Plans afoot to curb the impact of veldfires in the Eastern Cape

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The Eastern Cape MEC for the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) addressed the media on Tuesday, on the department’s plans to curb the impact of veldfires in the province.

MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe said thousands of hectares of land have been destroyed, including the loss of animal life and agricultural infrastructure across the province.

“These fires primarily affect communal farmers, who rely on livestock for their sustenance and economic stability. This situation hinders our efforts to combat poverty in the province.”

She provided the latest figures on the damages suffered across several districts and municipalities

• Mhlontlo: Over 593 hectares of grazing land destroyed, with 171 sheep and 29 goats lost.
• King Sabata Dalindyebo: 900 hectares of grazing land burned, resulting in the death of 13 animals.
• Amahlathi: Over 550 hectares destroyed; 1 cow, 1 calf, and 2 goats perished.
• Emalahleni: 300 hectares burned, along with significant property damage, including 235 bales of lucerne.
• Intsika Yethu: 58 sheep lost to the fires.
• Elundini: 4 833 hectares of grazing land burned, with 8 cattle lost and 26 hectares of maize destroyed.

MEC Kontsiwe however assured that the department would stick to its priorities of ensuring food security, reducing poverty and fostering economic growth in the Eastern Cape.

“In September, we will tour the province to engage with farmer associations, understand their challenges, and discuss our strategies. We will also collaborate with the Departments of Education, Social Development, and Health, and other relevant bodies to address food insecurity.”

Currently, over 400 000 households in the province face food insecurity due to high food prices, unemployment, and underutilized land. “That is why the Office of Premier Oscar Mabuyane is leading a coordinated Provincial Food and Nutrition Security Plan with various departments.” She said the initiative will be launched on World Food Day on 16 October.

To further mitigate the impact of veldfires and ensure food stability, DRDAR has also committed to supporting people in cultivating the land to produce their own food. “In this term, we aim to establish food hubs in our rural areas, to enable subsistence and home-based vegetable producers to collect, store, and process their produce for the local market.” The food hub initiative will also focus on sustainable agriculture, water conservation, and youth entrepreneurship in rural areas.

As the province braves the wild winds, the MEC advised that people take precaution when setting veld on fire.

Recommendations

• Avoid veld burning unless part of a management strategy approved by local agriculture offices.
• Always follow the fire danger ratings and warnings issued by Weather SA.
• Establish or join the Fire Protection Associations (FPAs) with guidance and support from local agriculture offices.
• Be aware that starting uncontrolled fires is a serious criminal offense with legal consequences.
• During windy periods, avoid starting any fires, as they can easily spread out of control.
• Smokers should ensure their cigarette butts are fully extinguished before discarding them, especially when walking along roads or through dry areas.
• Never throw burning matches or lit cigarettes out of car windows or onto dry grass, as they can ignite fires quickly.

The province also has adopted the Eastern Cape Agriculture Investment Framework (ECAIF) to revitalize the agriculture sector. “Despite having the highest livestock population, only contributes 8% to the country's livestock GDP, with over 10 000 hectares of irrigable land with the potential to produce dairy, vegetables, fruits, grains, and fodder.”

The MEC said they aimed to stimulate the utilization of land, to optimise and greatly enhance sector performance in terms of growth and employment.