AGRICULTURAL WATER
BUILDING A WATER-EFFICIENT SECTOR The agricultural sector accounts for the vast majority of South Africa’s water use and could be severely impacted by anticipated future water shortages. Water&Sanitation Africa speaks to Janse Rabie, head: Natural Resources, Agri SA, about how the sector is adapting and implementing water efficient practices.
As the largest water user in SA, how is the agricultural sector working to reduce water consumption? JR Although the agricultural sector is the largest user of water in South Africa, consuming approximately 60% of available water resources, it is interesting to note that the global average water consumption of the agricultural sector is approximately 70%. It is also important to bear in mind that the sector only receives what remains after all other water uses are served. This includes domestic, industrial, mining and governmental uses, adhering to international obligations and preserving the environmental reserve. South Africa is the only country in Africa that is technically food secure in that it can provide its population with sufficient domestically produced food and is a net exporter of agricultural commodities, generating significant foreign revenue. Given that South Africa is a water-stressed country, its relative food security is a significant achievement. Water is a critical resource to the agricultural sector and the efficient use thereof is vital to the social stability and economic growth of South Africa. As a significant input cost component, the efficient use of water is crucial for farmers. This
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entails technical improvements in water delivery and application – e.g. micro-irrigation, use of remote sensing and satellite imagery, cultivation of appropriate droughtresistant cultivars, and metering/ measurement of water consumption. It also entails the maintenance and improvement of raw-water storage and supply infrastructure. The management of water resources at the appropriate management level is crucial in this regard. Although national government is the overall custodian of our water resources, local-level management institutions – including water-user associations and irrigation boards, as well as catchment management agencies – are vital in ensuring efficient water use. South Africa predicts a potential 17% water deficit by 2030. What impact might this have on food security? The anticipated water deficit will clearly detrimentally affect food security – not only in South Africa, but the wider region. Unless all stakeholders come together and address this issue as a matter of utmost importance, South Africa’s food security is at risk. This food security is a major contributor to national and regional social stability and economic growth – it cannot be underestimated.
How have South Africa’s recent and ongoing droughts affected the agricultural sector? Recent and ongoing droughts continue to have a severe impact on the agricultural sector. These are felt the most at local and commodity-specific level. For example, the ongoing severe drought in parts of the Northern Cape has had a particularly severe impact on sheep farming in that area. In light of these droughts, how is the agriculture sector adapting to lower water availability? Farmers in different parts of the country implement diverse adaptation measures to deal with lower water availability. In the case of the meat and wool producing commodities, this often means reducing herd sizes. Other examples include removing fruit trees and vineyards, cultivating fewer hectares of other crops and, where possible, replacing them with more drought-resistant commodities. Again, continuing and improving water-use efficiency is crucial to the viability of the sector. Are there water efficiency measures that can be widely implemented to reduce consumption in the sector? Agriculture is always the first sector to face restrictions in times of water stress.
