Agri Kultuur February / Februarie 2018 | Page 12

Fruit producers open hearts and sluices D eciduous fruit growers from Grabouw and Elgin have donated between 7.5 and 10 million cubic meters of water to the City of Cape Town. The growers opened their hearts and sluices to “give their share” and help the Cape Metro with the cur- rent water crisis. in a different catchment area than the City of Cape Town, and although our rainfall has been much lower than what we are used to, farm- ers in the area realised that we are currently in a more favourable position than the City of Cape Town. Thus, they decided to ‘pay-it for- ward’. “ After careful consultation deciduous fruit growers from the Groenland Water User Association (GWUA), a private water network, decided to make the one-time donation. The water comes from private dams in the area. Ross Heyns, chairman of the EGVV* Agricul- tural Association, said the donation could put farmers in a difficult position at the end of the current season. “We will be dependent on a good winter rainfall to replenish reserves for the next season.” According to Johan Groenewald, CEO of the GWUA, Grabouw and Elgin producers have enough water for the current season. “We are The Groenland Water User Association (GWUA) in the Overberg has offered this body Farming association donates seven to ten million cubic metres, destined only for urban use. Picture: Hortgro AgriKultuur |AgriCulture 12