Dam levels for the City of Cape Town increased to 60.1% of storage capacity this past week, passing the 60% mark for the first time since 2016.
This is good news for the Cape’s agriculture sector as the drought in the Western Cape largely contributed to the 24.2% contraction in the country’s agricultural economy in the first quarter of 2018 due to its negative impact on the bulk of winter crops and summer fruits.
Agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo pointed out that the province’s agricultural economy was expected to remain flat – despite the above-normal rainfall – due to dwindling agricultural output over the past three years as a result of the drought.
It is also likely that water restrictions will remain in place as the Department of Water and Sanitation previously determined that water restrictions could be lifted only if supply dams reached 85% storage capacity. Water and drought specialists have however forecast that it is highly unlikely to reach that level this winter.
Deciduous fruit industry body, Hortgro, noted that restrictions were expected to continue into the summer season.
