The impacts of climate change threaten up to a 50 decline in South Africa's agricultural production by 2050 , growing the ranks of the 1 in 5 of the country's people who live daily with food insecurity, Cape town Etc reports.
Researchers have estimated that reduced rainfall and higher temperatures will cause a 25 increase in SA's maize yield variability by 2050, leading to less predictable harvests and impacting agricultural livelihoods and food prices.
Maize is a staple food source for poor households and is already showing annual price increases of 30 due to climate impacts on agricultural production.
Hunger and food insecurity, due to factors including the impact of climate change, affected approximately 21 of South African households approximately 18 million households in 2021, according to the National Food and Nutrition Security Survey.
Ensuring that more people have access to adequate, affordable and nutritious food calls for a new approach to supporting the agricultural sector that integrates enterprise development and climate adaptation strategies, says Stellenbosch Business School research fellow Roscoe van Wyk.