Agriculture
What’s new in Farmer’s Weekly?─── ELSABÉ RICHARD 08:25 Tue, 11 Apr 2023
The Constitutional Court recently strengthened water rights by dismissing an appeal by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) with costs against a Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling which found that water rights could be transferred.
The editor of Farmer's Weekly Janine Ryan adds that the judgment brings to an end the legal dispute brought by Lötter, Wiid and South African Association for Water Users Associations (SAAFWUA).
The director-general of the DWS refused the applications to transfer water rights on the basis that section 25(2) of the Water Act does not make provisions for transfers.
The parties in response approached the High Court for a declaratory order on the meaning of sections 25(1) and (2) of the Water Act and for the court to set aside the director-general's decision.
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Ryan says the High Court dismissed all three applications, but upon appeal, the SCA reached a split decision with the majority upholding that sections 25(1) and (2) permit the temporary or permanent transfer of water use entitlements from a holder to a third party.
DWS appealed this ruling by taking the matter to the Constitutional Court. Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga said his conclusion was not dismissive of the state's concerns about water, which is a scarce natural resource.
He, however, ruled that the existing legislative instruments allow the transfer of water rights.
ALSO READ: 41% of SA businesses lost revenue over ransomware attacks
Cyberattacks
Another story takes a look at cyberattacks and agriculture's vulnerability to such attacks. This was highlighted at the Africa Agri Tech 2023 conference which was held in Pretoria recently.
If risks are not mitigated food supply could be impacted, according to speakers at the event.
Ryan says with the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT), the agriculture sector faces increasing exposure to cyberattacks. Locally, cyber attacks on Transnet brought ports to a standstill which has an impact on exports.
Macadamia crops
South Africa is expected to deliver another bumper macadamia crop this year surpassing last year's total yield of 68 000 drying dry-nut-in-shell at 1.5% moisture to reach nearly 78 tonnes.
However, as global supply and demand work against farmers, prices are set to drop to a 10-year low.
