Weather kills SA food crops

One farmer’s production drops 40% due to changing weather patterns.

- Masoka Dube

Agricultural production is plummeting and farmers are worried that if the situation worsens, food security will be threatened, as dry weather conditions continue.

A farmer, Dre Schalekamp, who grows maize and soya beans and supplies some of the country's big supermarket chains through a cooperative, said his production level had slumped.

"Changing weather patterns are affecting our production compared to the three previous years.

"Our production has slumped by almost 40%. To continue operating we need more rainfall."

Schalekamp also breeds cattle at his farm in Fochville, a farming and mining town in Merafong on the West Rand of Gauteng.

"We are also facing a situation of cattle suffering because the grass is growing slowly, forcing me to buy food for the livestock which is costly."

He said that since he took over the farm from his father in 2000, this was the first time he had experienced such unpredictable weather conditions with heatwaves and drought.

"What worsens it is that most farmers depend on rain for irrigation," said Schalekamp.