He tells OFM News this gives an indication of higher rainfall which may translate to a potentially good agricultural season in South Africa. However, Sihlobo says other regions in the world could experience the opposite. When looking at African regions such as East Africa, the La Niña weather event typically correlates with below-average rainfall from December to February. This period is known to be just before the start of the summer grains planting. Therefore, the current La Niña event has raised the risk of yet another poor agricultural harvest for countries in this region, such as Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. This means that these countries will likely still depend on maize imports in the 2021/22 marketing year.

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A 20-year-old farmer from Vryburg in the North West, Thabo Dithakgwe, has received presidential recognition as being one of the youngest farmers in South Africa. Dithakgwe  started farming at the tender age of 13-years-old and, due to being born into a family of farmers, Dithakgwe says he always had a love for animals while growing up.  While managing Constable Farm in Pomfret, Dithakgwe received a farm from the state this year, which amounts to about 2 400 hectares, in the Morokweng area. Despite his success, which includes farming with cattle, sheep and goats, being a young farmer does not come without its challenges. Within a period of five years, Dithakgwe sees himself as being a successful commercial farmer and diversifying into poultry and crop farming. He would also like to create about 50 permanent jobs for local unemployed residents and to bring investors on board which will help him help other striving young farmers.

OFM News