Drought plan as rain arrives

Gisborne Herald

GOOD WEATHER FOR DUCKS: Consistent rain has started to fall in parched areas of Gisborne, with a farmer saying it is perfect to soak into the ground. Although more rain is predicted till Friday, Agriculture Minister David Carter says it will not be strong enough to break the drought.

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The Government has announced it will give drought assistance to farmers in Gisborne and Wairoa the same day a heavy rain warning was issued for the parched region.

Agriculture Minister David Carter revealed the aid package yesterday, after meeting the local drought committee in Gisborne.

The package will include tax assistance measures, cash for farm management advice and funding for rural support trusts.

A spokeswoman for Mr Carter said it was hard to put a figure on the package as it depended on how many farmers asked for help.

At present, 75 farms were severely affected but conditions on more were deteriorating as the drought continued.

Apart from January, Gisborne's rainfall has been well below average each month since July last year. Hawke's Bay farms have also been hit by drought.

However, yesterday MetService issued a severe weather warning for the area, with up to 90 millimetres of rain expected to fall between Coromandel and Wairoa during 24 hours.

Rain began falling about mid-afternoon yesterday and police reported several crashes on State Highway 29, through the Kaimai Range in western Bay of Plenty. They urged drivers to be cautious as wet weather made roads slippery.

Amanda Cave, whose family farms in hills 30 kilometres west of Gisborne, said the dry summer and autumn had left their property parched.

But yesterday's consistent rain was perfect to soak into the ground. "It's very relaxing."

More rain is forecast for Gisborne through to Friday, but Mr Carter said it would not be enough to alleviate the effects of the drought.

"East Coast farmers are bearing the brunt of three years of extreme weather.

"The Government knows this is putting severe pressure on rural communities and that they need help to get through this."

The Agriculture and Forestry Ministry's regional team leader for Hawke's Bay and Gisborne, Gillian Mangin, said a grass shortage had forced farmers in the drought area to sell some of their best animals, which they had planned to use for breeding.

Many farmers had abandoned plans to restock their farms.

The Hawke's Bay drought committee had been planning to meet on Thursday, but with yesterday's rain, and more rain forecast, the meeting could be unnecessary, Mrs Mangin said.

Federated Farmers spokesman Frank Brenmuhl welcomed the Government's rapid response, but said that other regions were also at risk, including inland parts of Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay.

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