EASTERN CAPE NEWS - Farmers in the Eastern Cape were handed a small lifeline recently when the Ford Motor Company Fund donated $20 000 (almost R290 000) to Agri Eastern Cape. This will be used to procure and distribute hay bales and animal feed.
This followed a request to Ford for disaster relief funding by Eastern Cape Motors Ford William Moffett in Port Elizabeth.
The dealership previously hosted a successful 4x4 family day fund-raising initiative last November, which raised over R240 000.
Agri EC president Doug Stern said the ongoing drought could result in the loss of up to 30% of the commercial farming sector, which will have a major effect on food security for the country.
"Farmers' incomes have been cut by approximately 50% while expenses have tripled, and most farmers have been forced to reduce their livestock by more than half," he explained.
Some of the most severely affected areas are around Graaff-Reinet, Aberdeen, Jansenville, Steytlerville, Willowmore, Queenstown and Cradock.
"We are doing everything we can to assist the farming community, and without contributions of this magnitude from corporates such as Ford Motor Company and Eastern Cape Motors Ford, many of our farmers simply cannot survive," Stern added.
'We bring you the latest Karoo news'
