R10 million in fodder support distributed in the Western Cape

The Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) has distributed R10 million in fodder support to 1727 farmers located in extreme or critically extreme drought areas in the Western Cape.

These areas include Central and Little Karoo, parts of the Cape Winelands and the northern parts of Matzikamma.

The distribution of fodder support vouchers to qualifying farmers has occurred with full regard for the Covid-19 lockdown regulations.

For information regarding the nation-wide lockdown and agriculture, including protocols and guidelines regarding the transport of seasonal agri-workers and health and safety in the workplace, the WCDoA provides a frequently-asked-questions toolkit for the agricultural sector.

This toolkit is available at http://www.elsenburg.com/sites/default/files/FAQ-COVID-19-Version7.pdf

During the last six years of persistent drought, the WCDoA has provided approximately R241 million worth of fodder support vouchers to farmers across the Western Cape.

Co-ops, farmers and officials of the WCDoA and Casidra did well to ensure that the fodder vouchers reached affected farmers within the first few weeks of the new financial year.

Despite the worst drought in 100 years as well as the Covid-19 pandemic farmers, producers and agri-workers have continued to contribute towards food security.

I am thankful to the agricultural sector for the role it is playing in the Western Cape amidst COVID -19.