Given the drought experienced by some farmers in the Western Cape and the
potential job and investment losses, the Eastern Cape Departmental of Rural

Development and Agrarian Reform invites Western Cape farmers hit by drought

to consider moving their farming to the Eastern Cape province.

We are currently implementing the agriculture economic transformation strategy,

which needs massive investment on crop, grain, horticulture and livestock

production. Our department is currently working with leading commodity groups

in up scaling commercial production, working with black farmers some who are

land reform beneficiaries.

The province has a good rainfall and investment incentives to help farmers from

the Western Cape to set up their commercial farming in the province by

partnering with land owners from our province to produce whatever commodity

they want to produce to get returns from their investments.

Farm workers do not have to lose jobs because of the drought; farmers do not

have to lose profits because there is scarcity of rainfall and water in their

province. The best way to avoid this is for them to move their farming to the

Eastern Cape province which has good climatic conditions to grow any

agriculture commodity.

News that workers are likely to lose their jobs, painfully affecting their livelihoods,

are a serious concern to us. Reports that farmers are likely to lose their profits

and might not be able to pay back their loans, resulting into closure of their

commercial farming, inspired us to open the doors of the province to help them

continue their farming in the Eastern Cape.

This is the best solution open to the farmers from Western Cape during this time

of drought. We trust that the farmers and the provincial government will accept

this invitation and we can meet to discuss commercial partnerships that will

benefit both provinces and farmers.

Currently we have invested millions of rands to revamp farming infrastructure,

expand production for grain, citrus, pineapple, deciduous fruit, and livestock to up

the ante in terms of agriculture investment to create jobs and grow the provincial

economy.

We are optimistic that farmers and the Western Cape government will engage us

soon so that the potential job, investment and farming loses can be avoided.