Rural Agricultural Development Potentials & Irrigation System Impacts

Rural Agricultural Development Potentials & Irrigation System Impacts

Free State and Northern Cape Provinces, South Africa

Randall Gross and his firm ADEC worked as part of a team led by engineering firm AURECON on an assessment of the Valhaarts and Taung Irrigation Systems. Gross and ADEC assessed the role and impacts (e.g., SAM) of the irrigation canals in the region’s economy as a basis for determining the requirements for future levels of reinvestment and/or expansion. Gross had input on the enhancement and expansion potentials for the system through its analysis of the economic potentials that could be leveraged by infrastructure investment. Of particular importance is the opportunity for cross-subsidy and delivery of water to emerging farmers in the region.