Rain over the past few days has helped to ease the drought, but government officials and farmers say much more is needed to break its destructive grip.
“The rain was very helpful,” said Mike Muller, Director General in the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. “But it is not nearly enough to break the drought. We need very good rainfall to push up dam levels, which are still critically low.”
Muller said the rain had helped farmers in the Free State, North West and parts of Mpumalanga who desperately needed rain for their crops.
Lourie Bosman of Agri Mpumalanga said the rain had provided major relief to farmers in the province. Parts of the province had recorded up to 60mm of rain. “The farmers were against the ropes. But the rains have prevented the first crisis of plants dying.”
But he added that the drought was far from over. “We need good follow-up rains to ensure crops survive.”
The Lowveld region is still in dire straits. Minister of Land Affairs and Agriculture Thoko Didiza will visit the area on Friday to assess the situation.
“Dam levels there are still critically low and the farmers cannot irrigate because of severe water restrictions,” Bosman said.
The rain had come too late for cattle farmers, he said, though it would improve grazing conditions. “The growing season for grass has passed. Farmers will be struggling with grazing conditions throughout winter.”
Bosman said farmers were already selling off their herds.
Kevin Ray of the Weather Service said that after a dismal summer, things had started to look up this week. “Currently, a rather favourable rain-producing weather pattern is developing,” he said. “North West, Gauteng and Free State are expected to receive good showers, with heavy falls possible in places.”
Limpopo continues to suffer, however. Avhashoni Magada, Limpopo’s water affairs spokesperson, said the rains had brought little relief to the province. “We’ve had sporadic rains, but they haven’t made much impact. We need rain over the whole province — and more than 100mm at that.”