Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp has urged South African farmers to prepare for potentially drier conditions as El Niño threatens the 2026/27 summer agricultural season.
The warning follows the South African Weather Service’s latest seasonal outlook, which forecasts below-normal rainfall across many parts of the country during summer.
While acknowledging the risks facing agriculture, Aucamp said government would work alongside farmers and agricultural organisations to mitigate the impact of drought.
“We have heard the news about El Niño, which is going to have an effect on the agricultural sector, but we must be prepared and not be too negative about it. It is not the first time farmers have had to go through drought periods,” he said.
Aucamp said farmers had repeatedly demonstrated their ability to respond to difficult climatic conditions, while advances in technology and access to better data were providing producers with additional tools to manage risk.
“Farmers are resilient; they know how to farm and how to take up these drought periods. Things have changed over the years, and today we have innovation that helps us to have data so that we will be better prepared to handle this drought,” he said.
Government plans to strengthen early warning systems and provide farmers with regular weather information, including alerts about extreme heat.
“We will be involved in providing early warning systems as frequently as we can, providing weather updates on a daily basis, especially to warn about severe heat conditions that might be on the rise,” Aucamp said.
The potential shift towards drier weather follows a 2025/26 summer season in which above-normal rainfall across many summer rainfall regions helped replenish dams and improve soil moisture.
However, below-normal rainfall combined with higher temperatures during the coming season could increase the risk of crop losses, livestock deaths and pressure on available water supplies.
The Department of Agriculture is encouraging crop farmers to introduce risk-reduction measures early, including climate-smart agricultural practices that conserve soil moisture and reduce erosion.
Producers have also been advised to remain within recommended planting windows, avoid unnecessarily expanding the amount of land under production and select cultivars better suited to hot and dry conditions.
Water management is expected to become increasingly important if rainfall remains below normal.
Irrigation farmers are being encouraged to use water-harvesting methods and efficient systems such as drip irrigation, while scheduling irrigation during periods when evaporation and water losses are lower.
Livestock farmers have been advised to align herd numbers with available grazing and the carrying capacity of the veld to reduce the risks associated with overstocking and overgrazing.
Rotational grazing, supplementary feeding and sufficient watering points are among the measures recommended to help producers manage deteriorating conditions.
Farmers are also being encouraged to closely monitor crops and livestock for pests and diseases, particularly during prolonged periods of hot and dry weather.
The department said it would continue monitoring conditions alongside provincial agriculture departments and other stakeholders, while providing monthly advisories and daily extreme-weather warnings.
Aucamp said preparation, technology and cooperation between government and the agricultural sector would be critical as farmers navigate the potential impact of El Niño.
