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South African Tea Farmers Adapt to Changing Climate
Many farmers in the western part of South Africa are finding that the weather is changing: the seasons are coming later and rains are less predictable than in previous years. In the town of Niewoudtville, a group of organic rooibos, or red bush, tea farmers are working with scientists to integrate traditional farming practices with new methods as a way to adapt to changing weather conditions that may be the results of global warming.
Rooibos or red bush tea is grown only in the western part of South Africa in the Succulent Karoo, an area with a unique climate and ecosystem. But as climate change starts to make farming more unpredictable, scientists are working with farmers in the region to help them adapt their traditional farming practices to what lies ahead. Living on Earth host Steve Curwood reports.