WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2004-01-22 Posted By: Jan
From the News Archives of: WWW.AfricanCrisis.Org
Date & Time Posted: 1/22/2004 5:04:10 AM
S.Africa: Millions More Needed for Drought Aid, Cabinet Told
Task team, headed by Mufamadi, to present report today outlining request for range of services to help rural areas and farmers
THE interministerial task team led by Provincial and Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi is expected to present to the cabinet today a report that shows that more money is needed for drought relief.
A wishlist from departments making up the interministerial task team on drought relief says that the R250m approved by the cabinet in October is not enough to assist the 4-million people affected by drought in seven of the country’s nine provinces.
The water affairs and forestry department needs money for water supply to assist farmers with their irrigation needs and more funds are needed to help rural communities to get fresh water through the erection of water tanks and boreholes.
The social development ministry needs extra funds for emergency relief for people affected by the drought, while the agriculture and land affairs department needs funds for fodder and water for livestock to benefit communal and commercial farmers. The health department has requested more funds to help prevent communicable diseases such as cholera.
Agricultural organisations have also suggested various interventions that government could consider when it draws up a drought relief programme. AgriSA president Japie Grobler said that farmers expected relief in transporting livestock to areas where there was enough grazing land, relief for farmers who sold their cattle because of the drought and help in subsidising the salaries of farm workers.
“AgriSA’s long-term view is that government should underwrite agricultural risks in order to maintain stability in the production of food,” Grobler said.
South African maize farmers have planted 20% less maize this year compared with 2003, with a rise in maize imports expected to compensate for the shortfall.
The agriculture department’s crop estimates committee said yesterday 2,557-billion hectares had been planted with maize this year, significantly lower than last year’s 3,185-billion hectares.
Estimates committee chairman Rodney Dredge said the drop in area planted was mainly the result of the drought from November, while lower maize prices last year also caused farmers to plant less maize this year.
With a long-term average yield of 2,6-million tons a hectare, Dredge estimated the maize crop could be about 6-million tons, which would be substantially lower than last year’s bumper crop of 9,4-million tons. “We do not know yet what the carry-over stock is from last year, but with domestic maize consumption at about 7,8-million tons a year, we may have to import more maize this year,” he said.
White maize prices have risen more than 40% on the South African Futures Exchange (Safex) since last month as it became clear that the drought would prevent farmers from planting enough maize. The price of white maize closed at R1308 a ton on Safex yesterday, compared with a low of R927 a ton last month.
Source: AllAfrica.com
URL: http://allafrica.com/stories/200401210096.htm…br>