Agri SA’s drought relief fund has paid out nearly R16 million to more than 13000 commercial and emerging farmers. (REUTERS)
Agri South Africa has appealed to the corporate and public sectors to assist them with their drought relief fund.
This follows a spike in the number of commercial and emerging farmers in drought stricken areas appealing for assistance.
Thus far Agri SA’s drought relief fund has paid out nearly R16 million to more than 13000 commercial and emerging farmers.
Desperate farmers from the Northern Cape, North West, Free State and the Western Cape are the worst affected by the crisis.
The Deputy Executive of Agri SA, Christo van der Rheede says:”Many farmers in the previous season have also lost a lot of money
due to drought.”
“So there is unwillingness from the banks and big agro companies to assist these farmers. So we are appealing to government to sit around the table with all the financial institutions to come up with a plan.”
“Commercial farmers are the backbone of job creation and of economic development in deep rural areas. And if we lose these farmers, we lose investment as well.”
