Facing severe water challenges, Western Cape farmers are adopting practical, cost-effective strategies to build resilience. Supported by GreenCape’s expert guidance and a free upcoming roadshow, they are turning water risks into opportunities.
Ask any farmer, and they’ll tell you that when there’s no rain, it’s not just the crops or animals that suffer. It comes with sleepless nights, tough choices, and uncertain tomorrows. In the Western Cape, water challenges are forcing farmers to think differently. However, there is hope.
Experts say that with the right water-wise strategies, farmers can build resilience and even unlock big financial savings.
In a conversation with Food For Mzansi, GreenCape’s senior Water analyst, Nkululeko Mabila, and communications officer, Tyrese Rooi, shed light on the tough water challenges farmers face in the Western Cape, and shared practical, life-saving strategies to help them stay afloat and resilient.
GreenCape is an organisation that drives the adoption of green economy solutions, especially in sustainable agriculture. “We work at the interface of government, business, and academia to remove barriers and unlock opportunities for jobs and investment in the green economy,” says Rooi.
Their Sustainable Agriculture Programme supports innovation and growth in the sector.
Free water and energy advice coming to you
To support businesses, such as farmers and agricultural producers, in becoming more water resilient, GreenCape, in partnership with the Western Cape department of environmental affairs and development planning, is hitting the road.
The goal is to raise awareness and help businesses and farmers understand the water resilience options available to them.
The roadshow includes free, in-person help desks that will be set up in key agricultural regions from July to October 2025. Farmers, agri-processors, entrepreneurs, and agri-businesses are all invited to engage directly with sector experts.
“These help desks will offer one-on-one consultations with our water and energy experts, ideal for farmers who want to explore water-saving solutions, renewable energy, or energy efficiency on their farms.”
Tyrese Rooi
In addition to advice, attendees will receive practical resources and decision-making tools to guide their next steps toward water and energy resilience. The roadshow also offers valuable networking opportunities with other farmers and green economy stakeholders.
Roadshow dates:
- 15 July 2025: Saldanha Bay, West Coast
- 29 July 2025: Beaufort West, Central Karoo
- 31 July 2025: Mossel Bay, Garden Route
- 17 September 2025: City Centre, City of Cape Town
- 7 October 2025: Paarl, Cape Winelands
- 9 October 2025: Hermanus, Overberg
Click here to register or find out more.
Related stories
- Waterlogged fields? Here’s how to fix it early
- ‘We’re just surviving’: Water woes & land limits cripple NC farmers
Beyond farm operations
Meanwhile, according to Mabila, the Western Cape’s agri-producers face three major water-related risks. First, there’s climate variability and droughts. Between 2015 and 2018, dam levels dropped to just 15% capacity. That drought alone cost the agricultural sector R6 billion in revenue and led to the loss of around 80 000 jobs.
The second major challenge is increasing competition for water.
“Agriculture is the biggest water user in South Africa, consuming about 60% nationally. In the Western Cape, the figure is between 40% and 50%.
“But as the population grows, so does the demand for water, further tightening allocations and placing additional pressure on farmers.”
A third, often-overlooked risk relates to infrastructure and water quality issues.
“The Agricultural Research Council estimates a 40% loss of irrigation water due to ageing infrastructure, like old pipes,” Mabila explains. “There are also water quality concerns, such as rising salinity levels, which are reducing yields, particularly in fruit and croplands.
The risks go beyond farm operations. They impact the entire economy. “Water resilience is key to the province’s stability. Smart water use supports supply chains, global compliance, and long-term profits,” he shares.
The farmer’s guide to water resilience
So, what can farmers do, especially when budgets are tight and challenges are complex?
GreenCape, in partnership with Wesgro, developed a CEO Guide to Water Resilience that outlines five practical steps that both smallholders and commercial farmers can implement. These range from low-cost interventions to more advanced, tech-driven solutions.
“The first step is to measure and monitor your water use. Once you know where the losses are, you can move to step two, reducing unnecessary usage.
“Step three is to reuse what you can. Step four looks at alternative water sources, and finally, step five is about watershed collaboration, teaming up with neighbouring farms and businesses to improve regional water security.”
Nkululeko Mabila
Mabila offers examples tailored to farm size:
- For small-scale farmers (½ to 5 hectares):
Rainwater harvesting alone can reduce irrigation needs by up to 40%. Combine this with drip irrigation, mulching, and improving soil health, and you can drastically boost water efficiency without huge capital spend. - For larger-scale operations:
This is where smart tech and automation come in. Like precision irrigation systems, predictive weather models, and pump optimisation. Water recycling can also be used for secondary applications in processing or cooling systems.
Mabila says farmers don’t need to do everything at once, but the sooner they start, the better their chances of coping and growing in a changing climate.
Think water-saving doesn’t pay?
Several Western Cape agri-producers are already proving that investing in water resilience pays off, both environmentally and financially.
“There are quite a few success stories,” says Mabila. “One that stands out is Warwick Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. They invested about R1.1 million in a 23-kilolitre-per-day membrane bioreactor plant to treat wastewater from their testing cellar and staff housing.”
Warwick Wine Estate was able to save around R40 000 per month in waste removal and disposal costs.
“Their initial investment paid itself off in just two years and nine months. And since then, they’ve been seeing consistent savings of about R31 000 every single month,” Mabila says.
With rainfall in the Western Cape projected to drop by as much as 20% by 2050, investing in smart, resilient water strategies is no longer optional, but essential for the survival and sustainability of agriculture in the province.
READ NEXT: SAWIPB helps township dreamer Musa build wine brand
