Mitigating future impact In the midst of a drought, the need for policy solutions is … This matters for the country as a whole because the Western Cape contributes 22% to … Map 1: The 2015/2016 Southern Africa Drought (Source: OCHA, 2016) 2 Beyond immediate and easily observable impacts, the El Niño-induced drought led to unfavorable behavior of some of the economic indicators such as 2002, Horridge et al. If the region's weather patterns are disrupted enough to cause drought, the lack of rainfall and eventual loss of moisture from soil often results in a noteworthy decline in Southern Africa's agricultural production; the resulting detrimental economic conditions lead to social unrest and a decline in the level of regional food security. Other cities like Pretoria, Durban, and Gauteng are also facing a severe shortage of water. However, the broader social effects of drought have received far less attention (Fritze et al. Agriculture export made up about 11 percent of South Africa’s total annual exports, surely this year, 2016, agricultural export revenue is likely to drop. . Jobs: The Western Cape has the biggest agricultural workforce in South Africa – nearly a quarter of the country’s farm workers are employed in the region. Prolonged dry spells during the second half of the 2018/2019 rainy season resulted in reduced seasonal production, food deficits, price increases and increased food insecurity in many parts of southern Africa including southern Angola, Namibia, southern Zambia, and parts of Lesotho, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Data from the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disaster (2011) show that drought is a major disaster in South Africa in terms of the number of people affected and total economic loss, whilst floods top the chart in terms of number of mortalities. To this end, there has been growing concern about the impact droughts have and will have on the tourist destinations in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. The agricultural exports in the year 2017/2018 increased by 7.5% from the year 2016/2017 despite the drought (DAFF, 2018). Perhaps no other economic activity suffers more than agriculture during a drought. South Africa has terminated a national state of disaster that was declared to mitigate the effects of a severe drought… In a warming world, Cape Town's 'Day Zero' drought won't be an anomaly. Agriculture is the backbone of Africa’s economy and accounts for the majority of livelihoods across the continent. Here are just a few different examples of economic impacts: Farmers may lose money if a drought destroys their crops. economic impacts, as experienced by smallholder farmers in Mopani between June 2015 and February 2016. Adding to the negative effect that the drought is having on food security for South Africa and its neighbours are job losses: the agricultural sector indicated earlier this year that it had already lost about 30 000 employment opportunities. South Africa is currently experiencing its worst El Niño-induced drought for over 30 years. In the future, the von Arnims are hoping to export more wine because the domestic market is saturated. With farmers struggling to find water and food for their cattle, many are being forced to sell off large parts of their herds to mitigate losses. At the present moment, water is being rationed by government agencies across most of South Africa. The economic impact of Drought in South Africa is dire. Such natural disasters severely affect the growth of crops in the field, especially those that are dependent on natural precipitation as the major source of water. Other cities like Pretoria, Durban, and Gauteng are also facing a severe shortage of water. Drought can also hurt the recreation and tourism industry. Today, the lakes around Cape Town are brimming with water, but it was only a few years ago that South Africa… Drought is a major disaster in South Africa in terms of total economic loss and number of people affected. Programs were implemented such as increased stockpiling of food, water restrictions, and water conservation campaigns. South Africa. loses because of drought; the impact on macroeconomic variables, including exports, is minimal but negative. The negative effects of the economic reform programmes combined with drought have severely eroded industries in several countries. Climate scientists say the cause of the drought, that has not only crippled South Africa but countries across Southern Africa, is one of the strongest El Nino events ever … In the short term, this means a glut of cheap beef, but in the longer term will lead to a severe meat shortage and higher prices. 2005, Edwards et al. In the drought-prone sub-Saharan African countries, the number of undernourished people has increased by 45.6% since 2012 according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Dams fill up during the rainy season and that water is then used. social and environmental impacts of drought in africa threaten to undermine the wider economic and development gains. South Africa's agricultural industry employs over 800,000 people. Drought, is one of the disasters that has recently affected most countries including South Africa. If you thought being a miner was tough, try being a farmer. Droughts account for 85.8% of livestock losses and drought is the most lethal natural hazard to livestock (FAO, 2015). It is now a known fact that violence has just become a way of life in South Africa. The current drought is the effect of a sustained below-average monthly rainfall series since 2015, which intensified in the last wet season (April to September 2017). The most serious impact, other than dwindling water supplies, is