EASTERN CAPE - RAIN HITS DROUGHT-STRICKEN AREAS OF THE PROVINCE

The rain was welcomed in dry areas of the Eastern Cape such as Aberdeen and Graaff Reinet.

Eastern Cape farmers have welcomed the rain that fell in many parts of the province over the last 48 hours.

The drought-stricken areas of Graaff-Reinet and Adelaide received some encouraging rainfalls.

Seventy mm of rain was recorded in the Adelaide -Fort Beaufort area, and 26mm in Graaff-Reinet.

However, Eastern Cape Agriculture president, Dougie Stern, says any rain is welcome, but a follow-up rain is needed in order to end the drought in the province.

“When you talk drought of this magnitude, 20mm or 30mm is not going to give you any sort of relief. You need to follow up on rain that is very important. With this current rain, we would need more in the next two weeks’ time of another 20mm. Only then will we start to talk about relief. It is important to understand that one rain won’t change the situation dramatically,” says Stern.

via - SABC