Ceres region farmers getting by despite drought in the Western Cape
“Recent weather forecasts indicate that we might see a return of the El Nino weather pattern in the new season (2017/18), however, it is early days as the situation may improve. Already, the weather forecasts have signalled a possibility of above normal rainfall for late autumn to mid-winter which is a welcome relief for the Western Cape winter crop areas” says Paul Makube, Senior Agricultural Economist at FNB Business.
While many areas are affected by the drought in the Western Cape some have been spared. The Ceres region for example, is reportedly doing fine. Although the situation with dam levels is dire, some farmers have on-farm water storage capacity for irrigation which is not for human consumption. Nonetheless, some vegetable farmers who do not have this capacity are expected to face a bleak future if it does not rain sooner.
“While both the overall SA producer and consumer inflation are expected to moderate in the coming months, local trends may remain stubbornly high if the drought conditions persists. The agri-value chain may come under pressure and impede potential job growth in the sector. With that said, we remain hopeful that the much needed rains will return in the coming month,” concludes Makube.
source: mycapetown.co.za
