Satisfactory update 6
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The dekad beingreported received rainfall throughout the countrywith significant amounts in the main agriculturalarea of the country (figure 1). The rainfall situation has beenimproving in the country. It is anticipated that the maize area in the EasternFree State will probably be smaller than the intended area andalternative crops like dry beans, Soya and sunflower will be considered.
#SATISFACTORY UPDATE 6 FREE#
Delayed onset of rainfall is being experienced bymaize farmers in the Eastern Free State with very little rain received by theend of November 2004 and the optimum planting window is almostcoming to an end. Growing conditions are at least average over Mpumalanga andsouthern Kwazulu Natal. Theimportant maize growing districts of Lichtenburg, Delareyville, Bothaville,Viljoenskroon and Kroonstad received in general less than 30mm. About 30% ofthe western maize growing area received at least 30mm in November,which enabled farmers to at least start the cultivation process. Dry and hotconditions were responsible for a very dry upper part of the soil profileand rain in the last week of November was not enough to penetrate thisdry upper layer to ensure favourable planting conditions. Isolated good falls towards the end ofNovember were also received in the Free State and Northwest but it wasin most cases not sufficient to start the planting process. Rainfall in November 2004 was mainly restricted toMpumalanga and Kwazulu Natal. Sowing of seed has actually commenced in the country.
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#SATISFACTORY UPDATE 6 PLUS#
The amount of rainfall required for the farmer to start planting cropsdepends on the type of crop, climate of a particular locality, the soiltype, methods and quality of land preparation plus other aspects.However, in general, planting of crops starts when the soil has enoughmoisture to support germination of the particular crop one wants togrow. The rains so farreceived will also increase availability of pasture for animal feed. The increase in rains has also prompted farmers tospeed up and finalise land preparations and planting.
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The amounts of rainfall received so far over the countryhave improved soil moisture levels favourable for seed germinationand crop growth. Figure 1 indicates that Niassa,Cabo Delgado, Nampula, Zambeziareceived substantial amounts of rainfall.The northern parts of the country have hadareas that have had an early start ofrainfall by as much as 30 days (figure 2). The third dekad ofNovember saw the country receive a lot ofrainfall. Inareas such as southern Zambia, southern andwestern Zimbabwe, and northern RSA, the rainfallseason has not yet started well, and is now at least20 to 30 days late in these areas. It is advised that special attention be paid tothese areas during the monitoring of the season.These areas are denoted in red colours in Figure 2. The effect of this is that crops may not have reachedmaturity by the time the rainfall season comes to anend. When rainsare significantly later than usual, this can have an impact on thelength of time over which the crop can grow (the length of thegrowing season may be reduced). Areas where early rainsfell this season are shown in blue colours on Figure 2. Whenthe first rains fall much earlier than usual, these rains aresometimes followed by a dry spell, and farmers who could havesown their seed with these very early rains sometimes risk earlycrop stress and ultimately crop failure. In any given season, the time atwhich the rains start has a bearing on food security as farmers normally sow their seed with the first rains when possible. A few exceptions are the eastern parts of RSA,Swaziland and Lesotho as well as the northern and north-western Zambia, Angola and DRC, where the rainy season maystart even earlier than that. Across much of Southern Africa,the rainy season starts around November and December onaverage.