Head of DARDLEA Mr Lucky Monareng says the agriculture sector in Mpumalanga is still bearing the brunt after the drought that ravaged the province and the country in 2015, adding that the sustained effects are due to Climate Change. Monareng says the sector is yet to recover, after the drought caused damage to pastures and grazing land, small-holder farmers, crops & agriculture yields, livestock mortalities, dam levels and its impact on poor rural households.
HOD Monareng made the comments as he officially opened a 3-day South African National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (SANCID) Symposium at Ingwenyama Sport Resort outside White River on 13 November 2018. The Bi-Annual Symposium was attended by Scientists from various disciplines throughout the country, held under the Theme: “Opportunities to Manage Climate Change”. Among others, the Scientists shared knowledge and ideas, including interacting with policy makers and various government departments on means and strategies to help mitigate the effects of climate change.
Amid all of that, HOD Monareng added that the effects of alien invasive plants, and the Fall Army Worm also affected most emerging farmers. “In the wake of climate change and water shortages, the Department is already implementing climate-friendly and smart-agriculture initiatives that are aimed at sustaining agriculture, yet ensuring that the environment is also well looked-after in the process”, said Monareng.
Delegates at the Symposium also discussed the impact of climate change on the irrigation sector, groundwater management, conservation agriculture, including the effective water management and food production, policies and legal framework on water management, and the revitalization of irrigation schemes. ICID President Mr F Reinders said water sustains agriculture, energy and life. “With water shortages, climate-sensitive sectors in the country, like Agriculture, will continue to suffer the most”, concluded Reinders.