Agriculture producers in the region of the Clanwilliam Dam who still need water for the next few months, are concerned about the level of the dam. The dam currently stands at 36% compared to last week's 40%.
Mr Cornie Swart, President of Agri Western Cape, says although it is almost the end of the season, temperatures are still very high. Citrus producers, vineyard producers that need to apply post-harvest fertilizer and producers who have replaced vineyards in the drought with cash crops like vegetables, still need water.
Mr Swart says there is a possibility that producers may be subject to water restrictions if the dam level drops to 25%. He says there is no clarity when construction work on the Clanwilliam Dam will begin and agriculture has no security that it will. The Department of Water and Sanitation last year said that construction work would be completed by March 2023.
“Agri Western Cape will welcome the commencement of construction work. The area is a large citrus producing region with the ideal climate for it, but water remains the challenge,” he said. He says with a water quota, approximately 5,000 ha of land between the Bulshoek and Clanwilliam dams can be developed with high-value export crops such as citrus and table and wine grapes. It will also create opportunities for land reform projects and the establishment of new producers.
For more information:
Jeanne Boshoff
Agri Western Cape
Tel: +27 (0) 71 170 3744
jeanne@awk.co.za
www.growinggreatness.co.za