KSA 9
ToR ID – 1009761
Title: Market Analysis: Determining the extent and potential of a Water-Smart Agriculture market in South Africa
Closing Date : 15 May 2019 Extended from the previous call on FMS
Contact Person:
– Dr Chantal Ramcharan-Kotze chantalrk@wrc.org.za Scientific queries
– Ms Sandra Fritz sandraf@wrc.org.za Administrative queries
The Agricultural sector in South Africa contributes approximately 3% to South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and plays a significant role for employment and job creation. The sector is dependent on approximately 63% of the countries water allocation. Variable rainfall patterns not only affects dam and surface water but also groundwater recharge. Rising temperatures, climate change and droughts have serious long-term consequences for South Africa’s food security. When coupled with the growing impacts on the quality of our water sources due to e.g. pollution from agricultural run-off, South Africa requires a focused approach to shifting the sector to more sustainable practices.
In a water stressed South Africa, conventional agricultural practices such as irrigation, mitigation of production losses and yield improvement continue to exacerbate detrimental environmental effects and water constraints in South Africa. Studies have shown that there is an increasing interest in agricultural innovation by investors in response to the state of water in South Africa. Reducing pollution and soil degradation, improved information systems, models and rolling out of water efficiency technologies for irrigation are emerging as key opportunities for sustainable farming. As much as fruit and wine farmers are embedding sustainable and water efficient practices and technologies into their operations, the potential size and focus of a Water Smart Agriculture (WSA) market in South Africa requires crucial consideration.
