But despite the welcome rains received in the past week, the El Niño threat has not disappeared – and farmers are still facing the prospect of a challenging growing season.
In this episode of AgriView with Wandile, Wandile Sihlobo looks at what the latest rainfall means for planting conditions, grazing, water supplies and the outlook for field crops.
He also considers the pressures facing farmers, from fertiliser and fuel costs to uncertain weather, and what a difficult season could mean for food price inflation.
The message is one of cautious optimism: South Africa is not entering the new season in crisis, but the months ahead will require resilience, careful monitoring and a little help from the weather.
