1. PRESENTATION ON DROUGHT RELIEF INTERVENTIONS TO FARMERS
PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WATER AND SANITATION
PRESENTATION ON DROUGHT RELIEF INTERVENTIONS TO FARMERS
25 OCTOBER 2017

2. PRESENTATION LAYOUT Acronyms Purpose Introduction Weather conditions
Seasonal forecast
Interventions
Expenditure Report
Sector drought relief interventions 2016/17
Current conditions
Future plans
Way forward

3. ACRONYMS
ARC Agricultural Research Council DAFF Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries NC Northern Cape NDMC National Disaster Management Centre NGOs Non- Governmental Organisations PMDR Prevention and Mitigation of Disaster Risk WC Western Cape

4. PURPOSE
To provide progress on the implementation of drought interventions with special focus on the Western Cape Province.

5. INTRODUCTION
South Africa received below-normal rainfall during the latter part of the 2014/15 summer season through to early 2016/17. The continued low rainfall resulted in dry conditions with drought being reported in all nine provinces. Eight provinces with the exclusion of Gauteng declared state of drought disaster in accordance with Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No.57 of 2002).
Government departments in partnership with private sector and NGOs made collective effort to manage the situation.
However, the drought conditions are still persisting, poor veld conditions resulting from poor rainfall of the past season continues, especially in the Western Cape, parts of the Eastern Cape and parts of the Northern Cape.
Due to persisting drought conditions exacerbated by recent veld fires, the Western Cape declared a provincial state of drought disaster, and requested additional funding from National Treasury through the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC).

6. WEATHER CONDITIONS Figure 1 Figure 2
Figure 1 depicts assessment of rainfall from April to June The rainfall was below normal during this period over the winter rainfall areas and some parts of the central interior of the country. Other regions of the country received near normal to above normal rainfall.
Rainfall during July to September remained below normal in the winter rainfall areas, as well as over most of the country (Figure 2). Along the south coast, the rainfall was near-normal to above normal.
Figure 1
Figure 2

7. WEATHER CONDITIONS…. Figure 3
Figure 3 shows poor conditions of vegetation during September 2017 mainly in the winter rainfall areas, including parts of the Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. Other areas of the country indicate normal conditions of vegetation.
Figure 3

8. SEASONAL FORECAST
The forecasting system is currently very uncertain on a specific direction of rainfall during late spring; however, there are strong indications that wetter conditions could be expected from early to mid-summer. Temperatures are mostly expected to be above-normal during late spring becoming cooler for early and mid-summer.
With the seasonal forecast in mind, and the current conditions, farmers are advised to continually conserve water and other resources in accordance with the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act 1983, (Act No. 43 of 1983).

9. SEASONAL FORECAST…
Dry land summer crop farmers should wait for sufficient moisture before planting, stay within the normal planting window and consider relevant cultivars in line with the forecast. Farmers using irrigation should plant in line with water restrictions/ availability in their areas. Farmers should follow the weather and climate forecast regularly so as to make informed decisions.
Livestock farmers are advised to continue to have precautionary measures in place. These include provision of additional feed such as relevant licks, maintenance of livestock in accordance with available grazing, provision of enough water points in the farm where possible, as well as shelter during bad weather conditions.

10. SEASONAL FORECAST...
The risk remains high for conditions conducive for veld fires as the veld is dry in areas with sufficient biomass, and veld fires have been reported in several provinces. Farmers are encouraged to maintain firebreaks and adhere to veld fire warnings. Episodes of localized flooding resulting from thunderstorms are likely and preventative measures should be in place. Heat waves are also likely to occur during spring and summer and therefore measures to combat these should be in place. Farmers are encouraged to implement measures provided in the early warning information issued.

11. 2017/18 DROUGHT INTERVENTIONS
The Province has, as of 15 August 2017 spent R59m on provision of animal feed, assisting 4156 farmers, whereby 1684 were commercial farmers and 2472 were smallholder farmers.
National Treasury allocated R40m to the Province for veldfires and agricultural drought relief through NDMC disaster grant framework.
The fund will be utilised for provision of animal feed.
The water infrastructure will be handled by the Department of Water and Sanitation which has been allocated R34.8m for drought relief.

