King and mayor warn on drought dangers
While urging more support for emerging black cane growers, King Goodwill Zwelithini issued stern warnings against polarising white farmers, saying they had much to teach emerging black farmers.
THE prevailing drought and the related need to ensure food security featured strongly at the AGM of the Uthungulu Community Foundation (UCF) held at the Empangeni Civic Centre on Thursday.
The event was also used for the awarding of grants, many of which were issued to assist with agricultural projects.
‘God has never accepted that people die of poverty when He has given us land to cultivate,’ said keynote speaker and UCF Patron, His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini.
‘KZN should be the number one province when it comes to producing fruit and vegetables, given our natural abundance, but we are not utilising this.
‘Unlike animals, we do not sense and react before a disaster occurs – and a disaster is looming.
‘Our pollution and disrespect of the environment has led to issues like climate change and droughts and we have taken for granted our water resources.
‘One day soon we will be forced to desalinate ocean water; we will not have a choice.’
King Goodwill also bemoaned the fact that whereas our nation used to feed Zambia, we now import maize from them.
While urging more support for emerging black cane growers, he issued stern warnings against polarising white farmers, saying they had much to teach emerging black farmers.
The king and also cautioned that improved relationships between the USA and Cuba might see food products and aid diverted away from South Africa.
Low water levels
The water-saving message was earlier highlighted by City of uMhlathuze Mayor, Cllr Mduduzi Mhlongo, who said water re-usage was a major discussion point.
‘Industry uses half the water we produce and mush of this gets flushed into the sea after use.
‘We are engaging industry to use recycled grey water as in many cases they do not need blue drop water for production processes,’ said Mhlongo.
‘We need more water for agriculture, which is number two (after electricity) on the president’s list of revitalised priorities.
‘Only 13% of our land is arable and if we don’t use this better for crop production, hunger and drought are serious challenges and a crisis is imminent.’
Mhlongo reiterated the dangerously low levels of the region’s water sources, with Lake Cubhu already dry and extraction having ceased at Lake Mzingazi.
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