Declining farming profitability and water scarcity (drought, declining rainfall and excessive demand for water) has left South Africa with fewer than two-thirds the number of farms it had just a few decades ago. Agriculture is a key water consumer in South Africa, with about 62% of the country’s surface water being used for irrigation. Furthermore, soil erosion and degradation of agricultural land though overexploitation and inappropriate and unsustainable farming methods pose a threat to the country’s food security. About 80% of the land area of South Africa is used for agriculture, but only 11% of the total area is arable.
Additionally, the rate of land degradation is high, estimated at 70%, with potential negative implications for food production. A recent estimate of climate change effects on water resources suggests that South Africa may experience a 10% decline in average rainfall by 2025, reducing surface water runoff by up to 75%.
This project aims to implement sustainable consumption and production practices and green certification schemes in small enterprises in the agrifood sector in South Africa.
