Initial estimates indicate that devastating floods in the Gamtoos Valley earlier in May could cause R1.5 billion in damage to this year’s citrus harvest and orchards alone. The calculations do not yet include damage to other sectors such as vegetables, berries, cash crops or dairies.
By Fredalette Uys
Grewar Oosthuizen, vice-chairperson of the Agri Gamtoos agricultural association, says preliminary information indicates about 20%, or 3.7 million 15kg cartons, of this year’s estimated 18.7 million 15kg cartons for the export market were lost due to the floods. The value of the lost cartons is approximately R709 million.
According to Oosthuizen, the estimates were made based on feedback from various farmers, including two of the largest farming and packhouse groups, each of which supplies about a third of the valley’s cartons for export. And, this amount may still vary.
“One challenge with citrus is that when an orchard was under water, or is still under water, even if the orchard itself was not physically submerged, the trees can drop their fruit later.”
More than 1 000 of the valley’s 7 000ha under citrus have been affected, with orchards damaged, washed away, or stripped of topsoil to the point where replanting is impossible. At an estimated average orchard value of R650 000/ha – including citrus trees and irrigated land – this amounts to more than R650 million in damage.
Also read: Relief arrives late (or not at all) for flood-hit Limpopo farmers
Damage to other sectors not yet calculated
These calculations do not yet include damage to various other farming operations in the valley, including vegetables, maize plantings, berries and dairies.
Oosthuizen cites an example of a farmer in the Gamtoos Mouth area who lost approximately 80ha of maize plantings, as well as topsoil that was washed away, with other farmers suffering similar losses.
Some of the berry farms higher up in the valley also recorded extensive damage.
Further losses that still need to be factored in include damage to pump rooms, irrigation infrastructure, farm roads, farmers’ and farm workers’ homes, as well as various items of equipment.
There are also cases where farmers lost bakkies, with one producer losing three trucks after his storage facility was flooded.
According to Oosthuizen, more detailed questionnaires will be sent to farmers this week to better determine the full extent of the damage.
Also read: More than R80 million Limpopo flood damage as farmers cry foul
Good progress with repairs
He adds approximately 80% of road repairs have been completed. Large-scale repairs are still underway on the road to Andrieskraal. Once this road is reopened, most roads in the valley will once again provide access to the main tar roads and nearby towns.
Oosthuizen says several donations have already been received, including support from Agri Limpopo members, who reached out to assist the valley.
The floods also severely affected the valley’s electricity network, but according to Oosthuizen, Eskom is making good progress with repairs.
However, parts of the valley are still without electricity, with the main line supplying an area south of the Gamtoos River only restored after 12 days. This left three packhouses without power, with 2 500 seasonal workers unable to work.
For packhouses with access to generators, diesel costs amount to between R50 000 and R75 000 per day.
The main line to Andrieskraal also remains out of service, leaving nine packhouses in the area without electricity, while 2 200 seasonal workers are currently unable to work.
The Baviaans Kouga Academy school in the area also remains closed.
Also read: Floods turn hope into heartbreak for Limpopo farmers
