Adapting to climate change and variability in commercial agricultural production: the case of the sugar industry in Swaziland

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.