The first half of the summer season saw normal rainfall over the majority of the summer rainfall areas with patches of above normal rainfall although below normal rainfall was forecasted. Livestock is in reasonable to good condition in most provinces.
Vegetation conditions are normal throughout much of the country but higher in Gauteng, North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The Eastern Cape is still experiencing lower vegetation activity. The level of dams is reasonable, above 70 percent in most provinces but 100 percent in a few provinces. Dams in the Eastern Cape and in the eastern parts of the Western Cape are much lower.
According to the FEWS NET November 2009 food security overview stated that, as the October to March hunger season sets in, food security conditions remain generally stable over most of the region. This is in line with the improved food availability over the 2009/10 consumption period on account of better food crop production for the region as a whole. Stable prices have facilitated access to adequate amounts of staple foods for most market dependent households. In addition, the early rains received in some parts have been beneficial to pasture and water availability, thus improving livestock conditions.
In a forecast released by the South African Weather Service dated 26 January 2010, for the seasonal forecast below normal rainfall and above normal temperatures are anticipated for the remainder of the summer season into autumn for much of the summer rainfall areas. Based on the current conditions and the forecast, dry land farmers are advised to consider soil moisture conservation strategies. Although conditions are favourable for irrigation farmers due to improved dam levels in most areas, water has to be conserved and farmers must always adhere to water restrictions and also continually observe the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, (Act 43 of 1983).
Measures should be in place for veld fires especially in the winter rainfall areas. Precautionary measures should also be in place for pests and diseases and regularly scout for these. Contingency plans for heat wave conditions should be in place as above normal temperatures are expected. Heavy falls might occur in some areas leading to isolated incidents of localised flooding despite expected dry conditions, therefore precautionary measures should be implemented.
The Disaster Management Act (Act no 57 of 2002) urges provinces, individuals and farmers to assess and prevent or reduce the risk of disasters using warning information. The complete advisory can be accessed through the provincial Departments of Agriculture offices as well as Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries and agriculture geo-referenced information system (AGIS) websites: http://www.daff.gov.za and http://www.agis.agric.za respectively.
Enquiries:
Priscilla Tsotso Sehoole
Tel: 012 319 7017
Fax: 012 319 7858
Cell: 083 265 8728
E-mail: CCO@nda.agric.za
