Following last month’s severe floods, the Western Cape (WC) Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) on Thursday released an updated assessment of the estimated financial cost of the damage.
A rapid assessment conducted during the period 26 to 30 June 2023 confirmed extensive damage to riverbanks, irrigation equipment, private roads and sediment over vineyards and fruit orchards.
According to WCDoA, the assessment considered damage to primary agriculture sites on the West Coast, Cape Winelands and the Overberg. The heavy rains caused huge damage to roads and infrastructure in the province, also claiming two lives.
The provincial department said the damage is estimated to be R7.7 million for irrigation, R1.4 million for fencing, R1.4 million, R278 million for crop losses and R18.7 million for seasonal workers’ loss of income.
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Meanwhile, the WCDoA said it will cost a tune of R748 million to rehabilitate rivers, riparian zones, vineyards and orchards due to large volumes of sediment removed upstream and deposited downstream in rivers, riverbanks, vineyards and orchards.
In addition, the department is expected to spend about R120 000 for the cost of clearing a weir to provide drinking water to 400 people.
The department said the estimates do not consider potential losses experienced along the agriculture value chain nor provide insight into the impact on future exports.
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