Continued drought a threat for Lim as a whole
Small-scale livestock and crop farmers in the province have experienced significant losses due to the recent heat and the lack of rain.
LIMPOPO – With no sign of rain in sight, officials at the Kruger National Park (KNP) find themselves on tenterhooks, saying the persistent drought will claim the lives of many of the animals in the park. Various water sources such as rivers and dams have already run dry while others are running very low.
KNP Spokesperson, William Mabasa, says grazers such as hippopotamuses and buffaloes do not have enough food and water.
“It’s affecting mainly animals such as buffalo and hippopotamuses because they are grazers by nature and with the lack of grass they will be the first to die. Hippopotamuses have already died in some areas and the dam levels are getting lower and lower.”
Tourists visiting the Kruger National Park have described the dry conditions ravaging this national park as sad. There is also overwhelming concern about the animals at the Mopani camp.
The persistent lack of rain has also affected cattle farmers at Selwane village outside Phalaborwa, where cattle are dying, not because there is a shortage of water, but because there is no grazing.
Small-scale livestock and crop farmers in the province have experienced significant losses due to the recent heat and the lack of rain.
In November last year, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development allocated R20 million towards drought relief.
Some say they have received little assistance from government while others say they are left with no option but to use their personal funds to salvage what is left.
In some instances, cattle have died due to starvation and thirst, while crop farmers have not harvested the expected volumes.
The money allocated by government towards drought relief has not assisted most farmers. Some did not generate their expected income due to the decrease in their sales.
This forces farmers to buy fodder out of their own pockets or risk losing their livestock.
The Mopani and Sekhukhune Districts are the worst affected by the drought. Workers too have also been affected, especially seasonal workers, who might now not be needed during planting and harvesting.
Crop farmers will still need to harvest but may experience financial problems as they have already experienced huge losses.
One of the regions is the vast Springbok Flats in the Waterberg district, where farmers are facing enormous financial loss.
Thousands of emerging farmers who solely depend on rainfall for their crops and vegetables to sustain their families have also been affected.
The dry season in the province is worsening, some dams are nearly empty and water levels in some areas have declined to an all-time nadir.
Famer Willem Groothof says, “We, as farmers, are really worried because it is dry and it is difficult to work under these conditions. But we hoping it will rain this month although the damage is irreparable.”
Read more:
KNP’s wildlife hit hard by drought
Drought to affect Limpopo’s food supply
Limpopo drought: MEC urges farmers to sell off stock
