Weatherman expects good rains for SA’s coming planting season

Muhammad Amin

Good, soaking rains are expected to blanket Southern Africa throughout the coming rainy season, bringing blessed relief to a region aching under an extended, El Nino drought.

That’s the word emerging from the 29^th Annual Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum (Asacof) that has just wrapped up its meeting in Harare.

It forecasts that the bulk of the SADC region is seen receiving normal to above-normal rainfall from October to December. Above-normal rains are expected for the insurgency-ridden western DRC.

That aligns with what the SA weatherman is saying. According to the most recent SA Weather Service report: “The seasonal forecaster is suggesting that the summer that’s coming and the spring will be experiencing a weak El Nino with above rainfall expected for the Eastern half for the months of October, November and December. Areas in the Central, Eastern parts, Free State, North West, KZN and Gauteng are expected to receive above normal rainfall in summer months.”

The remainder of the season after New Year is likely to enjoy normal to above-normal rains stretching into 2025, Asacof says. Only South Africa’s Western Cape that has a Mediterranean climate with Winter rains will experience normal to below-normal rainfall.

Temperatures are likely to be “mostly above long-term averages over the whole SADC region.

So the crucial start of the planting season for the grain belt stretching from Mpumalanga to the Free State and North West, expected to be warm and we – a massive reassurance for farmers.

The welcoming patter of rain will be a welcome sound after the scorched earth left in El Nino’s wake earlier this year. InshaAllah, it also means food inflation should remain benign for battered South African consumers.

Still, South Africa’s Crop Estimates Committee sees the staple white maize crop coming in 25% lower compared to last year, but domestic demand will still be met.

Decent early summer rains will also boost other agricultural sectors like livestock and will top up dam levels.