The Citrus Growers Association (CGA) of Southern Africa is calling for support after severe flooding that has affected farming communities in Citrusdal, resulting in road damage that has cut the community off from the rest of the Western Cape.
CGA chairperson and Citrusdal-based citrus grower Gerrit van der Merwe said the floods, which have hit the region for the second time in the past two years, will yield a major damage cost to citrus growers in the area.
Concerning costs to the agricultural community specifically, early estimates suggest that the floods were more serious than those of 2023. Last year damage in excess of R430m was caused to citrus growers in the valley alone, he said.
