Rainfall dilemma
2010-09-09
THE initial joy over the first heavy rains in large parts of the Western Cape is starting to changing to concern after the latest rainfall figures came to light. Based on this, it is very clear that the regular rainfall in the Boland has been lower than previous years. Agri Wes-Cape, in conjunction with its agricultural associations in the different regions of the province, compared the rainfall figures of the last two years and came to shocking conclusions. Although the survey was done on individual farms and is not necessarily representative of the whole region in which the farm is located, it still gives a good indication of the potential crisis that might be at hand for the agricultural industry. Each report showed an alarming reduction in rainfall figures, irrespective of the location in the province. On one local farm for example, only 472,5mm rain was measured from January until middle August this year, compared to 612,5 mm during the same period last year. The agricultural sector is dependent on water for the production of food and with these low rainfall figures as well as predictions of a lengthy hot and dry summer season that will soon start, difficult times are surely in store for the sector. At this same time last year, Wemmershoek Dam was 100% full, compared to 77,5% currently.
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