Government to strengthen efforts to reduce drought impact
Agriculture Minister Senzeni Zokwana says the department will continue to beef up collaboration between government and industry stakeholders to monitor the drought.
Zokwana was giving an update on the state of the drought following a meeting with MECs from provinces including Kwazulu-Natal, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape today.
"We'll ensure that at ministerial level we will establish and maintain national information management systems and ensure information flow from provinces."
"It's important that we strengthen strategies and actions for recovery and long-term risk reduction," said Zokwana.
Zokwana also says R32 million has been made available for loans for commercial farmers who have been hit by the drought.
The money will come from the Industrial Development Corporation.
"The loan agreement will be entered into between the IDC and the relevant intermediary. Those intermediaries will have to apply to the IDC on a case-by-case basis and due diligence will apply," he added.
South Africa is currently experiencing its worst drought in years.