South africas 201516 corn production is forecast at 12. Visit the wrc drought portal at za background south africa is a semiarid to arid country with a highly variable climate with highly constrained freshwater resources. Ongoing drought in southern africa linked to climate change. Federico barra, claudia berg, richard damania, john nash, and jason russ confronting drought in africas drylands.
South africa is facing one of the worst droughts to hit the region in 30 years, affecting food production and prices, while many small farmers are expected to go out of business, writes the bbcs. The center of the drought occurred in western free state and north west provinces, where 60 percent of south africas corn is typically grown figures 12. Illustrating the extent and severity of the 2015 16 drought. Maize is a staple food in southern africa and a key source of high. Since 1904, rainfall in all nine provinces has averaged 608 mm per year, while in 2015 south africa received only an average of 403 mm 66% of the annual average. Adapting to the impacts of drought by smallholder farmers in sekhukhune district in limpopo province, south africa article pdf available january 2015 with 12,125 reads how we.
Nov 30, 2015 published on nov 30, 2015 south africa is facing one of the worst droughts to hit the region in 30 years. Staple food prices across the region remain higher than the fiveyear average due to increased demand for. A severe drought was experienced across the region in 20152016. South africa severe drought with crop growing areas having their driest early season since 1981. Contents option 2 southern africa drought report south africa. To monitor implementation on agreed activities, keep. The south african weather service saws rainfall data shows that kwazulu natal was the only region within south africa, to have the.
Some projections estimate that south africa already exploits about 98% of its available water supply resources. Johannesburg is likely to run short of water should a severe drought occur in the next 10 years, as water wastage has not been stemmed and new sources of supply. Severe drought threatens food security in south africa. The ngo, pacsa1 october 2015 suggests that a universal drought narrative. Dec 27, 2015 drought deepens south africas malaise t. In south africa, the drought has seriously depleted the water reserves. While there has been good rains, the country is still firmly in a drought situation and has not recovered enough to relax the restrictions to water use, implemented in provinces. This led to the progressive depletion of water supply reservoirs and by. South africa is a water scarce country and ranks as one of the 30 driest countries in the world with an average rainfall. The drought conditions of 20, 2015, 2016 and 2019 ha left many maize ve producers in the north west and parts of the free state in a very challenging. Drought in south africa continues despite good rainy season. All we can do is pray the drought that may prevent many south african farmers planting this year could lead to food shortages and social.
All we can do is pray the drought that may prevent many south african farmers planting this year could lead to. Oct 05, 2017 south africa is battling one of the worst droughts ever recorded that already started in early 2015. In countries like malawi and zimbabwe, smallscale farmers who are entirely dependent on rainfall will struggle to produce any crops this year. This makes south africa the worlds 30th driest country. South africa is infamous for its high unemployment, which had risen to 26. South africa is the largest producer of maize on the african continent and, in a normal production season, 40% of maize produced in south africa is traded in the southern african development community sadc region agri sa, 2016. Farmers bear brunt of south africas severe drought. The drought in south africa costs farmers losses up to r10m usd 689, 655. Background to current drought situation in south africa. Western cape province in south africa is going through a severe drought, affecting in particular the highly populated urban area of cape town and its water supply. The effects of the drought on south african agriculture. Nov 17, 2015 farmers bear brunt of south africas severe drought.
Agri sa compiled an electronic survey to get an overview of thecurrent drought situation in south africa. This drought has limited crop production and exacerbated the current lean season. Illustrating the extent and severity of the 201516 drought reliefweb. Many small farmers are expected to go out of business as food production and prices. Wfp 2016, specifically covering the period october 2015 to january 2016 wfp 2016, it followed the third driest season in the. In the early 1990s, for example, an expanded set of various actors, not only restricted to. South africa, the continents largest maize producer, saw its driest year on record in 2015. Drought responses in south africa, however, show a rather messy reality. South africa grapples with worst drought in 30 years bbc. A case of the eastern cape and free state provinces of south africa author. Drought delays 201516 corn planting in south africa. These are just two of the headlines that appeared in january. Drought and water crisis in southern africa, european commission, ispra.
Jan 15, 2015 adapting to the impacts of drought by smallholder farmers in sekhukhune district in limpopo province, south africa article pdf available january 2015 with 12,125 reads how we measure reads. Spotlight on tx, where a shift seems to be in the works. South africa is facing one of the worst droughts to hit the region in 30 years, affecting food production and prices, while many small farmers are. This study investigated and analysed the preparedness, impact of and response by the farming community to the 20072008 drought using the eastern cape and free state provinces of south africa as case studies. Koee, a cattle farmer for 16 years in setlagole, south africa, lamenting drought losses in 2015. Extreme droughts can result in crippling impacts across local and regional scales. To build capacity in communities through relevant training and education. The briefing detailed that south africa is a water scarce country and ranks as one of the 30 driest countries in the world with an average rainfall of. South africa grapples with worst drought in 30 years bbc news. In south africa, droughts are regular occurrences presenting several opportunities to learn from and improve on drought risk reduction efforts. Oxfam south africa is a new organisation, the first african affiliate of the oxfam.
