el ninolatest news & developments
The South African agricultural sector is on solid ground for now and we shouldn’t be worried — but we should be vigilant.

La Niña may bring favourable weather, boosting optimism about food security in Southern Africa

The weather event is predicted to bring above-normal rainfall in January before easing up, but the northeast may remain dry

Farmer Takesure Chimbu combs through dry stover, salvaged from a failed maize crop which he hopes to save and feed to his livestock, which will have minimal pastures this year because of the El-Nino induced drought, in Mudzi on July 2, 2024. (NJIKIZANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Drought leaves Zimbabwe’s Kapotesa dam dry, villagers struggle for survival

In the Mudzi district, cases of malnutrition have increased by 20 percent over the past three months

Flailing economy: A boy sells chips on the roadside in Malawi. (Photo by: Angela Jimu/Majority World/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The Malawi we hoped for wasn’t delivered in 2020

The next elections are due in September 2025, but will the next government enable the country to overcome its economic hardships?

Hardship: Crops have failed and water supplies are limited in drought-stricken Zimbabwe. Letwin Mhande (right) receives help from her neighbour
(left) to carry buckets of water from her allocation of four buckets of water per family a day from a community-run borehole in Epworth, an informal
settlement east of the capital, Harare. Photo: Jekesai Njikizana/AFP

People starve as Zimbabwe drought deepens

The country is one of several in Southern Africa experiencing chronic food shortages

Residents fill water in drums from a supply tanker during the heatwave, in Chanakyapuri, on June 2, 2024 in New Delhi, India. (Photo by Vipin Kumar/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

UN forecasts La Nina could help lower temperatures this year

In many locations, especially in the tropics, La Nina produces the opposite climate impacts to El Nino, which heats up the surface of the oceans

The El Niño-induced drought and heatwave in February and March hit crops hard in Southern Africa. (Conrad Bornman/Gallo Images)

Drought-hit Southern Africa’s growth lags

South Africa, the region’s economic powerhouse, looks to record improved, albeit tepid, growth this year and next

The El Niño-induced drought and heatwave in February and March hit crops hard in Southern Africa. (Conrad Bornman/Gallo Images)

South Africa won’t be able to meet regional demand for white maize

The El Niño-induced drought and heatwave in February and March hit crops hard in Southern Africa

BLANTYRE, MALAWI – JANUARY 18: An aerial view of landslide and damage caused by flash floods from Severe Tropical Cyclone Freddy, an exceptionally long-lived, powerful, and deadly tropical cyclone that traversed the southern Indian Ocean for more than five weeks in February and March 2023 hitting the Southern regions of Malawi, on January 18, 2024 in Blantyre, Malawi. (Photo by Contigo/Getty Images)

Climate crisis pushes Malawi food farmers into starvation

The devastation of Cyclone Freddy, which Storm Ana and Cyclone Gombe, is being exacerbated by the drought brought on by El Niño

Through tackling stigma, community leadership and improving education, as well as strengthened global and domestic investment, HIV transmission can be reduced in Madagascar. (Photo by Sally Hayden/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

El Niño brings hunger and drought to Madagascar

At least 1.3 million people in the country, one of the poorest in the world, already suffer from malnutrition

The International Monetary Fund has slashed South Africa’s 2024 growth forecast as the country’s economy grapples with logistics constraints. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Clouds part for global economy, but SA’s prospects remain gloomy

The International Monetary Fund has slashed South Africa’s 2024 growth forecast as the country’s economy grapples with logistics constraints This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

South Africa is the only African country in China’s top 30 agricultural suppliers, ranked 28 in 2023.

Why I am optimistic about South Africa’s agricultural outlook in 2024

We are in for another good agricultural season, especially if January and February present favourable rainfall

Annual consumer inflation was unchanged at 3.2% in February at 3.2%, with increases registered in housing and utilities, food and alcoholic beverages and restaurants and accommodation offset by decreases in the services sector, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday.
 (Guillem Sartorio/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

What does the latest inflation data mean for your shopping cart?

We can now evaluate the harvest of 2023 This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

What underpinned SA’s agricultural underperformance in the third quarter?

There are weaknesses in the country’s biosecurity system, including the measures in place to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases

Economists expect the South African Reserve Bank’s monetary policy committee to keep borrowing costs unchanged

Reserve Bank holds repo rate, looks through shock inflation data

Despite ongoing volatility, the monetary policy committee revised its 2023 headline inflation forecast down slightly This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

The South African Weather Service says some parts of the country exceeded long-term monthly averages by as much as 500% to 1000%

It’s the season for thunderstorms, says SA Weather Service

Monday’s severe thunderstorm cannot be directly attributed to climate change

El Niño is expected to cause a loss of rainfall

El Niño, news and reflection

Taking a step back this week, there is still great cause for optimism about 2023-24’s agricultural output