While one province is praying for rain, another’s prayer has been answered. Widespread rain brought relief to farmers throughout Limpopo, while the North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment organised a provincial Prayer for Rain on 2 April.
Although Vryburg was the only West town that received rain (2,8mm) on the day of prayer, West agriculture MEC Mandlenkosi Mayisela remained positive. “We have prayed for rain, all that is left for us is to have hope.”
Meanwhile, Dries Joubert of the Limpopo branch of TAU SA says the downpours of 28 and 29 March have brought massive relief for at least the next two weeks. However, he is keeping his fingers crossed for more rain within a fortnight. “If it did not rain now, the next rainfall opportunity would only have been in November,” Joubert said.
The possibility of runaway fires was one of the biggest concerns for him. Theo de Jager of Agri agreed with Joubert and stressed the fact that soil is now more tillable. “It [the soil] was becoming very hard.”
TAU measured rainfall of between 200mm and 240mm in the Levubu area. In the Soutpansberg region between Messina and Mopanie, farmers received rainfall ranging from 140mm to 160mm. The Wegbreek holiday resort in the Vaalwater district received 105mm, while rainfall at Stokpoort in Ellisras measured 150mm. The Koedoesrand/Potgietersrus area received between 50mm and 100mm.
According to Mark Todd, forecaster for the South African Weather Bureau, there was an influx from the tropics coming in and at the same time an upper air trough system that generated rainfall over Limpopo. Deeper moisture was restricted to the northeastern provinces and thus other areas of the country did not benefit from this rain. One of the reasons for the restricted rainfall is that an uplift is needed before it will rain. – Susan Botes
