Hostile Farmers stealing water

[BTTB]

Hostile Farmers "stealing" water
What a headline?

Not sure what to draw out from this piece of journalism?
It creates the perception that farmers are taking water illegally for farming purposes and in so doing possibly creating a shortage for our Towns and Cities.

My only question is, how can anyone farm without water and secondly there is a case to assume that the water that farmers are "taking", possibly for generations already, could quite possibly be historical uses thereof and much needed for their farming endeavours, otherwise why would they take it in the first place as pumping water with Eskom Power will surely cost an arm and a leg.

 

[sox63]

Hostile Farmers "stealing" water
What a headline?

Not sure what to draw out from this piece of journalism?
It creates the perception that farmers are taking water illegally for farming purposes and in so doing possibly creating a shortage for our Towns and Cities.
My only question is, how can anyone farm without water and secondly there is a case to assume that the water that farmers are "taking", possibly for generations already, could quite possibly be historical uses thereof and much needed for their farming endeavours, otherwise why would they take it in the first place as pumping water with Eskom Power will surely cost an arm and a leg.

I did not see anything that attributes the shortage to farmers. What I do get from the article is that illegal abstraction of water sources is a problem and that Agriculture and Industry make up a 89% slice of our fresh water usage, and these sectors need to be engaged with to find a solution.

The article also points out golf courses and the mining industry as sectors the goverment should engage with. Its just that the farmers seem to not want to play along.

 

[davemc]

Actually, the article eventually finally admits that some farmers are using leaking and inappropriate equipment / methodology, and that this is a problem that will be dealt with through negotiation and understanding.

It seems that shock journalism is the way to go. I would like to thank the popularity of magazines like people magazine for this exciting trend in journalism.