The Democratic Alliance's Shadow MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform in the Eastern Cape, Retief Odendaal, says approxiametely one billion rand is needed to provide sufficient drought relief to farmers in the province over the next financial year.
Speaking to Algoa FM News on Friday, Odendaal said that part of these funds, if granted by National Treasury, should also be dedicated to providing support to municipalities for drought relief initiatives.
"Last year, the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform said that the province would require about 7 billion rand in order to fully counter the effects of the drought", he said.
Odendaal said the party had since called for a special sitting with the portfolio committee to review the department's budget.
He said there was also still is no sign of the drought declaration from Premier Lubabalo Mabuyane.
Earlier this month, Mabuyane announced that the Eastern Cape would be declared a drought disaster area.
Without this declaration, the province is unable to apply to the national government for additional drought aid funding for farmers.
