By Nkhensani Mthombeni
- Limpopo’s extreme heat and drought are killing livestock and crops, leaving poor farmers without water.
- Strong winds and fires have damaged farms, leading officials to promise help and to ask the national government to declare a disaster zone.
Extreme heat and dry weather have hit Limpopo farmers hard, with livestock dying and crops failing in the Vhembe and Mopani districts.
“Cattle are dying from drought and crops are dry and dying, because there is no water,” said Adam Mabunda, head of Mopani Farmers Association.
“Most people saved up to drill boreholes with the hope of getting water in order to maintain their farms, but there is also no water underground.
“When they dig they only find mud.”
The dying animals and crops belong mostly to poor farmers trying to feed their families.
Recent temperatures reached 43 degrees, causing wildfires in Tzaneen and Magoebaskloof. Strong winds damaged farming equipment in Giyani, Phalaborwa and Tzaneen.
“Some of our farmers had their water tanks damaged after the strong winds. They lost tanks which have 10,000-litres capacity and cost almost R20,000 each.
“This is a tragedy for our industry because most of them don’t have the financial capacity to buy all these items which they have lost,” he said.
Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba and Agriculture MEC Nakedi Kekana visited struggling Giyani farmers in mid-October
They promised to ask the national government to declare the area a disaster zone and donated over 13,200kg of feed to help farmers.
Earlier this year, Scrolla.Africa launched the Climate Media Awards with R100,000 in prizes.
Check out Scrolla.Africa’s climate stories here.
Pictured above: Drought-stricken farmers attending a meeting with Limpopo premier, Dr Phophi Ramathuba at Phakani Village in Giyani.
Source: Supplied
