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The role of the National Water Act on the adaptive capacity of commercial farmers, investigating climate in the Fezile Dabi District Municipality in the Free State Province
(University of the Free State, 2019-01) Mhlomi, Tumelo Ian; Van der Walt, A.
Climate change is a global phenomenon, which will continue to affect us in the near future. Studies show that climate will rapidly change as compared to previous years. This rapid change will have a great environmental, societal and economic impact on communities around the world, especially developing countries such as South Africa with limited adaptive capacity and resources. The adaptive capacity of commercial farmers can further be restricted by the ongoing amendments to the National Water Act. The main aim was to investigate the role that the National Water Act plays concerning the adaptive capacity of commercial farmers with reference to climate change in the Fezile Dabi District Municipality in the Free State Province. Questionnaires and semi-formal interviews with Government officials and commercial farmers were used to investigate the adaptive capacity within the context of the Sustainable Livelihood Framework, National Water Act and climate change. A critical finding showed that failed water policy implementation strategies have a huge impact on the adaptive capacity of commercial farmers regarding climate change.