Growers in South Africa’s Olifants River have perhaps been the hardest hit by the ongoing drought and water shortages experienced in the Cape region of South Africa.
The Olifants River region, which stretches from Citrusdal to north of Vredendal along the west coast, is home to a fast growing table grape sector and the most important citrus region for supplying the US market.
The upper region is mostly dominated by citrus, from Citrusdal to Clanwilliam, while lower down the table grape and wine sectors are very important for the economy.
The area is served by two storage dams located at Clanwilliam and further downstream. The result is that the upper, mainly citrus regions do not benefit at all from irrigation provided by the dams.
The water supply systems occurs via a canal system which was built nearly 90 years ago and which is now, due to failure of required maintenance, falling apart.
Talk about raising the height of the wall of the Clanwilliam dam has been going on for some time. The road system in the area has been changed to accommodate increased storage, alhtough that was three years ago and since then nothing has happened.
The drought and lack of rain required to fill these dams during the past three years has resulted in a disastrous table grape crop this season, which saw the export volume drop by some 35 per cent.
Fruitnet visited the area recently and it is clear that unless the water problems are solved this winter, growers in this Valley will face grave times.
Boet Mouton, chairperson of Summer Citrus, which coordinate shipments of citrus to the US, says the citrus industry expects to get through this season unscathed, but like all other citrus growers he is worried what will happen if there is not sufficient rain this season.
“We have been told that the work on the Clanwilliam Dam will start in six months’ time, but this will not benefit the industry in the Upper Olifants Valley,' he said.
Mouton believes that a new look should also be taken at creating storage capacity in the upper regions.
'The fruit industry in this Valley is of vital importance for the economy and expansion will mean that we will create more jobs, which will in turn support the national priorities of our president,' he noted.
Table grape growers lower down in the Valley do not know yet how this year’s water shortages will affect their vineyards.
“We are managing as best we can,” says Leon Viljoen, Hex grower who have established vineyards in the Valley. “It is a question of how increased storage in the Clanwilliam will benefit the industry if the canal system continues to fail at the rate it is doing now. We have planted the best new varieties in the Valley and it is important that we ensure that they reach their full potential.”
