Agriculture in South Africa is experiencing severe drought, farmers suffer huge losses. This was announced by the Minister of Water and Sanitation Lindive Sisulu, who spoke at a media briefing in Johannesburg on Monday.
Leaders from various agricultural organizations have said farmers in many parts of the country are struggling with the physical, financial, and emotional impact of the harsh drought conditions.
“The situation in provinces such as the Northwest, the Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal is terrible. Harvest and livestock die. Drought affects all farmers, black and white, commercial and small, ”said Neo Masitela, chairman of the African Farmers Association of South Africa.
Chris van Zil, assistant manager of TAU SA, said he recently found out about a farmer who committed suicide, presumably because his agricultural business went bankrupt mainly due to the effects of the drought.
Janse Rabi, political director of the Agri SA Center for Excellence in Natural Resources, said the association appreciated the fact that Sisulu was convening an advisory committee composed of experts from both the public and private sectors to find effective solutions to water problems in South Africa.
