By Elise-Marie Steenkamp To make water management institutions work, you must understand your resource. When and who uses it, but over the past two decades South Africa’s capability to manage its water resources has declined. This was the message from…
As the drought afflicting the Western Cape, and parts of the Eastern Cape, shows no sign of abating, deciduous fruit farmers are considering contingency plans for the coming season. Growing fruit trees is a long term investment with orchards bearing…
By Kara van der Berg The aftermath of the drought that hit the Klein Karoo in 2016 is still being felt by the area’s farmers even though the drought technically ended two years ago. “The drought had different effects on different…
DROUGHT CRISIS TEACHES RESILIENCE By Grethe Bestbier Last season’s drought taught us much more than that what we already know about water management, irrigation, mulching, and other water-efficient techniques. But most importantly, it demonstrated the resilience of the deciduous fruit…
Introduction In the Western Cape of South Africa, all eyes have been focused on the taps during the 2017-18 summer. Dust storms could be seen clouding the sky above bare dams as shown in Figure 1. Three dry winters in…
Deciduous fruit growers from Grabouw and Elgin will donate between 7.5 and 10 million cubic meters of water to the City of Cape Town. The growers opened their hearts and sluices to “give their share” and help the Cape Metro…
South Africa is facing a dual crisis of water availability and deteriorating water quality. Should the fruit industry be taking the situation more seriously? By Jorisna Bonthuys Ensuring the safety of produce from farm to market has never been so…
Even though the Western Cape has been blessed with some rain in June, it had little impact on the dire state of the Western Cape dam levels, and the forecast for water-use in the province remains bleak. With calls to…
HORTGRO Science recently held an Irrigation Seminar at Allée Bleue in Groot Drakenstein. The seminar was held to address the current drought conditions in the Western Cape, and to provide producers with coping strategies. To view all the complete presentations,…
Challenging Stone Fruit Season For Growers By Elise-Marie Steenkamp More than half-way through the stone fruit season most producers and technical advisors agree that the 2018/19 season is one they would like to forget. The guilty party for the lower…
Vir die kerngebiede waarin koring- en appelproduksie bedryf word, was die onlangse meerjarige droogte die ergste in 30 jaar. Dit kan ’n vroeë teken wees van die uitwerking van klimaatsverandering op landbou in die winterreënvalstreek van die Wes-Kaap. Dít blyk…
Despite the challenge of the drought, South Africa can fulfil its commitments to the market for the 2017/2018 season. There has been very little relief from the drought that has been plaguing the Western Cape for the majority of 2017…