The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has raised concerns that citrus production in the Western Cape could be severely impacted by flooding.
Also read: Citrusdal isolated as flooding washes out all access roads
Last week, road access to Citrusdal was again washed away during inclement weather. The same happened in June last year, when severe weather swept across the province.
Citrusdal is known for its superior citrus fruits and products. It is the third-largest citrus-producing area in South Africa and accounts for about 14% of the total crop.
When the roads washed away last week, Cederberg Mayor Ruben Richards said the road had a ‘gaping hole in it’. While the initial damaged section measured between 20- and 30 metres, Richards said it had since expanded to around 60 metres.
‘We’re currently sitting and waiting. All three access roads to the town are currently inaccessible,’ he told News24.
‘We do have the option for emergency purposes to use an access road on a farm, but it’s a private road and is thus only for the absolute essentials.’
He added that although supplies were running low, basic grocery items, medication and fuel had been transported to the town.
A soup kitchen was also established to provide 1 000 meals per day.
Gerrit van der Merwe, chairperson of the CGA, says citrus growers in the valley suffered damages of over R430 million last year. ‘Concerning costs to the agricultural community, specifically early estimates, suggest the floods were more serious than those of 2023.’
‘This is the second major flood in the area in the last two years, as well as the third time in two years that the town has been completely cut off from the rest of the province due to damage caused by flooding.’
The CGA welcomed the provincial disaster declaration, which Premier Alan Winde confirmed to eNCA on 13 July.
The non-profit also wrote to Agriculture MEC Ivan Meyer to request support for farming communities in Citrusdal.
‘The CGA asked Meyer and his department for assistance in securing swift and effective access to funding and support. The CGA also requested that the citrus growers and farm workers of Citrusdal, who have been the hardest hit, be prioritised,’ says Van der Merwe.
‘The citrus industry is the very heart of the community, and it generates opportunities for employment and economic betterment throughout the area.’
He adds that a private bridge is being used for emergency access. However, he notes that ‘liability, traffic management and possible infrastructure deterioration needed to be addressed before this option could be actioned for public use’.
‘Road connectivity must be speedily resolved – not just for everybody in the town, but also because it is currently the height of the export season. The floods have unfortunately coincided with the mid-point of the season, as massive amounts of oranges need to be moved to the Port of Cape Town.’
‘The citrus industry is proud of the fact that we contribute substantially to the Western Cape economy. Every year, we export more than 20 million 15kg cartons of citrus from Western Cape orchards to overseas markets.’
‘As severe weather is becoming a regular occurrence, it is clear more must be done to ensure Citrusdal’s infrastructure and emergency management can handle high water levels.’
According to Agri SA Western Cape CEO Jannie Strydom, the organisation is concerned about the situation in Citrusdal.
‘It’s not the first time that they are cut off. We will have to determine what the main cause of the situation is and what the solution should be to prevent it from happening again.’
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Picture: Landbouweekblad / Gallo Images