Since 1904, rainfall in all nine provinces has averaged 608mm per annum, while in 2015 south africa received an average of only 403mm 66% of the annual average. These are unprecedented times, and the role of media to tell and record the story of south africa as it. The immediate impact of drought in southern africa was on crop failure. While dam water levels had been declining since 2015, the cape town water crisis peaked during mid2017 to mid2018 when water levels hovered between 15 and 30 per cent of total dam capacity. The drought conditions of 20, 2015, 2016 and 2019 ha left many maize ve. What the drought did was highlight existing vulnerabilities in south africas water system, and properly frame the magnitude of the challenge of ensuring water security for the country. Now, dryness it hitting the panhandle, central, and southwest. We only anticipate a full recovery in about three yearstime, said minister mokonyane. It said south africa, where drought emergencies have been declared in most provinces, has already issued a preliminary forecast of maize production for the coming harvest of 7. Humanitarian situation reports, response plans, news, analyses, evaluations, assessments, maps, infographics and more on southern africa. The post south africa in midst of epic drought appeared first on african media agency.
Nov 16, 2015 the impact of the drought is massive for south africa, the regions breadbasket, but could be dire for the rest of the countries in southern african region that traditionally import from it. After one of the driest rainy seasons on record, south africa is in the grip of a severe drought. Sa rainfall in 2015 the lowest on record saws documents. Maize production is projected to be down by 35% compared to average. Maize production in zimbabwe in 201415 was 35 to 38 percent down on a fiveyear average due to drought. In 2015, south africa had the lowest amount of rainfall since records began in 1904.
Conference edition confronting drought in africas drylands. South africa is facing a massive drought one of the worst in the past two decades. The analysis report indicated that some areas in the seven provinces were experiencing drought. Nov 05, 2015 the post south africa in midst of epic drought appeared first on african media agency. Therefore, a drought in south africa also affects the region of sadc more broadly. Mar 06, 2018 south africa is infamous for its high unemployment, which had risen to 26. The south african weather service saws rainfall data shows that kwazulunatal was the only region within south africa, to have the. Drought declared a national disaster in south africa. On friday the south african government gave a media briefing on the conditions of the drought in the country. Drought deepens south africas malaise the new york times. According to the south african weather service, south africa received the lowest rainfall between january and december 2015 since the recording of rainfall began in 1904. This dataset was used to calculate the annual total rainfall jan dec for. As observed in 2015, the increasing severity of this drought is impacting negatively on the country in both social and economic terms.
Most droughtaffected countries in southern africa expect maize production deficits of more than 20 percent, including south africa, which is typically the regional supplier. The current drought is the effect of a sustained belowaverage monthly rainfall series since 2015, which intensified in the last wet season april to september 2017. Worst drought in 30 years hits sout africa bbc news. Flash drought over southern africa was tripled during the last 60 years mainly due to anthropogenic climate change, and it was intensified during 201516 in the. The cape town water crisis in south africa was a period of severe water shortage in the western cape region, most notably affecting the city of cape town. This has placed a strain on water supplies across the country, affecting 2. This dataset was used to calculate the annual total rainfall jan dec for south africa over the 112year period from 1904 to 2015. Youth unemployment in cape town itself is higher, measured at 31. Assessing social vulnerability to drought in south africa. Periodicities, enso effects and trends of some south african rainfall series.
Reimagining the potential of effective drought responses. Drought is a major disaster in south africa in terms of total economic loss and number of people affected. These events could occur more frequently and with greater severity. South africa is battling one of the worst droughts ever recorded that already started in early 2015. Lessons lost andor learnt from 1990 to 2005 wayne devlin austin a dissertation submitted to the faculty of science, university of the witwatersrand, johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of science. South africa will need to consider how to best adapt to such conditions.
Spatial assessment of drought severity in cape town area. Aug 18, 2018 south africas drought continues we wish to state emphatically that we are still faced with a dire situation as a country and remain drought stricken. Published on nov 30, 2015 south africa is facing one of the worst droughts to hit the region in 30 years. Fews net also forecast that high prices for staple goods and limited market supplies throughout the southern africa region will persist in the coming months. This drought has limited crop production and exacerbated. November 2015 background to current drought situation in south africa for more information. Between 2015 and 2017 south africas south western cape region experienced three of its lowest rainfall years on record. To distribute agricultural starter packs at community level. According to a report released by the department of water and sanitation last week, south africas dams saw an improvement by a fraction of a percent 0.
In support of the results from this study, drought in the western cape of south africa including the study area commenced in 2015 and is leading to a critical water deficit in the area, most strikingly influencing the city of cape town. The drought survey was sent to all its affiliate members throughout the month of december 2018 and part of january 2019. Impacts of drought induced water shortages in south africa. Mar 18, 2016 southern africa special report march 18, 2016. Nov 30, 2015 south africa is facing one of the worst droughts to hit the region in 30 years, affecting food production and prices, while many small farmers are expected to go out of business, writes the bbcs. The region received below normal rainfall accompanied by high temperatures leading to. The limpopo basin in southern africa is prone to droughts, which affect the livelihoods of millions of people in south africa, botswana, zimbabwe, and mozambique. South africas five provinces including kwazulunatal, have been declared disaster areas following a persisting drought. May 29, 2015 humanitarian situation reports, response plans, news, analyses, evaluations, assessments, maps, infographics and more on southern africa. Illustrating the extent and severity of the 201516 drought. The south african government declared the two provinces drought disaster areas in the 20152016 hydrological year. Pdf adapting to the impacts of drought by smallholder.
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