Agriculture dept assessing severity of drought on SA crops yield

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Department says the recent Crop Estimates Committee shows that South Africa's 2023/24 summer grains and oilseed production could fall by 21% year-on-year to 15,2 million tonnes. 

This will still be sufficient for domestic needs, but the neighboring countries in the regions have been hit hard and may experience food insecurity. 

Zimbabwe has become the latest country in Southern Africa to declare drought a national disaster, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa saying the country needs $2 billion in aid to help millions of people who are going hungry.

"No Zimbabwean must succumb or die from hunger," Mnangagwa told his nation in a televised address.

"To that end, I do hereby declare a nationwide State of Disaster, due to the El Nino-induced drought."

Due to poor rains, more than 2.7 million people will not have enough food to put on the table this year, he warned.

This season's grain harvest was expected to bring in just over half of the cereals needed to feed Zimbabweans.

This as there are also emerging feed challenges for the livestock farmers. 

Back in South Africa, Agriculture department spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo says the vegetables and fruit supplies are reasonably decent and prices should be moderate in the near future.

"The department has also briefed the cabinet about the difficulties presented by the drought and some measures are being considered to mitigate the impact and also ensures business continuity of farmers.

"The minister will soon meet with leaders of organized agriculture, relevant departments and MECs from all provinces to assess the scale of the full impact in various regions. 

"This insight will help refine the government's response approach to the drought."

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