Coping and adaptation strategies for agricultural water use during drought periods

Abstract

This report is Deliverable 2 of the Water Research Commission Project 2602 entitled “Coping and adaptation strategies for agricultural water use during drought periods”. The report starts by defining vulnerability to drought. This is followed by a brief history of drought in South Africa, then an outline of the role of early warning systems. The report then gives examples of coping and adaptation strategies adopted by selected countries. A number of strategies in water use in agriculture that have been implemented by South Africa are then described in the report. Drought resistant and new crop varieties and improved agronomic practices were identified in rainfed systems. Many strategies were implemented in irrigation, including scheduling, drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting and infrastructure maintenance. Strategies in livestock included creating fodder banks and pasture management. South Africa drilled many boreholes to provide water for both agriculture and domestic use during the recent drought, showing the importance of the groundwater resource in agriculture.