Agriculture counts storm damage costs – eNCA

CAPE TOWN – Violent storms have ravaged the Western Cape, leaving a trail of destruction. Around 150,000 people have been caught in the chaos. Eleven lives have been lost. The Cape Metropole, Winelands and Breede Valley took the full force of the storms. Farmers in those areas are counting heavy losses as the agriculture sector reels. Estimates put the damage in the billions of rand. The Hex River Valley, South Africa’s largest table grape producer, is famed for its sprawling vineyards. Now, the valley is a tableau of devastation. After the storms, hundreds of millions of rand in damage remain. READ | Aid needed for Western Cape residents Juben Von Willingh, Breede Valley Municipality deputy mayor said the devastation to the vineyards was tremendous. Once thriving, Medoc table grape farm now lies in ruin, several hectares of vineyards shredded after just two to three days of relentless rain. Michael Vorster, Medoc table grape farmer said the devastation of the storm is only really visible when you visit the sites and see.  “We have lost quite a couple of hectares in these storms but it is not only us, it is this whole area Rawsonville, Robertson, Worcester and Tulbagh. They have
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