Agri Dept continuing efforts to support farmers impacted by El Niño drought

CAPE TOWN - The agriculture department says it's continuing efforts to support farmers impacted by the El Niño-induced drought and to assess the situation.
 
Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza met with organised agriculture leaders and other role players in the sector to assess the extent of crop damage and farming conditions.
 
The department's Reggie Ngcobo: "The impact is vast, with some provinces' patches of better crop conditions. The grazing veld conditions have also deteriorated in some regions."
 
Ngcobo said that the department would engage financial services organisations to assess their preparedness to assist the most affected farmers.
 
"The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development reaffirmed that there would be no policy interventions, such as export restrictions, over the foreseeable future. With the available information, the department and agricultural leaders can ascertain that the food supplies in South Africa remain at comfortable levels."
 
Ngcobo said that the drought's impact was primarily strong on grains and oilseeds.
 
"Still, the overall expected harvest of summer grains and oilseeds of 15.9 million tonnes, coupled with reserves, should be able to meet the domestic needs, albeit down 21% from the 2022/23 season."