A Climate Change Response Framework for the Agriculture Sector of the Western Cape Province (WCCCARF)

The Western Cape Government (WCG) has recognised the important role of the agricultural sector in the provincial economy and its growth potential, in job creation, and in the socio-economic development needs of the rural areas. At the same time, it has also identified the agricultural sector as being particularly vulnerable to a changing climate. This calls for urgent action in guiding and supporting the sector to adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change, and to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases. A strategic and co-ordinated approach is required for the development of long term resilience to climate change through climate smart agriculture and for placing the sector on a clear pathway towards the Green Economy.

The Western Cape Climate Change Response Framework for the Agricultural sector (WCCCARF) is strongly premised on collaborative planning and action within and between the public and private sector, including National, Provincial and Local Government; organised agriculture and industry associations; farmers, agri-processors and agri-business; labour and civil society; and research and academic institutions. The WCCCARF presents the “roadmap” for the joint effort to guide the agricultural sector into an uncertain climatic future.

The following four strategic focus areas (SFA) are identified:

1. Promote a climate-resilient low-carbon production system that is productive, competitive, equitable and ecologically sustainable across the value chain
2. Strengthen effective climate disaster risk reduction and management for agriculture
3. Strengthen monitoring, data and knowledge management and sharing, and lead strategic research for climate change and agriculture
4. Ensure good co-operative governance and joint planning for effective climate change response implementation for agriculture

SmartAgri Framework Final Report 2016