The Agricultural sector in West coast in Cape Town (South Africa) has recorded a financial loss of about R14 billion ($1 billion), due to the drought which persists for three years now.

The information relayed by Businesslive, was announced by Carl Opperman, Agri Western Cape‘s managing director, an organization dedicated to agricultural development in the region.

According to the executive, this severe weather has, not only hit the sector’s water supply down by 60-87% but also led to the slaughter of 22% of sheep herds.

“No more roughage is available in the Western Cape — this also puts pressure on the dairy sector. Grazing and feed shortages resulted in massive culling, causing local red meat supply to tighten, and meat price increases as a result of the drought-induced shortages,” he said.

About 33,000 agricultural jobs have been cut so far while more than 50, 000 seasonal workers would receive lower income, or no income at all, the website reports.

Let’s note that the Province is one of the agricultural economy’s mainstays in the country. The region provides about 20% of the workforce and accounts for about 22% of agricultural GDP.

Espoir Olodo