastrophic if hard, penetrating downpours stay away much longer.
Guillau du Toit, chairperson of the National Woolgrowers Association (NWGA), said earlier this week that there was no reserve fodder in the veld of the summer rainfall areas and without penetrating rains, the winter will be a huge challenge for survival.
“Should we get some rain it will obviously bring some relief, but follow-up rains over a long period will be necessary to ensure that the veld will be able to recover properly.”
He said farmers always did everything in their power to keep their animals alive.
“It is a big worry to me when I think about how financially drained these farmers are.
“This will contribute to the manner in which they will be able to recover without having to give up something valuable,” Du Toit added.
“It is very difficult in South Africa to start from the beginning again. Large parts of the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape are still critically dry and livestock numbers are being reduced regularly.
“But, even though fodder is donated on a large scale, transport costs make it extremely difficult to fetch it from faraway places,” Du Toit added.
Francois du Toit, chairperson of the Eastern Cape Red Meat Producers Organisation (ECRPO), agreed with the comments of Guillau du Toit, and added that the critical drought had not been broken in any part of the province, despite the rain.
“In the areas where good rains fell there has been no veld recovery yet, which is a huge problem, as one is inclined to put one’s animals in those camps as it appears to show some recovery.
“These areas must therefore be looked after very carefully.
“Certain areas around Aberdeen, Jansenville and Steytlerville are still extremely bad and with the cold winter weather moving in, the growth season of plants is much shorter,” he said.
“There are currently fewer deaths among the livestock, mainly because producers have only minimal stock remaining.
“Many of them still feed their animals, but costs are a huge problem.
“Should you have to feed cattle for a season, it means that you physically buy every animal back because of the cost of the fodder,” he added. – LOURENS SCHOEMAN