12. 2016/17 DROUGHT INTERVENTIONS…
Province
Quantity of Bags(delivered)
Number of farmers
Eastern Cape
tonnes of Lucerne and pellets
3503
Free State
92861
8526
KwaZulu-Natal
83294
13 535
Limpopo
105479
13 758
Mpumalanga
72 500 bags(drought pellets) 11 130 (molasses)
16 167
Northern Cape
73 000
1881
North West
145855
27528
Western Cape
37287
940
 Total  
85 838

13. EXPENDITURE REPORT
PROVINCE
ALLOCATION
BUDGET
ORDER AMOUNT
EXPENDITURE
TO DATE
BALANCE
PERCENTAGE
Eastern Cape R R R R
Free State R R R R
KwaZulu-Natal R R R R
Limpopo R R R R
Mpumalanga R R R R
Northern Cape R R R R
North West R R R R
Western Cape R R R R
R (operational funds) R R
GRAND TOTAL R R R R
DAFF requested a roll-over which was not approved. However, DAFF used its own funds to make outstanding payments.

14. SECTOR DROUGHT RELIEF INTERVENTIONS 2016/17
Some provinces allocated their equitable share amounting to R198 million towards drought relief.
Funding from Prevention and Mitigation of Disaster Risk (PMDR) was also expended on drought relief through drilling and equipping of boreholes.
The equipping of boreholes through PMDR in Limpopo and North West Provinces is continuing.
R212million was made available for provision of animal feeds in all drought disaster declared provinces, out of which Western Cape received R12 million.
940 farmers benefitted, of which 313 were commercial farmers and 627 were subsistence farmers.

15. CURRENT CONDITIONS IN THE WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE
Below normal rainfall continues in the province.
Cereal crop production is not that positive in most areas.
Swartland and the eastern part of the Southern Cape could result in below to extremely below normal crops.
Parts of the Overberg could result in improved crops.
Livestock production remains under stress in most districts.
Poor veld conditions resulting from poor rainfall of the past season continues.
In order to provide sufficient additional feed, farmers have been receiving necessary drought aid in most districts.
The average level of major dams has decreased (36% in 2017; 62% of 2016).

16. FUTURE PLANS
The Department facilitates the implementation of Disaster Risk Management in the sector through the:-
Disaster Management Act (Act No. 57 of 2002),
Disaster Management Amendment Act (Act No. 16 of 2015),
National Disaster Management Framework of 2005 and other supporting legislations to address vulnerabilities towards natural hazards including drought.
This implies that more emphasis is put on proactive disaster risk reduction approach which entails disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness.

17. FUTURE PLANS…
Provinces are encouraged to develop drought management action plans and to date they are developing their provincial disaster management as well as contingency plans which are hazard specific as per legislation; [NC and WC are at advanced stage already].
Provinces are also encouraged to make allocations for disasters through equitable share and reprioritisation of existing projects to augment National Treasury allocations.
The proactive approach will be achieved through the implementation of Sectoral Disaster Risk Management Plan and other policies which are based on the following priority areas:

18. FUTURE PLANS…
Establishing integrated institutional capacity and support at all levels of government.
Increasing awareness and preparedness on impending disasters.
Reducing disaster risks through appropriate research plans.
Developing risk reduction and mitigation plans.
Establishing and implementing response, recovery and rehabilitation programmes.
Current work done by ARC, WC and Gauteng provinces on fodder improvement should be considered within the sector.
Implementing education, training and communication plans and early warning.

19. WAY FORWARD
The Department will continue to strengthen its early warning system to ensure that those at risk are able to receive the messages on time and respond to the warnings of impending hazards for prevention and mitigation of disaster risks. In addition, the following measures must be taken into consideration and be supported by the Department:
Development and implementation of climate change adaptation plan and programmes for the sector (Crop suitability and bio-gas projects).
Support to Climate Smart Agriculture in terms of conservation agriculture.
Increased investment in land rehabilitation and veld management programmes for improved productivity of land and water storage capacity (Natural Resource Management).

20. WAY FORWARD…
ARC in collaboration with Gauteng and Western Cape embarked on veld rehabilitation through planting of relevant fodder. DAFF supports the initiative and encourages other provinces to do the same.
Introduction of market linked agricultural risk insurance.
Implementation of good farming practices by farmers.

21. Thank you!!!