Western Cape farming industry faces heavy economic blow after severe weather.
The Western Cape’s agricultural sector has been dealt a severe blow following a series of intense cold fronts that triggered widespread flooding, infrastructure damage, and major disruptions across key farming regions between May 10 and 13, 2026.
The Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) said it is currently assessing the full scale of destruction, which has significantly impacted production hubs including the Hex River Valley, Grabouw/Elgin, as well as the Ceres and Worcester regions.
Floodwaters have caused extensive damage to vineyards, orchards, and croplands, with some farmers reporting total crop losses, including apple harvests in parts of Grabouw.
A department statement confirmed the scale of destruction across farming operations, noting that “flooding has devastated vineyards, orchards, and cropland, with some farmers reporting the complete loss of harvests, including apple crops in Grabouw.”
