Concerns allayed over fire impact on exports

The Western Cape provincial
government has allayed
concerns over the impact of
the recent wave of fires on the
province’s export figures.
Minister of economic
opportunities in the province,
Alan Winde, told FTW
that while the fires had had
a devastating effect on the
agriculture and tourism
sectors, they were unlikely to
affect the numbers.
“Of course it has had a tragic
and detrimental impact on
those farms hit – where you
have a burnt vineyard or a lost
olive orchard. It will impact
on that individual business,
but not necessarily on the
provincial export figures of
agricultural products.”
He said he had requested
detail on the financial
implications of the fires –
especially on the agricultural
sector.
“Agriculture is a tough
business to be in,” said Winde.
“You take normal business
risks and you add a whole host
of other costs and risks to the
industry such as fire, drought
and disease. Our farmers have
not had it easy in the past few
years.”
He said while the figures
would not necessarily be
impacted it did not mean that
farmers were not affected
economically.
“We’ve had reports of crop
damage due to fires in various
parts of the province,” said
Winde emphasising that the
ongoing drought and rising
temperatures had increased the
Western Cape’s fire risk.
“There is, however, no doubt
that many of these fires have
been set on purpose. At one
stage two weeks ago we had on
average 75 fires a day across the
province,” he said. “Yes, many
are because of negligence, but
we have also had lots of reports
of people lighting fires, but
unfortunately very few arrests.”
Winde said an ongoing
concern and economic risk,
however, remained the drought
which he believed would see
local food prices rise and
ultimately – if it continued for
much longer – affect exports.
“The drought at this point is
a bigger risk than the fires and
has a far longer-term effect –
not only on the Western Cape
economy and figures but the
entire country.”