Watervoogdyskap: Só boer jy vooruit

This report summarizes an information session held by WWF South Africa on October 18, 2017, focused on water saving and stewardship for agricultural producers in the Western Cape. It addresses the critical water scarcity facing the region, the role of producers as stewards of shared water resources, and practical technological and biological methods to improve water use efficiency and mitigate climate risks.

• The Western Cape is experiencing a severe drought, with average dam levels at 35% by the end of October 2017, compared to 62% in the previous year. Water restrictions of 60-70% were already in effect for the agricultural sector by November 2017, and producers in the Olifants River area received only 17.5% of their normal water allocation.
• Climate change is expected to increase water stress in the Western Cape, with annual rainfall potentially decreasing by up to 30% by 2050. Projections indicate that Southern Africa will become warmer and drier, with winter rainfall decreasing in parts of the province and the rainy season starting later.
• The agricultural sector is the largest water user in South Africa, utilizing two-thirds (66%) of allocated water. In the Western Cape, approximately 43% of available water resources are used for agricultural irrigation, with fruit crops requiring between 7,000 m³ and 11,000 m³ of water per hectare annually.
• The FruitLook online service uses satellite technology to help producers manage water consumption and crop growth. Nearly half of the producers using the tool report reducing their water use by 10%, and 10% report reductions of nearly a third.
• Practical water management strategies to improve efficiency include using soil moisture probes, applying mulches (such as straw or wood chips) to reduce evaporation, planting cover crops, and irrigating at night to minimize losses from wind and heat.
• Water stewardship involves a long-term commitment to managing water as a shared risk. This includes reducing, reusing, and recycling water; for example, the De Wet Cellar in Worcester reduced total water use by 15-20% through small operational changes.
• Removing alien invasive vegetation is critical for restoring water flow and reducing fire intensity. At Boschendal, clearing over 400 hectares of alien plants (including acacias, hakeas, and pines) resulted in four major streams flowing year-round and created natural fire breaks that protected vineyards during a 2016 fire.

APA

WWF South Africa (2017). Watervoogdyskap: Só boer jy vooruit. http://awsassets.wwf.org.za/downloads/Water_stewardship_technical_report_2017_WEB.pdf

Chicago

WWF South Africa. Watervoogdyskap: Só boer jy vooruit. 2017. http://awsassets.wwf.org.za/downloads/Water_stewardship_technical_report_2017_WEB.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF South Africa |title=Watervoogdyskap: Só boer jy vooruit |date=2017 |url=http://awsassets.wwf.org.za/downloads/Water_stewardship_technical_report_2017_WEB.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfsouthafrica2017watervoogdyskap, author = {{WWF South Africa}}, title = {{Watervoogdyskap: Só boer jy vooruit}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, year = {2017}, url = {http://awsassets.wwf.org.za/downloads/Water_stewardship_technical_report_2017_WEB.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }