Most of the Western Cape's 3, 000 farm workers are not employed on a permanent basis - despite working on the farms for many years.

BBC: South Africa farm workers get 52% pay rise

The need for a strong, steady breeze means that many of the best sites for wind farms are just the sort of wild and windswept uplands that rural campaigners want to preserve.

ECONOMIST: Wind farms

For a sample, visit one of the many farms that offer tasting menus, or try Food Trail Tours for guided gourmandising.

BBC: Escaping the heat in Far North Queensland

The consequences for many farmers have been catastrophic: the number of dairy farms in Britain fell by more than 40% between 1995 and 2005.

ECONOMIST: Supermarket competition

The British Vole Club blames the imported American minks - many of which have escaped into the wild from farms - for the decline in voles.

BBC: Club's 'mince mink' campaign

For example, in many places, winds are stronger at night, which means local wind farms produce most of their power when demand is lowest.

FORBES: Duke Energy Bets Big on Better Batteries

Whoever is at fault, the result is that many flood victims have been left to fend for themselves, struggling to remake their homes or rebuild their ruined farms with the few resources they can muster.

ECONOMIST: Pakistan's shaky government