NEWS
Gauteng’ s wettest year in decades?
With at least six weeks of rainy season still to go, Eastern Gauteng has enjoyed the wettest summer in at least two decades, because 2017 ' s rainfall from the start of the rainy season in September until mid-March has exceeded 1 050mm in Bredell, considerably more than the next highest rainfall figure of 978mm achieved in 2000, and way more than the average over the past 20-odd years of 774mm. Indeed, during each of the four months from November 2016 to February, we recorded more than 200mm, and historically we still receive meaningful rainfall in March and April, so, overall we can expect the year ' s total to surpass 1 100mm at least. These figures do no more, of course, than flesh out in numbers the reality Gautengers have come to see around them, with all of the area ' s water supply dams now full after a worrying period of drought through the past dry
season. What does this do, in effect, for Gauteng ' s smallholders? Firstly, consistently good rains will mean an increase in moisture levels in the soil, in turn in time feeding ground water supplies, which should mean that water tables will rise somewhat, making weak boreholes more efficient. Good rains have also meant good crops, particularly of dryland plantings, and fodder, and these extend way beyond Gauteng to most of the summer rainfall region of the highveld. As a result, we can expect maize prices to drop, as a result of better harvests, although it must be added that the current crop could have been much bigger had many farmers not refrained from over-committing themselves to planting while the memories of the last two dry seasons remained with them. Many others were simply unable to maximise their plantings because of the financial constraints brought about by the past drought. Lower maize prices should
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MAILBAG
From page 7
We base the farming on maize with a“ nutritional garden” of vegetables for each household. This has worked well for me and is very viable for all landowners, even in the urban areas. A nutritional garden for a family of four needs 6m X 6m land only. I invite your readers to join us freely at our next training session in Nooitgedacht to change South Africa from poverty to wealth. Jonathan Bremner Farming God ' s Way Cell 083 488-0730 www. farming-gods-way. org
8 www. sasmallholder. co. za