Staff Reporter
Free State Agriculture and Rural Development MEC William Bulwane says he has asked the Department of Cooperative Governance to declare the flood-ravaged farming communities in the province disaster areas so that they can get dedicated support from the government and other organisations.
Bulwane told a virtual media briefing on Tuesday that farmers in several districts in the province urgently needed support as they have suffered extensive damage to their crops, infrastructure and inputs.
“We are in the process of engaging the provincial treasury for immediate financial relief and the Department of Cooperative Governance to declare the area disaster-stricken should the need arise,” he said.
Among the areas where farmers have suffered extensive losses are: Bultfontein, Hoopstad, Parys, Vredefort, Viljoenskroon, Heilbron, Bothaville, Wesselsbron, Kroonstad, Steynsrus, Bethullie, Reitz, Lindley, Bethlehem, Fouriesburg, Slabberts, some areas in Qwaqwa, Paul Roux, Clarens, Ficksburg, Marquard, Senekal, Kestell and Harrismith.
In some areas, farmers received up to 140mm of rain in a day resulting in the soils being saturated, leading to the floods.
One farmer, according to Bulwane, had an entire 400-hectare maize crop flooded and the farmer does not expect any meaningful harvest due to the excessive rains.
He could however not be drawn into giving an estimate of the losses incurred by farmers as well as damage to infrastructure such roads, bridges and other buildings.
“I wouldn’t want to thumb-suck a figure at this point. We are looking at it holistically,” said Bulwane.
“It’s not just the damage to crops that we are looking at. We are also looking at the damage to farm dwellings, the roads, the silos, equipment and other inputs damaged by the floods.
“We are working with a team of experts . . . you need a scientific formula to establish the extent of the damage.
“We expect those who are insured to be covered but we are also working closely with them to see how we can assist.”
The Disaster and Risk Management and Extension Services teams were deployed soon after the rains to assess the damage and compile a detailed report on the extent of the damage.
The provincial public works department is set to start working on collapsed low-lying bridges so that farming operations are not adversely affected.
The social development department has assisted at least eight affected households of farmworkers and farm dwellers.
A further 21 beneficiaries received food parcels, blankets and clothes.
No animals have been killed by the floods as most of them were moved to higher ground ahead of the heavy rains.
In some cases, however, police have had to use a helicopter to rescue animals trapped in low-lying areas.