Drought to cut South Africa’s agric output by 20%

A severe drought afflicting South Africa’s Western Cape province is expected to cut agricultural output by 20 percent in 2018, according to the national government, which says it would decimate wheat crop and reduce apple, grape and pear exports to Europe.

The Cape Town is reported to be bracing for “Day Zero” in late August when its taps could run dry.

Moody’s said in a report that one of the most direct impacts would be on Cape Town’s operating revenues, as 10 percent of them are from water charges.

The ratings agency estimates capital expenditure related to water and sanitation infrastructure could be as much as 12.7 billion rand ($1 billion) over the next five years.

“The long-term solutions are likely to require significant capital and operating expenditure,” Daniel Mazibuko, an analyst at Moody’s said.

The drought also threatens to slow South Africa’s economic rebound, which has been fuelled by a surge in agricultural production. Cape Town generated nearly 10 percent of the country’s total gross domestic product in 2016.

Last Tuesday, Statistics South Africa said the economy grew 3.1 percent in October-December, the highest rate since the second quarter of 2016, after expanding by a revised 2.3 percent in the third quarter. Agriculture showed a 37.5 percent expansion after growing 41.1 percent in the previous quarter.

Government has declared drought a national disaster after its southern and western regions including Cape Town, which got hit hard by the drought, freeing extra funds to tackle the crisis.