Search Climate Insights Directory

This technical report evaluates water use efficiency and the application of the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) standard among stone fruit farmers in the Western Cape of South Africa. It combines orchard-scale biophysical measurements of peach and plum trees with farm-scale assessments of water balance and quality across nine volunteer farms in the Breede catchment. The report finds that while Western Cape farmers are significantly more water-efficient than global averages, there are local opportunities to reduce water use by up to 20-30% through improved irrigation scheduling and the use of correct crop factors. It also details the implementation of the AWS standard, identifying drought, social risks (such as infrastructure theft), and regulatory uncertainty as primary concerns for farmers.

This document is a draft written reply from the South African Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs to a National Assembly question (Question 1816) asked by Mr G R Morgan (DA) regarding acid mine drainage (AMD) on the West Rand.

This fact sheet by WWF South Africa details a 2020/21 study on faecal pollution in the Crocodile and Sabie River catchments in Mpumalanga. It highlights the risks of E. coli contamination for irrigated crops, particularly for subsistence farmers and high-risk vegetables, and provides recommendations for water stewardship and safe farming techniques.