NEWS
The drought as we know it now
T
he worst drought in 55
years. The worst
drought in 112 years.
The worst drought in living
memory. That's how the
current season's disaster is
being variously described by
weathermen, farmers and
economists.
The problem of this year's
drought is exacerbated by the
fact that it follows on a couple
of years of below-average
rains, meaning groundwater
and stored water reserves are
depleted.
As the summer progresses dire
predictions are becoming sad
fact:
K Vast swathes of what
should be productive maize
lands in the Free State and
Northwest Province have
simply been left untilled and
unplanted because what little
rain that has fallen came too
late for a successful crop.
The drought will hit you in the pocket.
Hard. You!d better believe it...
Africa will need to import six
million tons of maize to cover
the shortfall, not to mention
K The wheatlands of the
other grains such as wheat.
on overtime work, such as
Cape have been left largely
tractor drivers during planting While procuring this quantity
untouched for a similar
of maize on world markets is
season.
reason.
not a problem if one is
K The economic effects on
K Towns and villages
prepared to pay the internamanufacturers and suppliers
throughout the central parts of of agricultural machinery are
tional price, actually getting it
the country have been left
to the ports and thence to the
dire because farmers hit by
without water as a result of
drought have