fresh consumption and long-term storage.

“ Severe water stress may be

that establishment costs may exceed R350 000 per hectare.

“ Smaller commercial growers

problem cannot only be solved

experienced during the 2017 / 18

and new entrants to deciduous

by cuts on agricultural

season if insufficient winter rainfall

fruit farming are even more

water quotas.

does not allow fruit growers to

exposed to the negative effects of

“ The whole community will

replenish their water storage, or

severe water limitations. Drought

have to re-think their water usage,

if heavy restrictions are imposed

conditions also affect the 132 000

alternative water resources must

on agricultural irrigation water use

( Western Cape and Eastern Cape

be unlocked, and recycling of

in water schemes that compete

only, that is, the current affected

water should be phased in. Water

with the water needs of the City

areas) farm employees and their

policies will have to change and

of Cape Town. When irrigation

dependants as well as the rural

dams must be enlarged to save

water is restricted below 50 % of the

communities dependent on the

more winter rainfall. Water storage

needs of the trees, profitable fruit

deciduous fruit industry.

should be adapted so that water

farming becomes impossible due

“ Irrigation research is a key

is stored for periods longer than

to the progressive impact on the

focus area of Hortgro, and past

just one season— given that there

trees. If irrigation water becomes

projects, some in collaboration

will be longer droughts in future,

very limited, growers may need

with the Water Research

possibly followed by floods.”

to remove all fruit from the trees,

Commission, have led to the

Rabe further said,“ We cannot

rip out less productive orchards to

industry-wide implementation of

afford flood water to disappear

save water for remaining orchards,

modern technologies to optimise

— it must be stored and made

or even remove the aboveground

the available water— making

available in the next drought

parts of trees to try to keep at least

every drop count. A simple

period.” He estimated that

the root system alive.

management practice like

short-term crops will become

mulching is used to conserve water

very expensive, especially in

effectively. Irrigation is based on

the Western Cape.“ Water for

research that determines exactly

agricultural use will be prioritised

how much water the trees need to

for long-term crops, but short-term

maximise water use productivity,

crops like vegetables can be

that is, the value of production per

imported from other parts of

unit of water used. New research

the country.”

is aimed at water savings that

Prof. Wiehann Steyn, Hortgro’ s

“ Evidently, considering the

is achievable by installing fixed

crop production manager,

above and because deciduous

and draped nets over orchards

explained the production

fruit trees are perennial crops,

and tree rows, respectively, and

implications of the drought:

severe drought stress does not

sophisticated water monitoring

“ Biomass production( both growth

only affect the season during

equipment.”

and fruit yield) of fruit trees relates

which it occurs, but will have a

Steyn further said that future

directly to the availability of water

knock-on effect in subsequent

weather predictions( with a high

during the growing season, since

seasons. Considering that the

degree of certainty) indicate

trees cannot photosynthesize and

annual production cost of a full-

30 % lower rainfall by 2050.“ If we

produce carbohydrates in the

bearing apple orchard runs close

take averages into account,

absence of water.

“ At moderate water stress, as experienced during the previous two seasons when water availability in some regions came under pressure, young trees grow less and mature trees carry fewer and smaller fruit. Fruit quality is also reduced under moderate water stress due to increased levels of sunburn and internal defects that

to R150 000 per hectare, growers may incur considerable debts in a severe drought year, with diminished means to recuperate these debts in future seasons. Since deciduous fruit trees only attain full production five to six years after planting, it takes a long time to fully replace lost orchards, while reduced growth of young orchards can have a significant

one can expect more dry years ahead like the one we are currently experiencing. Water sources are limited while the Western Cape keeps growing. We should therefore look at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture’ s SmartAgri plan and optimise continuous participation. Deciduous fruit growers will need to irrigate more effectively and save

If irrigation water becomes very limited, growers may need to remove all fruit from the trees, rip out less productive orchards to save water for remaining orchards, or even remove the aboveground parts of trees to try to keep at least the root system alive.

result in fruit being unsuitable for

impact on profitability, considering

water as far as possible.”

CLA