Empty harvest𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟮 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯.
Abrie van Zyl loved his trees. He had spent three years planning his farm and, in September last year, he finally broke ground. He had invested all his personal savings into the venture and for ten months, his massive investment was growing. But that was before the rains came. In June this year, Citrusdal - a farming town in the Western Cape’s Olifants River Valley - was cut off from the world as heavy rains battered the community and devastating floods washed away its main access road. Abrie’s orchard was destroyed, leaving him millions of rands in the red. But he’s not alone. In the middle of the harvest season, many farmers in this area are on the edge of ruin.
Producer: Catherine Rice | Presenter: Erin Bates
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