Farmers have been urged to conserve water, protect soil moisture and prepare livestock for potentially dry and hot conditions linked to El Niño.
South Africa’s agriculture sector is being urged to prepare for a potentially difficult summer as El Niño conditions are expected to bring below-normal rainfall and high temperatures across parts of the country.
The Department of Agriculture warned that the weather pattern could place crops and livestock under severe stress, with farmers being urged to take early measures to conserve water, protect soil moisture and prevent overgrazing.
The South African Weather Service’s Seasonal Climate Watch, issued on August 31, indicates that El Niño is occurring and is expected to continue through the 2026/27 summer season.
“El Niño is a natural climate pattern that results in a shift in global atmospheric circulation. In South Africa, the typical impacts of El Niño are lower-than-normal rainfall during summer coupled with high temperatures,” the department said.
