In an attempt to prevent the loss of millions of rands worth of agricultural produce, the Western Cape agriculture department has allocated almost R1-million in emergency funding to Clanwilliam.
Water for the Namaqualand area is drawn from the Clanwilliam dam. It is distributed through one canal 260km long and through a network of small canals 60km long.
The collapse of a section of the main canal caused panic among farmers downstream because it occurred during the hottest time of the year.
The provincial government said yesterday that it had spent R975000 on a generator and pumps to stabilise the water supply.
Western Cape MEC for economic opportunities Alan Winde said yesterday that a section of one of the canals carrying water from the Clanwilliam dam had collapsed.
"It is a 184m section near Klawer. The break reduced water supply to farms downstream," he said.
More than 300 farmers were affected. Water is now being pumped across the damaged section.
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