Floods have proven to be a formidable challenge for South Africa’s agricultural food systems. According to minister of agriculture Thoko Didiza, addressing the impact of floods on agrifood systems requires a collaborative effort at both national and international levels.
Didiza was speaking at the 43rd session of the FAO Conference in Rome, Italy. The theme of this year’s conference is “Water Resources Management for the Four Betters: Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment and Better Life”.
According to Didiza, this is more than relevant in the face of the crises that impacted negatively on the agrifood systems and their value chains.
Speaking extensively on the impact of floods on agrifood systems, Didiza said that South Africa has witnessed the destructive power of floods in recent years, with severe flooding in provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo causing immense devastation.
“In South Africa, we have recognised the importance of integrated flood risk management and have taken significant steps towards its implementation. One of our key initiatives is the establishment of early warning systems that alert farmers and communities about impending floods,” Didiza told delegates.
Plans to address destructive floods
Currently, South Africa largely relies on the South African Weather Services’ weather forecasting technology. However, Didiza told conference attendees that plans are in place to employ modern technologies such as remote sensing. This is to provide timely information, enabling farmers to take proactive measures to protect their crops and livestock.
Other action steps, Didiza believes, should include investing in resilient infrastructure and agricultural practices that can withstand flood events.
This includes the construction of flood-resistant storage facilities, the promotion of climate-smart farming techniques, and the adoption of sustainable water management practices.
“Notwithstanding these challenges, flood risk management must be incorporated into our agricultural policies and programmes,” Didiza said.
Collaboration is key
Collaboration at both national and international levels is key in addressing the impacts of floods on agrifood systems
“We must share our perspectives, strategies, and solutions to enhance our collective knowledge and learn from each other’s experiences. We must ensure that we have a sound global water management governance framework, supported by robust national policies,” Didiza said.
The minister added that South Africa stood ready to collaborate with other nations and international organisations to foster knowledge exchange, capacity building, and technical assistance in the field of flood risk management.
“Together, we can develop and implement robust strategies and solutions that protect our farmers, secure our food supply, and build resilient agrifood systems that can withstand the challenges of the future.”
Other key factors
Moreover, the inclusion of vulnerable groups, such as small-scale farmers and rural communities, especially women, in flood risk management strategies must also be prioritised.
“We also have to de-risk the public purse by ensuring that we optimise public-private partnerships in flood risk management,” Didiza emphasised.
She further called on ministers, the FAO council, and representatives from civil society and the private sector to recommit themselves to integrated water resources management in the agrifood sector by raising awareness, sharing perspectives, and building consensus.
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