WEEDS CHOKING ONSEEPKANS ‘Please help save vineyards’

“For the current 2017/18 financial year, Onseepkans received a budget of R10 million, which will see the establishment of another 20ha of raisin grapes.”

Referring to Obaray’s allegations, Diteme explained that during the 2015/16 financial year the 118ha piece of land was de-bushed and the soil was prepared.

“Sanapo Projects Development was awarded the tender for the de-bushing and Kgalagadi Trading and Investments was awarded the tender for the soil preparation. These activities were only done once, before the vines were planted in September 2016.”

Diteme also denied allegations that the department was failing the Land Reform Agenda.

“We compiled the Namakwa Irrigation Development plan of which Onseepkans is the flagship project with an estimated budget of R308 million, to be implemented over a period of 10 years.

“Since the inception of the Onseepkans Irrigation Development Project, 220 jobs were created in the 2015/16 financial year and 101 jobs during the 2016/17 financial book year. Another 180 jobs will be created as soon as the 60ha of grapes are in full production.

“A further 24 temporary workers were appointed since May 2017 to do cleaning of vines and a tractor started on Friday with mechanical cleaning between rows.”

Referring to photographs supplied by Obaray, Diteme said some of these were of the 17ha plots which will only be put under production in September this year.

“It is not practical to clean these unplanted plots now and again before planting season. After we are done with the cleaning of the 23ha of vines, we will focus on the cleaning and preparation of the 17ha and will then plant the vines during September.”

Regarding the other photographs, Diteme pointed out that weed growth during the after harvest period (from February to April) was normal and was a huge problem in all vineyards under flood or micro irrigation, not only in Onseepkans but along the whole Orange River.

“A first round of weed control was done from January to March, the weeds were controlled manually. You cannot keep weeds manually under control for long, but since the vines were still very young and at a critical stage of development we were advised not to use chemical control (herbicides).”

Diteme emphasised that not all weeds should be seen as a threat to vineyard production, as the same weeds were used as mulch between the rows for soil moisture retention.

“The department is committed to fulfill its mandate of ensuring sustainable rural development and food security and welcomes positive inputs and comments from relative stakeholders including the Democratic Alliance.”