•••
COME R AI N , C O M E S H I NE
The long-awaited rain
evades the largest part of area
THYS GROBBELAAR
SENIOR GRAIN ANALYST,
SENWES GRAINLINK
THE PREDICTED EL NIÑOSEASON STRUCK IN ALL
FORCE AND DETRIMEN
TALLY AFFECTED THE
WESTERN PART OF THE
SUMMER RAINFALL AREA
OF SOUTH AFRICA IN
PARTICULAR.
P
roducers struggled to plant
their summer crops in time
and the climate certainly did not
play out well in the western areas.
One of the characteristics of the
season was rain which occurred
in patches. In one of the districts
some producers are expecting
normal crops while a producer one
kilometre further will have a total
crop failure.
RAINFALL DURING THE SEASON
The accompanying map, provided
by the South African Weather Service, indicates areas which had 0%
to 50%, 50% to 75% and 75% to
100% of the normal cumulative
seasonal rainfall this season. It
is evident that the western areas
of the central interior received
below-normal rainfall this season.
To receive a mere 50% of the
cumulative rainfall until the end
48
This is not something one likes to see. However, it is a reality at present - maize in the Northwest province which is shrivelling. Rain would
probably not even be able to save this maize. It is evident that some of
the plants are drying up and pollination is not taking place, while other plants with more available moisture have gone into pollination.
Percentage of normal rainfall for season
(July 2015 - January 2016)
(Based on preliminary data, Normal period 1981-2010)
of January means just one thing trouble. Various districts such as
Bultfontein, Hoopstad, Theunissen and Bothaville received 35%
of the cumulative seasonal rainfall.
However, some parts of the Northwest and Mpumalanga received
Apr/May 2016 • SENWES Scenario
more rain. The rainfall figures for
February were not available at the
time of the writing of this article.
We know, however, that the western areas did not receive much - in
fact, less than normal rainfall was
received during February.