Agriculture around the world is increasingly at risk of being disrupted by multiple hazards and threats, such as flooding, water scarcity, drought, declining agricultural yields and fisheries resources, loss of biological diversities and environmental degradation. Geophysical hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and mass movements damage infrastructure and cause widespread disruption to the services and networks (such as transport and market access) on which agriculture is reliant.
Variations in water supply and extreme temperatures are two of the biggest factors affecting agricultural production. Floods and heavy precipitation can have both positive and negative impacts on agricultural systems and productivity; rainfall variability is one of the leading causes of most crop losses. In Pakistan, exceptional monsoon rainfalls and subsequent flooding in 2022 caused nearly US$4 billion (about R73 billion) in damages to the agriculture sector.
In Honduras, the combined effects of drought and the 2020 storms halved agricultural production and heightened food insecurity, forcing many to flee internally and across borders. Agricultural drought emerges from a combination of rainfall deficits (meteorological drought), soil water deficits and reduced groundwater or waterstorage levels needed for irrigation (hydrological drought). During the growing season especially, drought can result in a lack of precipitation that affects crop production or ecosystem function. Soil moisture deficits and soil degradation affect other productive systems in addition to agriculture, particularly other natural or managed ecosystems, including forests and rangelands.
Denne historien er fra Farmer's Weekly 19 January 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra Farmer's Weekly 19 January 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
