Bananas were worst hit, with huge devastation in plantings in the area, according to Joachim Prinsloo, chair of the South African Banana Growers Association. Francois Vorster of the Mahela Group estimates that about 95ha of his bananas on Inzana farm suffered at least 70% damage. He also suffered damage to his avocados.
André Ernst of Allesbeste Boerdery says that there was “enormous damage” to his own 30ha of bananas and those on other farms that lay in the path of the two converging storms. His farm concentrates on avocado production which will be less affected as the harvest is four to five months away. Fruit on top of the trees will have been most damaged; early estimates are based on those at eye level, but Ernst reckons that there could be 40 to 50% losses on his avocado exports. Hail-damaged fruit will probably be downgraded and sold on the local market for processing.
Recovery from damage to banana trees will take longer. Trees that were snapped will take at least a year to regrow. There was also significant damage to buildings and the power infrastructure. “There are definitely more such weather events than in the past. People say they’ve never seen anything like it,” says Vorster.
In 2010 a hail storm completely wiped out the avocado harvest from the area.
For more information
Joachim PrinslooSouth African Banana Growers Association
Tel: +27 82 410 4290
Email: sunreaped@gmail.com
Francois Vorster
Mahela Group
Tel: +27 83 628 6064
Email: francois@mahela.co.za
www.mahela.co.za/
André Ernst
Allesbeste Boerdery
Tel: +27 82 568 3460
http://www.allesbeste.com/
Author: Carolize Jansen