Citrus-growing regions hit by extreme weather as South African authorities declare a natural disaster
The Citrus Growers Association (CGA) has released a statement addressing the devastating floods that have hit citrus-growing regions in South Africa.
Reports from the country have said that at least ten people have died following extreme weather in the Western Cape, North West, Free State, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga.
National authorities have declared it a natural disaster, opening up resources and funding to aid the response.
”The CGA notes with concern the severe flooding that has affected citrus-producing areas in both the Western Cape and parts of the Eastern Cape,” the association said.
”Our thoughts are with farming communities across the affected regions.
”This is a significant setback, particularly as the citrus season was just beginning to ramp up,” it noted. ”While it is still too early to determine the full impact on the crop, there has clearly been damage to infrastructure.
The CGA welcomed the declaration of a state of disaster, which will enable coordinated support from the government in response to the crisis.
The most severely impacted area seems to be the Kouga Municipality in the Eastern Cape, particularly the Gamtoos Valley around Patensie, CGA continued.
”Early indications suggest that orchards have been flooded, with some trees uprooted, and initial estimates indicate that around 10–12 per cent of the local crop may be affected,” it outlined.
In the Western Cape, regions including Citrusdal and the Boland have also experienced heavy rainfall, and in Citrusdal the rainfall is reported to be significantly higher than previous flood events.
However, the extent of damage appears to be less severe, and key infrastructure, including main access routes, has largely remained operational, CGA confirmed.
”This has helped ensure that the season, while delayed here by approximately a week, can recover, and confidence in supply remains intact.
”The preventative river work undertaken in recent years by the Western Cape government has played an important role in mitigating the impact.”
The disruption caused by the floods in the two provinces is expected to be felt most acutely in the soft citrus category, as early mandarin harvesting was ramping up when the rains arrived.
The extent of this impact to the category is still being assessed.
”These developments come at a challenging time for growers, who are already facing softer demand in the key export market of the Middle East, as well as rising input and logistics costs,” CGA added.
”What had been shaping up as a strong season now requires high levels of adaptability and responsiveness.”
