CROP PROSPECTS
Farmers doing better, but El Niño may return
Economist warns the Western Cape remains a big source of concern
The fortunes of South African farmers are improving slightly after two years of hardship caused by one of the worst dry spells on record. But the food producers are not out of the woods yet, with forecasts of El Niño drought conditions returning. Agribiz economist Wandile Sihlobo said that although it has been a good year for production, with record farming growth, the Western Cape remained a big source of concern. First National Bank senior agricultural economist Paul Makube said: "Things are generally starting to pick up. We’re expecting a modest improvement from agriculture that should pick up gross domestic product slightly." Western Cape was still in the grip of a dry spell, even though other regions had good rains. Grain farmers would be harvesting in a month or two and vegetable farmers, with their shorter cycle should be in better shape, Makube said. Banks were accommodating farmers with their debt, he said. "Arrangements have been made by banks and the situation has not bee...
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