Cold Link Africa July/August 2017 | Page 17

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Hortgro reaction to drought disaster declaration in W Cape

The current drought , as well as the predicted long-term drying trends in the Western Cape , has serious implications for the farming of deciduous fruit crops , Hortgro , the deciduous fruit industry body , said in a recent statement .

According to Anton Rabe , Hortgro ’ s executive director , the current
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

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