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Cape Town - South Africa has experienced a steady increase in the price of meat impacted partly by the drought, with dry weather conditions set to become more regular in the Western Cape, warned Western Cape Economic Opportunities MEC Alan Winde.
"These increases are being driven by feed prices, the exchange rate and the impact of the drought on grazing land."
Winde made the remarks on Thursday while addressing the Red Meat Abattoir Association Annual Conference and Congress in Stellenbosch.
Like most industries, he said red meat abattoirs have been impacted by the drought crisis, which has dented many industries across the country.
Winde warned that research and climate change modelling showed annual temperatures are rising and droughts, floods and heat waves will become more regular in the Western Cape.
"These trends highlighted the need for a coordinated response from government and the private sector to mitigate the impact of climate change."
To this end, he noted that SmartAgri - a comprehensive climate change response plan - was formally launched last month.
"SmartAgri sets out a roadmap to combat the impact of extreme weather events on the province’s agriculture sector."
The final assessment, and the mitigating steps it proposes, is the result of two years of extensive collaboration and engagement between the Western Cape government - specifically the Departments of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs and Development Planning - the University of Cape Town’s African Climate and Development Initiative and a wide range of stakeholders in the private sector.
Winde said the final report offers tailored climate change response plans for each of the Western Cape’s key agricultural regions.
He explained that the team categorised the different regions of the province’s agriculture sector into 23 “agro-climactic zones”. He said the plan stipulates the nature of that specific region’s agri-enterprises and the climate challenges which are likely to be experienced in each area.
"Using scenario planning, SmartAgri predicts detailed outcomes for a series of possible situations, which include droughts, heat waves and cold spells. The plan explores two scenarios, namely the low road, where climate change mitigation plans are not coordinated, and the high road where risks and opportunities are identified and action plans implemented."
Winde said cooperation between government departments and the private sector can lessen the impact of climate change.
"I look forward to our continued collaboration in this, and other areas, as we build the country’s most competitive and dynamic agricultural sector."
