JOHANNESBURG - Recent snowfall across parts of the country has disrupted key sectors, including agriculture.
In the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, road closures for safety reasons have made the transportation of goods more difficult.
According to the National Agricultural Marketing Council, agricultural economist Thabile Nkunjana said several agricultural value chains have been affected by the severe weather and snowfall.
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The livestock sector is among those feeling the impact.
“When such conditions hit, the first question that one has is how the animals will graze? This is because the grazing radius is covered with snow,” Nkunjana said.
The dairy and crop sectors are also expected to feel the effects of the harsh weather.
The disruption has raised questions about how long it could take before the impact is felt in food supply and prices.
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Nkunjana said it would be too early to predict the impact on prices, as the full extent of the disruption has not yet been established.
“As things stand, there has not been much across the country. So therefore, as for prices at this stage, it's not something that consumers can be worried about.
"This is because it will take some time before we will be able to see that transition from the product being available to not being able to be accessed by consumers at the retail stores,” he said.
While severe weather can disrupt farming operations, Nkunjana said there could also be a silver lining.
According to Nkunjana, the current conditions could improve soil moisture and provide relief to some farmers, particularly ahead of an expected El Niño period, which could bring below-average rainfall.