Irrigation in South Africa

Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division
Foreign Agricultural Service

Irrigated agriculture area shown below suggests that irrigation is fairly evenly distributed in all provinces within South Africa. The Water Research Commission (WRC) reported in 1996 that the Western Cape had the largest area under irrigation, as shown in Table 1. Crops irrigated in South Africa are listed in Table 2.

Irrigated agriculture area suggests that irrigation is fairly evenly distributed in all provinces within South Africa. ,

Table 1. Irrigation in each province

Province	Area Irrigated
Eastern Cape	154,930
Free State	98,980
Gauteng	26,684
KwaZulu/Natal	170,244
Mpumalanga	157,420
Northern Cape	161,874
Northern Province	135,146
North West	103,318
Western Cape	281,536
Total	1,290,132

Table 2. Contribution of Irrigation to Crop Production

Crops	Area Irrigated (1000 ha)	Production (1000 tons)
Lucerne	203	1600
Wheat	170	740
Maize	110	660
Vegetables	108	1330
Other Pastures	104	800
Grapes	103	1300
Other fruit	95	1200
Sugarcane	60	4000
Oilseeds	54	108
Other small grains	52	200
Potatoes	39	1200
Citrus	35	1100
Cotton (lint)	18	17
Tobacco	12	20

Reference:
Backeberg, G.R., Bembridge, T.J., Bennie, A.T.P., Groenewald, J.A., Hammes, P.S., Pullen, R.A., and Thompason, H. 1996. Policy proposal for irrigated agriculture in South Africa. Discussion paper. July, 1996, W.R.C. Report No. KV96/96. Beria Printers. Pretoria.

For more information, contact Curt Reynolds
with the Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division, at Curt.Reynolds@usda.gov or (202) 690-0134.


Updated: September 05, 2003	Write us: Pecadinfo@fas.usda.gov	Index \| \| FAS Home \| USDA \|

For more information, contact Curt Reynolds with the Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division, at Curt.Reynolds@usda.gov or (202) 690-0134.

For more information, contact Curt Reynolds
with the Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division, at Curt.Reynolds@usda.gov or (202) 690-0134.