JOHANNESBURG - The Spring rain has brought welcome relief to farmers as El Niño is predicted for the summer months in South Africa.
The South African Weather Service has warned that the country will be drier and hotter than usual between October and December.
That could create fresh challenges for food security, particularly if dry conditions persist through the growing season.
The El Niño weather phenomenon usually brings dry conditions to Southern Africa and there are warnings of a high-intensity drought.
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Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa Wandile Sihlobo said recent rains are helping to shore up moisture in the soil.
"We received rain throughout mid-May in various parts of the country and that meant that soil moisture was in a fairly good condition," said Sihlobo.
There have been rains in most northern regions in South Africa over the last couple of days. Sihlobo also credits the snow in KwaZulu-Natal's Midlands to the improved soil moisture.
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This, according to Sihlobo, will present the perfect time for farmers to start planting much earlier than they typically would.