‘Super El Niño’ looms, but farmers shouldn’t plant less, says agricultural economist - EWN

Agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo says South Africa’s farmers should not scale back planting despite concerns that a “super El Niño” could bring below-normal rainfall during the 2026–27 summer grain season.

Sihlobo said the El Niño conditions had arrived and that their intensity would become clearer as South Africa moves into the summer season.

Farmers in the northeastern parts of the country are expected to begin preparing land for crops including soybeans and yellow maize from around mid-October.

“By all indications from the weather forecast, they suggest that it will be far below normal,” Sihlobo said.

He said this raised the likelihood of drought and could mark a challenging year after a period of agricultural abundance.