JOHANNESBURG - South Africa is bracing for a hotter and drier weather pattern that could put pressure on farmers, crop production and, ultimately, household food bills.
A strong El Niño is expected to bring below-normal rainfall and higher temperatures across parts of the country, raising the risk of reduced yields in key agricultural sectors.
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.
Agricultural economists, however, say South Africa has some breathing room.
Strong harvests are expected to provide a buffer against supply shocks and help keep food inflation under control into 2027.
FNB agricultural economist Paul Makube says the outlook remains relatively positive in the near term but warns that the picture could change dramatically if El Niño lingers.
“We’re still optimistic about the fact that the harvest will actually provide a good buffer for 2027. But beyond 2027, if we have an extension of the current El Niño weather pattern, then it will spell a disaster from a food inflation perspective.”