Sommer vroeg, vroeg in die jaar word daar 'n donker jaar voorspel vir ons somegraanprodusente, terwyl dit besig is om te reen en trekkers oor 'n wye veld besig is om pitte in die grond te sit. 

The department of agriculture in the Western Cape province has disbursed R 8.3 million in drought support to 586 farmers in the central Karoo region this month, it said on Monday.

Ostrich farmers in the Little Karoo have lost an estimated R1bn and have had to lay off 15% to 20% of their workforce as the crippling drought enters its fourth year.

With 325 Angora goats, 60 Dorper sheep and a hay field, Jan Loff and seven co-owners of the Swartrivier farm in the Great Karoo are operating a viable agricultural concern as part of the national land reform initiative.When Swartrivier, registered as Wolwekraal 211, was bought by the government, the new owners were determined to prove they could succeed in creating a livelihood and employment for eight families.

The water situation looks better in the Boland and Cape Town but alas, that doesn’t tell the full story of the Western Cape: the Klein-Karoo has barely had rain or snow this winter and the dam levels are shocking: two important irrigation dams, the Kammanassie Dam and the Stompdrift Dam are 8% and 2% full respectively. The Poortjieskloof Dam is 0.2% full.

According to Agri Western Cape, many fruit orchards and wine vineyards in the Klein-Karoo have either already withered and died because of the drought, or have been removed to relieve pressure on extremely limited water sources.

Die omvang van grond- en eiendomsbesit in Suid-Afrika is enorm. Suid-Afrika het honderde duisende plase en miljoene eiendomme, nie 10 of 20 nie.

There are plenty of statistics around the issue of the drought – this is more of a personal perspective.

On invitation from our members - Cape Wools, BKB, and OVK - we attended the Karoo Winter Wool Festival over the weekend. The festival was hosted in Middelburg, the Karoo region of the Eastern Cape. It was an excellent event, showcasing not only the value chain activities of the South African sheep industry but also the rich Karoo heritage.

Karoo lamb has emerged as a celebrated culinary icon in South Africa, recognized for its unique flavor, high quality, and cultural significance. ( Summary)