Water Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said on Wednesday that the agricultural sector, as the country's biggest water consumer, had a responsibility in conserving the resource and would soon be required to apply for water licences in a number of catchment areas.

Speaking at the Agri SA water conference, Sonjica said that farmers might well have to cut back on the use of surplus water, but would not be denied essential water required for efficient food production.

"In the catchments where the water resource is already allocated, the compulsory licensing process will be initiated as soon as possible, and commercial farmers must expect that their water allocations for irrigation could be curtailed," she stated.

Sonjica noted that the sector should consider the different technologies and research available towards the conservation of water. "It will be wise to start with water conservation measures as soon as possible to reduce the water demand and to increase the agricultural output per cubic metre of water consumed."

In South Africa, agriculture is competing with urban development, mining, large industry, and power generation for the allocation of water. The Minister emphasised that it would assist the department with the issuing of water licences if applicants from the agricultural sector would motivate how their application would redress the results of past racial and gender discrimination and why it was in the public's interest.

Currently, agriculture uses around 62% of South Africa's water and contributes about 3% to the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

However, Agri SA deputy chairperson Dan Kriek pointed out that the sector creates more job opportunities for every R1-million invested, than any other sector.

Further, he said that the sector also had a major multiplying effect, and that the food processing industry contributed around 14% to the country's GDP, as well as creating significant job opportunities in the industrial sector.

"Further, it is important to note that the agricultural sector is integral to food security and the sustainable development of a nation, as well as the eradication of poverty."

Globally, food production will have to increase by about 70% over the next 40 years, and Kriek added that South Africa would have to be in line with these predictions.

Meanwhile, the Federation for Sustainable Environment's Koos Pretorius noted that high potential agricultural land with adequate water supplies were located in the same geographical area as significant coal reserves, mainly in Mpumalanga province, which was cause for concern, as it restricted the expansion of food production.

He noted that even though the mines did not use large volumes of water, roughly around 2% to 3% of the country's supply, the industry had a disproportionate contaminating effect on water resources.

Specifically, the threat of acid mine drainage (AMD) that would have detrimental effects on the environment, people and the security of the country's food supply.

Sonjica pointed out that when it came to the treatment of AMD, coal mines were actually setting the standard, and that it was mostly the legacy issue left by the gold mines in the Witwatersrand area that was an immediate cause for concern.

"It is predicted that we could be swimming in acid water in the Johannesburg area within the next 18 months if we do not avert such a disaster."

The Minister explained that the main problem in dealing with the "very urgent" AMD problem was its accompanying legacy issues. Currently, around 70% of mines in the Witwatersrand area are ownerless, which means that the liability of addressing the toxic water falls on the shoulders of the State and, consequently, out of the pockets of South African taxpayers.

"Current initiatives revolve around the possible formation of a public-private partnership, which will see government and mines contributing to the capital costs of the necessary infrastructure for the pumping and treatment of the water," she said.

Speaking to Engineering News Online on the sidelines of the conference, Sonjica said that the implementation of a short to medium-term solution would cost around R218-million, of which government was responsible for around R145-million.

Currently, the department has already contributed around R6-million to assist with the AMD problem in the area.

Sonjica said that she was not quite sure where or how the department would conjure up such a large sum of money, but "'n boer maak ‘n plan", she concluded.