Severe drought and heat affect grain production

May 2024

South Africa is facing a severe drought crisis, which is exacerbated by extreme heat waves, leaving the nation’s grain farmers reeling under immense pressure. The scorching temperatures and prolonged dry spells have ravaged agricultural lands, severely impacting both developing and commercial farmers. 

With financial strains mounting due to decreased yields and rising production costs, the South African grain industry is urgently calling on the government for support and assistance to alleviate the burden on farmers.

The current drought gripping South Africa has pushed agricultural conditions to their limits. The relentless heat waves, coupled with erratic rainfall patterns, have desiccated farmlands, leaving them parched and unyielding. Grain farmers, who form the backbone of the nation’s agricultural sector, are facing an uphill battle as they struggle to cope with the devastating effects of the drought, with some farmers receiving below 50% of their average rainfall in the current season.

This is on the back of the industry already experiencing a negative growth in gross domestic product (GDP) for the last two quarters, placing the agricultural sector in a technical recession. Grain and oilseeds form 70% of all food and therefore have a large multiplier effect throughout various industries. The financial strain on grain farmers has far-reaching implications – not only for their own livelihoods but also on South Africa’s GDP. It is therefore paramount and in the country’s interest that farmers are assisted to survive financially through the drought cycle.

‘The sweltering temperatures have led to decreased yields, squeezing profit margins and threatening the viability of entire operations. Many commercial farmers are grappling with the prospect of crop failures and financial losses, which is further exacerbating the strain on their businesses,’ Derek Mathews, Grain SA’s chairperson, said.

This impact is also pronounced among developing farmers, who often lack the financial resources and infrastructure to withstand such adversity. Investments that have been made in developing the agricultural sector are diminished due to the disaster of the drought. With their livelihoods hanging in the balance and no method to mitigate the risk, those farmers are facing dire financial constraints, struggling to keep their farms afloat amidst dwindling resources and mounting debts.

‘The current conditions highlight the realities of agricultural production and the impact of climatic conditions on food security and food prices for South Africans, but also for the Southern African community. Agricultural farmers are currently engaging with financiers and agribusiness to ensure that they can resume production in the next season. However, it is obvious that many farmers are in severe distress and will need support to ensure the sustainability of our food production sector,’ Tobias Doyer, Grain SA’s chief executive officer, said.

Considering these challenges, the South African grain industry is issuing an urgent appeal to the government for support and assistance. Immediate action is needed to provide financial assistance through an agricultural disaster fund, access to affordable credit remedies and affordable income insurance, enabling farmers to weather the crisis and sustain their livelihoods.

– Grain SA press release, 13 March 2024

AT GRASS ROOTS

The impact of the extreme temperatures and low rainfall was clear when the PGP Farmer Development team visited members of the programme:

In the Kokstad area, this farmer was excited about the season ahead. The picture on the right was taken one month later and shows the damage caused by the drought and heat.  A sad sight in the Western Free State.

A sad sight in the Western Free State.

Groundnuts planted at Luphisi in the Mbombela region were also affected by the drought.

The highs and lows of farming 

Farmers are faced with many challenges and highlights during a season. This season some farmers saw their hard work ruined by excessive rain and hail, while others stared hopelessly at the sky, waiting for the rain. 
 

The Mthethwa’s from Wise­kingdom farm in the Dundee regional area were among the fortunate farmers. Mentor Chris de Jager found no sign of leaf diseases or late weeds during his farm visit. The maize crop was busy pollinating and looking fantastic.

Mentor Martin Botha visited the farm of Alfred Gondo, Koornfontein, which suffered severe hail damage. Alfred had started harvesting his soybeans, but due to soybean pods splitting had ex­perienced even more losses.

Samuel Moloi from the Fouriesburg area became a member of the 2 000 Ton Club in 2022 after producing 3 200 t of yellow maize. He harvested an average of 6,7 t/ha that year. This year the harsh reality of the drought is clearly visible:

With no rain since January, most of the soya plants have only between seven and 15 pods per plant, with very small pips.

The maize plants are also very small, with half of the leaves dying. If it rains, it could help with the seed, but Jacques Roux, regional development manager in the Eastern Free State, says 50% of all the maize plants will not deliver any cobbs.

Teamwork makes THE DREAM POSSIBLE

Sponsors form an integral part of the success of the Farmer Development Programme. Dekalb Bayer hosted a farmers’ day on 8 March at Rietgat in the Lichtenburg area. Farmers were taught about all the different cultivars, the new technologies that the company has been working on and what different herbicides can do to different cultivars. The farmers asked many questions on topics that they did not know much about. 

The farmers’ day was attended by 75 farmers.

These laboratory representatives taught farmers more about the seed treatment processes that take place in their laboratory to ensure that farmers get their return on investment on the seed they buy.

The Oil and Protein Seeds Development Trust (OPDT) and Agri Care (chemicals) made the planting of two sunflower demonstration trials possible. The trials were planted in Mbizana in the Kokstad area in the Eastern Cape. The first trial was done with conventional methods and the second with no-till. Farmer TH Tobo planted both trials on 6 February at a plant population of 45 000 and a row width of 76 cm.

During a visit to the trial locations, it was found that little germination had taken place due to a lack of rain.

Publication: May 2024

Section: Pula/Imvula