the effect on staple crops and, ultimately, commercial crops. Drought stalks SA crops and economy. Box 1: Impact of Drought on the Distribution of Income link Box 2: Impact of Drought on the Manufacturing Sector in Zimbabwe link Box 3: Modeling the Economic Impact of the 1992 Drought in South Africa link Box 4: Lake Kariba and the 1991−92 Drought link The Impact of Drought on Sub−Saharan African Economies Boxes 3 The study explores the effects of the impact of hydrological drought in Maluti-a-Phofung Economic Impacts of Droughts. The drought has compounded the effects of an economic slowdown in many African countries, brought on by slumping prices in raw materials and exports to … Economic Impacts of Drought. Economist Dr Iraj Abedian says government knew about the drought 17 years ago but did nothing and now the economy is suffering. This is especially true for coal power, which provides around 77 percent of South Africa’s energy. Agricultural Losses . Climate change is a culprit. Climate change is forcing farmers to embrace and introduce new technology in farming practices to increase efficiency levels. 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. Drought has wide-ranging impacts on health, water supply and economic sectors, especially agriculture. Hence, understanding and reducing the risks and adverse effects of drought such as yield losses is crucial, as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) states. Hence, understanding and reducing the risks and adverse effects of drought such as yield losses is crucial, as the Sendai Framework for … Seven of the ten industries contracted in the fourth quarter. Zambia’s stringent power rationing measures resulting from the drought are threatening to wipe out the gains made in the economy and to reduce industrial output to a fraction of capacity. Power supply has -been cut to the equivalent of four days a week from a seven-day-week basis, and domestic power use to 16 hours a day. South Africa's climate is characterised by periods of wet spells also It is likely that the water crisis will have a short- to medium-term impact on the national economy. WW; Posted 24 Apr 2020 Originally published 23 Apr 2020. During the year 1992 and 1993, undoubtedly one of the most widespread droughts of the last 45 years, maize had to be imported to South Africa. Which countries in Africa are affected by drought? Namibia was declared a drought emergency. Western Cape accounts for 13.3 per cent of national GDP. The drought also threatens to slow South Africa’s economic rebound which has been fueled by a surge in agricultural production. The Western Cape economy equates to 13% of South Africa’s GDP in total. Published on March 23, 2018 March 23, 2018 • … One sector within the agricultural economy that is normally forgotten when considering the effects of drought, is the emerging, small and informal agricultural sector. “The disastrous drought of 1992, which in many areas of South Africa was the worst recorded since 1922, however, once again brought local drought policy under scrutiny and revealed significant weaknesses in the ability of government structures to respond timeously and effectively to the disaster and reduce the impact thereof” . The agricultural sector is the major water user in South Africa at an estimated 62% (WWF, 2016). But for those in agricultural areas, prolonged drought has been an ever-present force for years; it’s even crippled some small farms. In the province more than R5 billion was lost to the economy, largely due to the drought. Drought is no longer classified as a national disaster in South Africa, a decision that has sparked outcry from the country’s farmers.. South Africa is considered a water-scarce country, and the 30th driest country in the world.. South Africa's economy is stagnating. Extreme drought events in southern Africa are the result of a number of atmospheric circulation interactions (Tyson, 1986; Lindesay, 1998) with some droughts and periods of reduced rainfall, for example, connected with ENSO events. The drought is set to affect South Africa’s entire economy. Cape Town has been in drought for three years. ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE DROUGHT . If reduced access to water translates into reduced electric capacity, the economic effects are multiplied. However, the impacts of the drought made clear that the situation was overwhelming [1]. The South African weather service defines a drought as a period of 12 moths when Abstract. For example, because of the environmental changes and the impacts thereof on farm life, technology can help farmers to better manage their water usage during severe drought periods. Drought is harshly affecting the economy of SA - Economist. Continue reading here: Drought … Dairy farmers are unable to sell their animals for meat. Assessing the Socio-Economic Impact of Drought in Goedgevonden Village, Ventersdorp Local Municipality in North West Province, South Africa Siphiwe Caleni Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements in respect of the Master’s degree Master of Disaster Management at the Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa in the As South Africa has a dual agriculture economy consisting of a well-developed commercial sector and smallholder, often subsistence, farming. Household consumption is predicted to drop 4,26% and the income of unskilled labour will fall 6,4%. The economic impact of Drought in South Africa is dire. The situation is the same across most of South Africa. The The BFAP estimates that there will be a 3,76% decrease in the agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) from 2015 to 2016. of people. The country’s GDP will be down 3,38%. This