{"id":95861,"date":"2017-07-02T09:53:19","date_gmt":"2017-07-02T07:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/gamtoos-farmers-water-allocation-slashed-by-60\/"},"modified":"2017-07-02T09:53:19","modified_gmt":"2017-07-02T07:53:19","slug":"gamtoos-farmers-water-allocation-slashed-by-60","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/gamtoos-farmers-water-allocation-slashed-by-60\/","title":{"rendered":"Gamtoos farmers\u2019 water allocation slashed by 60%"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gamtoos farmers\u2019 water allocation slashed by 60%<\/a>: <\/p>\n

\"Kouga<\/p>\n

GOING DOWN: The Kouga Dam stands at just 18.6% capacity \u2013 levels last witnessed in 1991. Farmers drawing water from the dam have had their allocations for 2017\/18 slashed by 60% from July 1. Photo: Supplied<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

(Patensie) \u2013 STARTING July more than 200 citrus, vegetable and dairy farms in the Gamtoos River Valley that rely on water from the Kouga Dam will have their annual water allocation for 2017\/18 slashed by 60%, the Gamtoos Irrigation Board (GIB) has announced.<\/p>\n

The decision to allocate farmers just 40% of their annual water allocation, taken by the Department of Water Affairs, comes as the dam reaches 18.6% capacity \u2013 a level last witnessed in late 1991. It sank to the 9% mark in early 1992, after which that drought was finally broken.<\/p>\n

According to GIB officials, just 2mm of rain fell in the Kouga Dam\u2019s catchment area from April to June this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe met with the department yesterday [June 29] and the GIB met this morning to discuss the allocation cuts,\u201d said GIB chairman Tertius Meyer. \u201cOn the one side there is slight relief, as we expected a bigger cut than 60%. There is, however, also concern, as there is only 18% of water left in the dam.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hope is that, according to the allocation cuts and long-range weather forecasts, that the dam will hold more water this time next year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meyer said the water allocation was usually communicated by the department a month in advance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have farmers who have big commercial contracts with supermarkets who need to plan well in advance, so this was very short notice for them,\u201d he said. \u201cNow the question is do they split their 40% allocation over 12 months, or do they use it up in July and August and hope for good rains during the traditionally high rainfall months of September\/October.\u201d<\/p>\n

STRICKEN FARMERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the affected farmers, the cut in water allocations is dire. GIB board member Rudolf Rose grew up in the region and farms maize, lucerne and vegetables.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn a full water allocation, we are able to plant 350 hectares of combined crops annually,\u201d said Rose. \u201cWith the reduced allocation, we will be lucky if we even plant 160ha. If that\u2019s the case, we will have to concentrate on our higher income crops that are less water intensive, such as pumpkin and butternut.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe lucerne will survive, but we\u2019ll get no yield from that crop. The maize is too water intensive to plant. Even with a full allocation of water in 2016\/17, we battled because of the very low rainfall. Now the dam is low, and that is our last line of defence.\u201d<\/p>\n

POSSIBLE JOB LOSSES<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jobs also hang in the balance.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf farmers can\u2019t plant their full allocation of crops, there is no need for a full quota of staff,\u201d said Rose. \u201cWe operate with a fairly small contingent of staff, and I have not had to cut back yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rose\u2019s neighbour and fellow GIB board member Jacques du Preez focuses on sweet potato, carrots, maize and wheat, and employs up to 40 staff.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been farming for 20 years. We took the decision in April not to plant maize for 2017\/18, and to cut back slightly on the rest of the crop production. We will then use our water allocation for 2017\/18 to get that crop to harvest in August\/September.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf by then there have been no further rains, there is no Plan B. We\u2019ll have to cross that bridge when we come to it, but I am staying positive,\u201d said Du Preez.<\/p>\n

WATER SAVINGS CRITICAL<\/strong><\/p>\n

The crisis has escalated the importance of savings for the irrigation board, which on June 16 embarked on a 16-day maintenance and repair shutdown of its main canal leading water from the Kouga Dam to the Loerie Dam \u2013 which feeds the Nelson Mandela Bay metro \u2013 and surrounding farms.<\/p>\n

The annual shutdown of the 69km canal \u2013 and, at staggered intervals, the other 45km of branch canals \u2013 has become key to the irrigation board keeping its water losses low. Over the past year GIB has reported water losses of just 7.5%, mainly from leaks and evaporation \u2013 down from 13% in 2008 when it received a national accolade for water savings.<\/p>\n

GIB\u2019s losses are also dramatically lower than cities such as the Bay metro, which reports annual losses of between 30 and 40%.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a robust water management system,\u201d said GIB CEO Pierre Joubert. \u201cWhen a leak is reported, we aim to address it within the hour.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joubert said GIB wanted to reduce losses even further through the refurbishment and replacement of ailing infrastructure.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur infrastructure was laid in 1970, so it requires ongoing maintenance,\u201d he said, adding that the irrigation board spent R23-million annually on maintenance and operations.<\/p>\n

GIB financial manager Rienette Colesky said the consistent maintenance of the irrigation board\u2019s infrastructure was key to reducing water losses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have quite an advanced water management and metering system, which also helps keep water losses low,\u201d said Colesky. \u201cFor us, being pro-active in maintaining our infrastructure has been a key driver in our success.\u201d<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za.<\/p>\n

Source:<\/strong> MyPR<\/a><\/small>
\n<\/p>\n

Submit your own Press Release<\/a> or get free content for your publication.<\/p>\n

Video – How to post your Press Release on MyPR:<\/strong>
\n