Adapting to climate change and variability in commercial agricultural production: the case of the sugar industry in Swaziland
Date
2009-09-15T05:53:09Z
Authors
Simelane, Lunga
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Abstract
Climate change and variability is a reality and its impacts have led to issues of climate
change being placed high on the international agenda. Sectors highly affected by climate
change include agriculture, water and energy, and health. The need to respond to climate
change has therefore been realized to be eminent. Response to climate change includes
mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation mainly involves efforts taken towards stopping or
reducing the causes of climate change. Adaptation includes efforts to reduce the impacts
of climate change.
The focus of the study is on adaptation strategies employed in the agricultural sector,
with a particular focus on the sugar industry in Swaziland. Two major sugar companies in
Swaziland were investigated, that is Ubombo Sugar Company, and Royal Swaziland
Sugar Corporation (RSSC). The study set out to ascertain if climate change is an issue
that needs attention within the industry. It is for this reason that the study first set out to
determine the perceptions and understanding of climate change within the industry. The
industry’s response to climate change was also investigated. Adaptation options, both
planned and unplanned, were also examined. The findings reflect that indeed climate
change is considered a threat to the industry, though it may not be as significant as other
multiple stressors that are more imminent, like sugar price volatility. The findings also
reflect that the industry is actually responding to climate change in an effort to reduce its
impacts on on-farm operations. Strategies include planting drought-tolerant cane varieties and using more water-efficient irrigation systems, amongst others. In the study these
strategies are investigated in relation to each on-farm operation, from planting to
harvesting and transportation to the mill. On the whole the study adds to the existing
body of knowledge in the subject of climate change, by not only investigating the impacts
of the phenomenon, but putting more focus on what economic sectors are doing to
counter the impacts, with agriculture being the focus of this study.