Western Cape Fruit Farmers: Champions of Water Stewardship

In South Africa’s Western Cape, water is both a vital resource and a constant challenge. With unpredictable rainfall, prolonged droughts, and increasing demand on water systems, farmers must adopt innovative practices to ensure their farms thrive while preserving this essential resource.

Since 2021, Blue North Sustainability, as part of the Worldwide Fruit Water Stewardship Programme, has documented the water stewardship efforts of 11 stone and pome fruit farmers across the region. These case studies provide a window into the practical, impactful solutions these farmers have implemented to conserve water, enhance biodiversity, and build resilience to climate change. These case studies can also be accessed from Blue North’s News page.

Standout Practices in Water Stewardship

By compiling these case studies, Blue North Sustainability has identified various innovative water stewardship practices. These efforts by the farmers demonstrate how small, focused changes can create a significant impact, fostering resilience and sustainability in the face of water scarcity:

1. Clearing Invasive Species

Invasive alien plants such as black wattle and pine are notorious for their ability to consume vast amounts of water, often outcompeting native vegetation and disrupting ecosystems. The farmers in these case studies have undertaken efforts to remove these species from critical mountain catchments, which has yielded impressive results:

• Restored Water Flow: Clearing invasives has increased runoff by as much as 40%, allowing more water to reach rivers, reservoirs, and irrigation systems.
• Repurposed Biomass: Instead of wasting the removed vegetation, farmers chip it into mulch, which is used to improve soil moisture retention, reduce erosion, and enhance soil fertility.

Farmers often work collaboratively with water user associations and WWF South Africa to sustain these efforts over the long term, ensuring continued benefits for the community and the environment.

2. Smart Irrigation Techniques

Advanced irrigation systems have become indispensable in optimising water use. The farmers documented have invested in tools and technologies that allow for precise application of water, minimising waste while maximising productivity:

• Micro-irrigation Systems: Deliver water directly to plant roots, significantly reducing evaporation losses compared to traditional flood irrigation methods.
• Remotely Sensed Monitoring: Tools like FruitLook provide satellite-based insights into evapotranspiration and biomass production, helping farmers improve their management decisions relating to irrigation scheduling and crop production.
• Night Irrigation: By watering crops during cooler nighttime hours, farmers reduce evaporation, ensuring that more water reaches the soil and roots.

These systems are not just efficient but also scalable, making them accessible to farms of varying sizes.

3. Soil Health for Water Retention

Healthy soil is a critical component of effective water stewardship. Farmers have adopted practices that enhance the soil’s ability to retain water and support crop growth, even during dry periods:

• Mulching: By applying chipped invasive vegetation or other organic materials as mulch, farmers reduce surface evaporation and suppress weeds that compete for water.
• Cover Cropping: Planting cover crops between main harvests improves soil structure, prevents erosion, and boosts organic matter, which enhances the soil’s water-holding capacity.
• Natural Weed Growth: Encouraging controlled weed growth in non-critical areas helps protect the soil from direct sun exposure and reduces evaporation.

These practices not only conserve water but also support biodiversity and improve the overall resilience of the land.

4. Innovative Netting Solutions

Netting technology is proving to be a multi-benefit solution for farmers. Beyond protecting crops from environmental stress, it plays a significant role in water conservation:

• Evaporation Reduction: Nets reduce wind exposure and create microclimates that lower evaporation rates.
• Sunburn Prevention: Protecting fruits from direct sunlight improves crop quality and reduces the need for replanting or additional interventions.
• Improved Pollination: Roll-up shade nets aim to conserve water while ensuring that crops receive adequate sunlight and pollination.

These systems are particularly valuable in high-value crop production, where the economic returns justify the investment.

5. Adapting to Water Availability

The case study farmers have demonstrated remarkable adaptability in response to changing water availability:

• Crop Selection: Switching to early-bearing cultivars reduces the water required late in the growing season, aligning crop cycles with the region’s water availability.
• Scaling Operations: By adjusting the size of cultivated areas to match available water resources, farmers maintain productivity without straining local ecosystems.
• Trialing Drought-Tolerant Varieties: Some farmers are experimenting with cultivars that thrive in water-scarce conditions, reducing dependency on irrigation while maintaining yields.

A Model for Sustainability

These farming practices not only address immediate water challenges but also align with global sustainability objectives. By embracing nature-based solutions and leveraging innovative technologies, these farmers contribute to:

• The UN Sustainable Development Goal 6: ensuring water and sanitation for all.
• The Water Roadmap, which aims for 50% of the UK’s fresh food to come from regions with sustainable water practices by 2030.
• Net Zero Goals through enhanced soil carbon sequestration and reduced water waste.

Inspiration for the Future

The creativity and dedication of these Western Cape fruit farmers provide a blueprint for sustainable agriculture. While not all farmers may implement these practices in the same way, the lessons from these case studies highlight scalable and impactful strategies that others can adopt.

At Blue North Sustainability, we are proud to support and share these success stories. By working together, farmers can continue to lead the way in water stewardship, building a resilient agricultural sector that inspires global change.

Blue North Presents a Series of 12 Water Stewardship Case Studies.