<\/p>\n
South African farmers pinched by mounting costs from the Iran war now face the added risk of an El Ni\u00f1o-induced drought, with implications for lower agricultural output and higher food prices.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s according to the nation\u2019s main agricultural business lobby, which warned of the growing likelihood an El Ni\u00f1o dry spell will collide with the start of South Africa\u2019s summer planting season in October.<\/p>\n
Listen\/read:<\/p>\n
Food security, El Ni\u00f1o and their impact on the continent
\nFuel crunch from war threatens South African wheat, corn crops
\nSpiralling oil prices could spell trouble for SA agriculture \u2026 and consumers<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are worrying developments on the weather outlook front, with serious implications for the farming sector, and ultimately the food supplies and prices in the country,\u201d Agricultural Business Chamber chief economist Wandile Sihlobo said in a note on Monday.<\/p>\n
Rain-fed summer grains such as oilseeds, sugar cane and livestock grazing are most at risk, he said, with about 20% of the planting area of these crops under irrigation.<\/p>\n
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South Africa received plenty of rain at the start of the 2026\/27 winter crop season in April, he said.<\/p>\n
But \u201cwe may encounter below-normal rainfall later in the season, which could affect the production of wheat, barley, canola and oats this year,\u201d Sihlobo said.<\/p>\n
That will add to pressure on farmers, who are already expected to shrink wheat plantings to the smallest area in a decade after the war caused a surge in fuel and fertiliser prices, which are major input costs for agricultural production.<\/p>\n
Read\/listen:<\/p>\n
How climate change is raising your grocery bill
\nWhat will it take to make Africa food secure?<\/p>\n
The conflict has sharpened concerns about food insecurity and inflation, with food prices making up the largest item in the basket of goods used to calculate the country\u2019s consumer price index.<\/p>\n
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South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago flagged the risk posed by an El Ni\u00f1o event, alongside potential fallout from the conflict, after officials held interest rates steady in March while warning that they see inflation risks to the upside.<\/p>\n
The central bank\u2019s models show fuel price pressures surging by 18.3% in the second quarter and the rate of food inflation peaking at 4.1% by the end of the year.<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a02026\u00a0Bloomberg<\/p>\n
#farms #face #Ni\u00f1o #drought #risk #top #Iran #war<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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