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Regional setting
This study focuses on the Limpopo Province located in the northern part of South Africa (approximately 22-25ºS, 27-32ºE). Limpopo is one of the developing provinces in South Africa and is particularly vulnerable to the impact of climate change because of its exposure to extreme weather events (Levey and Jury, 1996; Tennant and Hewitson, 2002; Cook et al., 2004). The province has three distinct climatic regions: the Lowveld region, which is characterised by arid and semi-arid climates, the Middle- and Highveld areas, which are considered semi-arid, and the Escarpment, which experiences a sub-humid climate (the Limpopo Department of Agriculture, 2008). This province experiences long sunny days and dry weather conditions on most days and has almost year-round sunshine. During the summer months, warm days are often interrupted by a short-lived thunderstorm (Limpopo Department of Agriculture, 2008). It can get very hot in summer (October and March), with average temperatures rising to 27ºC in summer and 20ºC in winter. The bulk of the precipitation occurs in summer, and annual rainfall totals range from about 400-600mm over most of the province (Anon, 2007). Although communities in the Limpopo Province may have a greater ability to adapt to long term changes in climate, such as increased seasonal temperatures and changed patterns of precipitation, they are nevertheless severely stressed by the frequency of the occurrence of extreme weather events (defined as weather phenomena that are at the extremes of the historical distribution, especially severe or unseasonal weather, WMO, 2004.). This province is very important for tourism because of the presence of a number of national parks, such as the Kruger National Park and the Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Furthermore, though the province has a large rural population, it has great biodiversity and the region is heavily involved in farming (Reason et al., 2005).
Study area
Limpopo is one of the developing provinces in South Africa and is particularly vulnerable to climate change impact, partly because of the area’s exposure to extreme weather events and because of its sensitive economies. It also has a high number of rural dwellers dependent on natural resources, although communities in the Limpopo region may have a greater ability to adapt to long-term changes in climate, such as increased seasonal temperatures and altered precipitation patterns (for example, decreased snow cover). Sometimes dams in the Limpopo get so full because of heavy rainfall so that they flow onto the farms and destroy plants and in that way, economic production falls (Thomas et al., 2005). The Limpopo Province is a main tomato growing area in South Africa, producing 66% of the total annual tonnage of tomatoes (NDA, 2009). The main production areas are Letaba, which is producing on 3 259 hectares while areas around Mooketsi and Musina produce about 859 ha. Tomatoes are also planted in smaller areas in Giyani, Polokwane and Mokopane districts. The total annual production of tomatoes is about 227 990 tons of the total South African production, which is 345 440 tons, two thirds of the national tomato production (NDA, 2009). Most of this production comes from the Mooketsi area where the Bertie van Zyl farm is the dominant grower in the northern parts of the province. The company produces and transports approximately 150 000 tons of tomatoes annually to various markets in the country.
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1. General introduction
1.2. Significance of the study
1.3. Aim and objectives
1.4. Research questions
1.5. Hypothesis
1.6. Thesis outline
1.7. References
Chapter 2: Study area, data and methodology
2.1. Study area
2.2. Data and methodology
2.3. References
Chapter 3: Analysis of Temperature Trends Over the Limpopo Province, South Africa
3.1. Abstract
3.2. Introduction
3.3. Regional setting
3.4. Data and methodology
3.5. Results and discussion
3.6. Discussion and conclusions
3.7. Acknowledgement
3.8. References
Chapter 4: Five decade analysis of heat waves in the Limpopo Province, South Africa
4.1. Abstract
4.2. Introduction
4.3. Study area
4.4. Data and methodology
4.5. Results and discussion
4.6. Conclusions and implications
4.7. Acknowledgements
4.8. References
Chapter 5: Impact of climate variability on tomato production over the Limpopo Province, South Africa
5.1. Abstract
5.2. Introduction
5.3. Study area
5.4. Data and methodology
5.5. Results and analysis
5.6. Discussion
5.7. Conclusions
5.8. Acknowledgements
5.9. References
Chapter 6: Leafminer agromyzid pest distribution over the Limpopo Province in a changing climate
6.1. Abstract
6.2. Introduction
6.3. Study area
6.4. Materials and methods
6.5. Results
6.6. Discussion and conclusion
6.7. Acknowledgement
6.8. References
Chapter 7: Conclusions and recommendations
7.1. Summary
7.2. Scientific contributions
7.3. Conclusion
7.4. Challenges
7.5. Recommendations for future research
