Savage weather wipes out Cape crops

SAVAGE weat her over the past week – hail, frost and snow – has wreaked havoc on hundreds of deciduous and grape farms in the Cape, some producers losing entire harvests. So dire is the situation that an appeal for aid has been made to the national minister of agriculture. Agri- West Cape reports that many farmers and their workers face the bleak prospect of no income. Damage of more than R20 million was caused to 34 farms between Ladismith and Lainsburg, where between 70% and 100% of wine grape, apricot and peach crops was wiped out. Also hard hit were farms at Ceres (apples) Montagu (apricots, pears, peaches and plums for the export market), Robertson (plums) and other areas, such as Bo- Matroosberg, Koue Bokkeveld, Grabouw, Franschhoek and Caledon. Concerns have been expressed that fruit, pears in particular, may be difficult to find in shops next year, hail having destroyed up to 8 000 tons worth some R20 million. Along with the likelihood of certain fruit shortages is the grim prospect of skyrocketing meat prices due to the prolonged drought in the Central Karoo, including Beaufort W est, Prince Albert and Murraysburg. The Red Meat Producers’Organisation says it is too early to start worrying about price hikes, while the Deciduous Fruit Producers' Trust expects this year’s harvest to be good, weather damage notwithstanding.