Gauteng Smallholder February 2016 | Page 8

NEWS The drought as we know it now T he worst drought in 55 years. The worst drought in 112 years. The worst drought in living memory. That's how the current season's disaster is being variously described by weathermen, farmers and economists. The problem of this year's drought is exacerbated by the fact that it follows on a couple of years of below-average rains, meaning groundwater and stored water reserves are depleted. As the summer progresses dire predictions are becoming sad fact: K Vast swathes of what should be productive maize lands in the Free State and Northwest Province have simply been left untilled and unplanted because what little rain that has fallen came too late for a successful crop. The drought will hit you in the pocket. Hard. You!d better believe it... Africa will need to import six million tons of maize to cover the shortfall, not to mention K The wheatlands of the other grains such as wheat. on overtime work, such as Cape have been left largely tractor drivers during planting While procuring this quantity untouched for a similar of maize on world markets is season. reason. not a problem if one is K The economic effects on K Towns and villages prepared to pay the internamanufacturers and suppliers throughout the central parts of of agricultural machinery are tional price, actually getting it the country have been left to the ports and thence to the dire because farmers hit by without water as a result of drought have