The Complexities of Climate Change Adaptation in South African Agriculture (Findlater, Kieran)

Given its wide-ranging impact on food security, water, health and land reform, the strength of South Africa’s agricultural sector is of strategic importance to the nation. As a climate-dependent industry in a water-scarce region, however, South African farming is also vulnerable to the variations in weather patterns associated with changes in global temperatures. Although the agricultural sector is dominated by industrial farming operations, small-scale and subsistence farmers are of outsized political importance. As compared to small scale farmers, commercial farmers have greater resources at their disposal and tend to not only be more resilient to climate variability, but also better equipped to adapt. As a large country with many fully allocated water basins, different parts of South Africa will face unique challenges related to climate change. Given the varying levels of adaptive capacity between large-scale commercial operations and emerging smallholder farms, South Africa’s national policy response must be prioritized to ensure cohesive and nuanced support for climate change adaptation.

Copyright: CIGI, Waterloo CA, Africa Portal.

Weblink: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/281410497_The_Complexities_of_Climate_Change_Adaptation_in_South_African_Agriculture 

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Created Date: 28-10-2015
Last Updated Date: 03-11-2015
License: Link only