Millions lost in hail storm

The already punch drunk Hoedspruit farmers received another low blow on Tuesday night when a massive wind and hail storm caused damage worth millions of rands to their farms and, in some cases, destroyed between 80% and 100% of their crops, Letaba Herald reports.

The storm damage will not only have another severe negative effect on our farmers, but will also impact severely on the economy of the entire region.

“It came out of nowhere. It was overcast, the next thing, it was like rocks falling from above on our house,” a resident said.

Crops destroyed.

Hoedspruit farmers are counting their losses following the hail storm which caused disastrous damage to fruit trees which amounts to millions.

“All Chester farms, Antioch farms as well as Jonkmanspruit farms have been destroyed by these massive hail stones,” stated Jaco Fivaz, General Manager of Mohlatsi Farms.

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Serious damage to a car.

Jaco Fivaz, who is part of the South African Mango Growers’ Association, further stated that Mohlatsi has lost 80 to 90 percent of their mango orchid and that this does not account for losses in the coming years as the trees will not be in full production.

He further added it would take a few years for them to produce first class mangoes.

The hailstorm also affected Kampusrus and Jonkmanspruit where serious damage to property, vehicles and farms is evident

“Our farm also experienced serious damage to our property as well as vehicles. We are still counting our losses”, concluded Fivaz.

Huge sizes of ice

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– Caxton News Service