South Africa is a water-scarce country, but thankfully there are a number of tools that can guide farmers and agripreneurs in managing water resources.
Drought and other water-related risks have in recent years threatened the sustainability of many South African agri-businesses, demanding they take a strategic and systemic approach to their water needs and sources.
The good news is tools are available to guide companies in planning and implementing an effective response to these risks, says Fiona Sutton, principal consultant at global engineers and scientists SRK Consulting.
"We work with clients to apply the International Water Stewardship Standard, which outlines five steps through which companies can achieve good stewardship practices," she says.
"Developed by the well-respected Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS), this standard guides improved water performance both on site and in the broader catchment."
Gathering data is key
The first step in working towards the AWS standard is for site owners to gather and understand all its relevant water-related data.
SRK Contributor:
Fiona Sutton
Read the full article in Food for Mzansi