decrease in available water can also lead to a reduction of some wetlands, groundwater depletion and even impact water quality (e.g. Drought has wide-ranging impacts on health, water supply and economic sectors, especially agriculture. And agriculture and agro-processing are responsible for 18% of employment opportunities in the province. Much of the Eastern Cape province in South Africa has been experiencing a severe drought since 2015. On a national scale, drought in South Africa results in a reduction in the yield of the maize crop with yields falling to below 1 ton per hectare (Fig, 4). There are several mechanisms impacts of drought as the level of food is usually reduced during a drought thereby increasing the vulnerability of people (UNDP-BCPR, 2005). Drought can result in lower water levels in reservoirs, lakes and ponds, as well as reduced streamflow in rivers. Drought can have substantial negative economic impacts on farmers and the local economy. The current drought is recorded as one of the worst to ever hit South Africa, and its effects on the country’s economy have been severe, pushing food prices up due to crippled key crops, like maize– the country’s staple food. The Economic Impact of Cape Town’s Water Crisis. These impacts have been frequently documented (e.g. Food security impacts. In order to understand the impact of the current drought it is essential to start off with a clear assessment of the importance of agriculture to the regional economy of the Western Cape, and more broadly the rest of South Africa. Drought can cost people, businesses and governments money. CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 02: Newlands residents collect water … These are some of the examples of economic effects … The most serious impact, other than dwindling water supplies, is the effect on staple crops and, ultimately, commercial crops. The South African newspapers are full of reports related to violent crimes. Cape Town has been in drought for three years. Drought conditions can … Moreover, consecutivedroughts com… Businesses, such as water sport rental shops, maybe financially impacted during a drought. 2009). Assessing the Socio-Economic Impact of Drought in Goedgevonden Village, Ventersdorp Local Municipality in North West Province, South Africa Siphiwe Caleni Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements in respect of the Master’s degree Master of Disaster Management at the Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa in the In the Federal Republic of Somalia, Lesotho, rural Zimbabwe, Malawi, the Republic of South Sudan, and other African countries with inadequate water, damaged or non-existent water infrastructure led to the impacts of the drought being more pronounced (see Figure 2). The South African wine industry is bracing itself for the smallest harvest in more than a decade as the drought and water shortages in the Western Cape threatens farms and wineries that employ thousands of seasonal workers. Over the past few years, South Africa has been facing rising levels of violent crime. The Cape Town region experiences a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and winter rainfall. This drought has had major socio-economic effects particularly on the large impoverished rural population as well as on some urban areas where supplied water services have broken down in several cases. by Jodi Lucas June 4, 2018. Governments across the South African region implemented measures to mitigate the impact of the drought. No, seriously there are no solutions for drought. These impacts may be local, and only affect those in the drought-stricken area, or they may be widespread and impact people living outside the drought affected area. Understanding drought risk in South Africa. From 2015 to 2017 South Africa’s financial grew by minor 1.1% average per annum, with the farming part growing at a rate of under 0.5%. In a country that relies so … South Africa. South Africa in midst of ‘epic drought’ At least 2.7 million households affected in worst drought to hit the country since the 1980s, government officials say. Yet high costs, combined with low availability, mean only 20% of the country's commercial grain farmers have drought insurance, according to the SAIA document. The drought has led to job losses in the province’s agriculture sector. The South African economy contracted by 1,4% in the fourth quarter of 2019, following a contraction of 0,8% (revised) in the third quarter.1 Transport and trade were the main drags on overall activity, according to the latest gross domestic product (GDP) figures. Over 15 per cent of natural disaster damages and losses are caused by drought. The Government of South Africa has made several attempts to reduce the impacts of drought in recent years (Vogel, 1998). Policies to reduce the impacts of To this end, there has been growing concern about the impact droughts have and will have on the tourist destinations in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. Infrastructure changes on the farm. Water crisis: Cape Town drought to have huge impact on SA’s economy. The United Nations is reporting that prolonged droughts in southern Africa have led to food shortages, which will impact 45 million people. South Africa's agricultural industry employs over 800,000 people. The economic impacts of drought are realized from monetary and business losses incurred during droughts by governments, businesses, families, and at the individual level. Jaco Minnaar, chairman of Grain SA, an industry body that represents grain producers, said … Although climate change has a big hand in creating South Africa’s worst drought since 1910, it is good to remember that droughts are also an