Groot dele van die land rapporteer tans redelike tot swak veld- en veetoestande, en baie droëlandboere het nog nie genoeg reën gekry voor planttyd nie, volgens die klimaatadvies vir die 2024/25-somerseisoen, soos gepubliseer deur die Departement van Landbou, Grondhervorming en Landelike Ontwikkeling.
Veldbrande in verskeie provinsies het skade aan weiveld en infrastruktuur tot gevolg gehad, asook tot veevrektes bygedra. Boere word aangeraai om op die uitkyk te wees vir daaglikse uiterste weerwaarskuwings en om risikoverminderingsmaatreëls in te stel.
Volgens die Seasonal Climate Watch wat deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Weerdiens (SAWD) uitgereik is, gedateer 31 Oktober 2024, dui voorspellings op bo-normale reënval vir die meeste noordoostelike somerreënvalstreke gedurende die hele somerperiode. Sommige binnelandse streke dui egter steeds op onder-normale reënval gedurende die middel- en laatsomerseisoene. Hierdie voorspellings kan verander as die El Niño-Suidelike Ossillasie (ENSO) voorspellings meer seker word teenoor ‘n La Niña-staat, en as sodanig word voortgesette monitering van toekomstige seisoenale klimaatwagte aangeraai. Daar word verwag dat minimum- en maksimumtemperature vir die voorspellingsperiode meestal bo normaal landwyd sal voorkom.
Met inagneming van die seisoenale voorspelling, word boere aangeraai om die seisoen met waaksaamheid te benader en die weer- en klimaatvoorspellings gereeld te volg om ingeligte besluite te neem en te wag vir voldoende vog voor hulle plant. Droogte-bestande kultivars moet geprioritiseer word in gebiede wat voortdurend droë toestande ervaar het.
In streke wat in ‘n redelike toestand is, word boere aangeraai om voor te berei in lyn met die verwagte toestande, dit wil sê in ooreenstemming met die seisoenale voorspelling. Hulle moet egter nie plantgrond onnodig uitbrei nie. Boonop moet boere kortseisoenkultivars oorweeg. Boere moet ook daarop let dat reënvalverspreiding steeds ‘n uitdaging bly, daarom kan nie alle noordoostelike gebiede van die land die verwagte bo-normale reënval ontvang wat goed versprei is nie.
Boere word aangeraai om maatreëls in plek te stel vir plae en siektes wat met nat en warm toestande geassosieer word aangesien bo-normale reënval en hoë temperature verwag word, veral in die noord-oostelike dele van die land. Boere wat besproeiing gebruik, moet aan waterbeperkings in hul gebiede voldoen. Boere moet voortdurend hulpbronne bewaar in ooreenstemming met die Wet op die Bewaring van Landbouhulpbronne (CARA), 1983 (Wet No. 43 van 1983).
Vee moet in balans gehou word met die drakrag van die veld en van addisionele voer soos relevante lekke voorsien word. Boonop moet vee van genoeg waterpunte op die plaas voorsien word asook skuiling tydens slegte weerstoestande. Veldbrande is in verskeie provinsies aangemeld en die risiko bly, veral in somerreënvalgebiede, totdat voldoende reën ontvang word. Winterreënvalgebiede droog uit, wat gunstige toestande vir veldbrande verhoog. Daarom moet die skepping en instandhouding van brandgordels geprioritiseer word, asook die nakoming van veldbrandwaarskuwings. Episodes van hittegolwe het voorgekom sowel as gelokaliseerde oorstromings en sal waarskynlik vir die res van die somer gesien word. Daarom moet voorkomende maatreëls in plek wees. Boere word aangemoedig om strategieë te implementeer wat verskaf word in die vroeë waarskuwingsinligting wat uitgereik is.
Die departement sal voortgaan om die seisoenale voorspelling te monitor en opdaterings te verskaf wanneer nodig. Daarbenewens sal die departement met alle relevante belanghebbendes saamwerk om voort te gaan om bewusmaking in die sektor en die vermoë van boere te verhoog oor begrip, interpretasie en benutting van vroeë waarskuwingsinligting vir ramprisikoversagting en reaksie.
Vir ‘n volledige advies, besoek die DALRRD webwerf https://www.dalrrd.gov.za/
Large parts of the country are currently reporting reasonable to poor veld and livestock conditions, and many dryland farmers have yet to receive sufficient rain before planting, according to the climate advisory for the 2024/25 summer season, as published by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.
Veld fires in several provinces have resulted in damage to grazing land and infrastructure, as well as contributing to livestock fatalities. Farmers are advised to be on the lookout for daily extreme weather warnings and implement risk-reduction measures.
According to the Seasonal Climate Watch issued by the South African Weather Service (SAWS) dated 31 October 2024, predictions indicate above-normal rainfall for most north-eastern summer rainfall regions during the entire summer period. Some interior regions, however, still indicate below-normal rainfall during the mid- and late-summer seasons. These predictions may change if the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) predictions become more certain towards a La Niña state, and as such continued monitoring of future seasonal climate watches are advised. Minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to be mostly above normal countrywide for the forecast period.
Considering the seasonal forecast, farmers are advised to approach the season with vigilance and follow the weather and climate forecasts regularly to make informed decisions and wait for sufficient moisture before planting. Drought-tolerant cultivars should be prioritised in areas that have constantly been experiencing dry conditions.
In regions that are in a reasonable condition, farmers are advised to prepare in line with the expected conditions, i.e., in line with the seasonal forecast. However, they should not expand planting land unnecessarily. Moreover, farmers should consider short-season cultivars. Farmers should also note that rainfall distribution continues to remain a challenge, therefore not all north-eastern areas of the country might receive the anticipated above-normal rainfall that is well distributed.
Farmers are advised to put measures in place for pests and diseases associated with wet and hot conditions as above-normal rainfall and high temperatures are anticipated, especially in the north-eastern parts of the country. Farmers using irrigation should comply with water restrictions in their areas. Farmers must continually conserve resources in accordance with the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA), 1983 (Act No. 43 of 1983).
Livestock should be kept in balance with carrying capacity of the veld and provided with additional feed such as relevant licks. Additionally, livestock should be provided with enough water points on the farm as well as shelter during bad weather conditions. Veld fires have been reported in several provinces and the risk remains, especially in summer rainfall areas, until sufficient rain is received. Winter rainfall areas are drying out, increasing favourable conditions for veld fires. Therefore, the creation and maintenance of fire belts should be prioritised as well as adherence to veld fire warnings. Episodes of heatwaves have occurred as well as localised flooding and remain likely for the remainder of summer. Therefore, preventive measures should be in place. Farmers are encouraged to implement strategies provided in the early-warning information issued.
The department will continue to monitor the seasonal forecast and provide updates when necessary. In addition, the department will partner with all relevant stakeholders to continue raising awareness in the sector and capacitation of farmers on understanding, interpretation, and utilisation of early-warning information for disaster risk mitigation and response.
For a complete advisory, visit the DALRRD website https://www.dalrrd.gov.za/