Black Frost Hits Limpopo Vegetable Farmers
Black frost has hit crops in South Africa’s northernmost Limpopo province.
The Transvaal Agricultural Union of South Africa said this week that a black frost had affected most of Limpopo on Sunday.
Potatoes, tomatoes, and many other vegetables experienced damage after black frost affected the province on Sunday morning.
Farmers also reported damage to infrastructure such as water pipes.
TLU SA North Chairman Henk van de Graaf said reports of severe black frost have been received from the Soutpansberg mountain region, Levubu, Marble Hall, Arabie and Bela-Bela.
“Feedback from members and other farmers indicates that tremendous losses have been suffered and that food shortages could be experienced in the province,” TLU SA North Chairman Henk van de Graaf said.
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Van de Graaf called on producers to report the damage to TLU SA’s various DAU offices so that a complete survey of the damage could be conducted.
“We would like to know where the damage was suffered, with which crops, the number of hectares involved and if possible, an estimate of the financial losses as a result so that we can submit this to the provincial and national governments.”
“Furthermore, we want the provincial MEC of agriculture, Grace Kekana, as well as the national minister of agriculture, John Steenhuisen, to visit the affected areas to familiarise themselves with the damage, with a view to providing possible assistance,” Van de Graaf said.
The South African Weather Service issued a warning on Friday that there would be a cold snap from Sunday until Tuesday.
The cold snap has resulted in snow in the south and west, freezing conditions across the rest of the country, high seas, and damaging winds along its shoreline, the weather service said in a warning.
Black Frost Hits Limpopo Vegetable Farmers