important process in natural systems and have been happening for over a millennia. Johannesburg - The worst drought in the country in more than 20 years could knock 0.5 percent off South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) … The decision to declassify drought was announced on July 16, after the government re-examined the severity of drought conditions. The SAFL applied the questionnaires over three months from February to April 2016, and completed the analysis of collected data in May 2016. South Africa’s worst drought in years affects farmers. Discuss the impact of the current drought in South Africa on the following: 1.1 Maize crops Due to the fact that maize is a staple of the poor people in South Africa, in that it is directly linked to essential foods such as mielie-meal and the fact that it is the main source of energy for animal feeds, it is immensely important to the food chain. South Africa's annual average rainfall is approximately 450 mm and this makes this country prone to recurrent droughts. Africa is a good example of great vulnerability to drought and desertification and a seemingly inability to manage these climate based issues. The drought has compounded the effects of an economic slowdown in many African countries, brought on by slumping prices in raw materials and exports to … Much of the Eastern Cape province in South Africa has been experiencing a severe drought since 2015. Pray for Rain. Human-caused warming has contributed to ongoing drought conditions. OVERVIEW OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN SOUTH AFRICA South African agriculture has experienced significant structural changes over the last 30 years fueled by policy reforms that took place in the mid-1990s. South Africa, as a Party to the United Nations (UN) Convention to Combat Desertification, reviewed the 2004 NAP to combat desertification, land degradation and to mitigate the effects of drought for South Africa and developed a new NAP for the period 2017 to 2027. Governments across the South African region implemented measures to mitigate the impact of the drought. Programs were implemented such as increased stockpiling of food, water restrictions, and water conservation campaigns. However, the impacts of the drought made clear that the situation was overwhelming [1]. devastating natural disasters worldwide whose socio-economic impact tend to be severe in regions with an annual rainfall of less than 500 mm. Drought: reducing impacts and building resilience. It is an issue that is commonly faced by all citizens, regardless of what their economic status is. The Impact of the Drought on South African Wildlife. Cape Town has been in drought for three years. The situation is the same across most of South Africa. Other cities like Pretoria, Durban, and Gauteng are also facing a severe shortage of water. At the present moment, water is being rationed by government agencies across most of South Africa. This is largely due to Here is a list of some of the effects of drought on the economy: 1. Unfortunately, the prevalent drought has resulted in losses amounting to approximately US $393m in the Western Cape’s agricultural sector. This drought has had major socio-economic effects particularly on the large impoverished rural population as well as on some urban areas where supplied water services have broken down in several cases. There are more than 7,000 commercial grain farmers, according to industry association Grain SA. These are some of the headlines dominating the front pages of regional newspapers as the worst drought in southern Africa takes its toll on industries. follow Bloomberg Africa on Twitter. 2008). A drought means a long period of dry weather during which the lack of rain results in a severe shortage of water. In order to understand the impact of the current drought it is essential to start off with a clear assessment of the importance of agriculture to the regional economy of the Western Cape, and more broadly the rest of South Africa. The agricultural products produced in South Africa are for both the domestic and the international markets. The Impact of COVID-19 in South Africa Format Analysis Source. 4. A comparison between the impact of drought on Malawi and South Africa illustrates the importance of economic structure and a number of other factors that can have an influence on macroeconomic indicators. At the present moment, water is being rationed by government agencies across most of South Africa. salt concentration can increase). Southern Africa’s temperatures are rising at twice the global average rate, according to the International Panel on Climate Change, and in much of South Africa the level of water in reservoirs is dwindling. The province contributes about 21 per cent of South Africa's agricultural output, and accounts for 45-60 per cent of agricultural exports. As such, a 2% loss from the province means a 0.26% reduction of the national total. South Africa have increased significantly, and the most common type of disaster is drought. Yet high costs, combined with low availability, mean only 20% of the country's commercial grain farmers have drought insurance, according to the SAIA document. For many of the already impoverished, food insecure orvulnerable population groups in the Limpopo River Basin, one severe drought, orseries of consecutive droughts, may result in the loss of their traditionallivelihood system, and thus result in further deprivation. Government imposes water cuts and gives aid to farmers as part of emergency measures to fight severe drought. There are more than 7,000 commercial grain farmers, according to industry association Grain SA. 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