The recent drought across South Africa has left many industries stilted. One of the hardest hit was the agricultural sector, which uses approximately 84% of the fresh water that the country produces.
Alan Winde, the Western Cape Economic Opportunities MEC, told the media that the drought is predicted to last for a few years so residents and farmers are encouraged to do their utmost to make sure that water is conserved by every means possible.
The Western Cape Economic Opportunities department has been working with several farmers in the region in order to make sure that they adopt conservation agriculture practices with ‘focused research and technology transfers’. Mr Kobus Pienaar, Woolworths Foods Farming For the Future expert and Good Business Journey Manager also believes there is a hope for sustainable farming "We are not entirely powerless in the drought. Innovative thinking can bring about significant water saving without substantial financial input.” The agricultural sector is a vital sector to take a critical look at how water is used to ensure that every drop counts.