Isuzu and Motus come to the rescue
South Africa has been experiencing an increase in droughts in recent years. In fact, in the past two decades since 1990, 12 of those years were defined as drier years compared to only seven years in the previous 20 years. These droughts are associated with climate change – the effect of human behaviour on the planet’s temperature. We can however reduce the impact of droughts and assist those in need.
Some affected areas
Food prices: the impact of drought on food prices can be relatively severe with staple food items such as maize increasing. This affects mostly poor households which spend large portions of their income on food – as much as 34% of their total income.
Jobs: The previous drought that hit the Western Cape saw a loss of around R5 Billion to the local economy which also impacted the South African GDP. The Western Cape has the biggest agricultural workforce in South Africa – nearly a quarter of the country’s farm workers are employed in the region. And agriculture and agro-processing are responsible for 18% of employment opportunities in the province. Many of these jobs were negatively affected by the drought.
Stronger together
Some parts of South Africa are currently experiencing a drought has threatened the livelihood of many farmers and farm workers. Motus Isuzu in partnership with Isuzu South Africa and various farming assistance programmes have come together to ease this burden.
“The farmers are in desperate need. They have no money for food or to even send their children to school. While Mpumalanga and the Free State received good rain and farmers expect a good harvest, several farmers in northern Limpopo had to slaughter their animals because of the drought. The situation in the Northern and Eastern Cape provinces is equally dire,” said Le Roux Roux - Motus Isuzu Franchise Managing Director.
Isuzu SA donated three brand-new FVZ 1400 trucks to this initiative and Motus SA have provided the drivers and the fuel for all these trips. Since November, the trucks have been doing trips on an almost weekly basis, collecting feed in areas that have had good rainfall and transporting it across the country to the areas in need, often covering vast distances.
Organisations such as Farmers Assist and Voer ‘n Boer handle the donations of feed and identify the areas in need and Motus Isuzu ensure that these large loads are delivered where they are most needed. To date the three trucks have collected and distributed feed in many areas across the country, including Merweville, Vanwyksvlei, Somerset East, Upington and Pofadder.
“The investment in this project is substantial but it is worth it when you see the look of relief on the farmers faces. The effect that these deliveries have on the farmers is enormous and often means respite for their staff and the entire community,” said Roux.
“I am proud to be part of this initiative, as we drive across the country cars flash their lights to show that they appreciate what we are doing to help the farmers and I think that we are setting a great example for the rest of South Africa, showing what can be achieved if we work together,” said David Xaba, truck driver from Motus Isuzu Isando.
