WANDILE SIHLOBO: Maize prospects dim as low rainfall in key areas hits planting
Farmers in rain-starved North West and the western Free State delay summer crop planting
I concluded 2017 with a positive outlook for SA’s agriculture in 2018 — underpinned by good chances of La Niña weather conditions during the 2017-18 summer. This essentially meant that the country was expected to receive above-normal rainfall, which would have been good for agricultural activity. Disappointingly, that picture has changed and is now mixed. The eastern parts of SA received good rainfall during the festive season and crops are generally in a fair condition, although some have been affected by hail in areas, including Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, the eastern Free State and the northern parts of the Eastern Cape. The central and western parts of SA received very little rainfall in the past few weeks of 2017 and had a drier start to 2018. This led to delays in summer crop planting, particularly in North West and the western Free State. These provinces collectively account for 68% of the intended maize planting area of 2.47-million hectares in the 2017-18 season.They also ac...
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