The Department of Agriculture in Limpopo is advising crop and livestock farmers to adhere to the regular early warnings issued in order to take precautionary measures to protect the livestock and crops from hail and thunderstorm damage.

The department says that the province at large is currently experiencing widespread early rains, which are accompanied by hazards such as hail, gale-force winds, thunderstorms and extremely cold weather conditions in most of the municipalities.

Even though there might be some kind of relief to the farmers in terms of surface water availability, more time and follow-up rains are needed for grazing conditions to recover.

There has been a scarcity of rain in the previous seasons and, according to the acting head of communications for the Limpopo Department of Agriculture, Ms Mashudu Mabata, prolonged drought conditions had brought hardship to the agricultural sector. This has since threatened food security, agricultural sustainability and economic development.

Livestock mortality is also currently high in drought-stricken areas as livestock are weak, lean and vulnerable. “Farmers are therefore advised to put livestock in a shelter to protect them to survive the cold and wet weather conditions,” said Mabata. “Failure to do so might result in an increased livestock mortality rate.”

Meanwhile, community members in the villages have responded warmly to the recent rains by taking hand-held hoes and starting to plough. One such community is Nwaxinyamani near Elim, where Limpopo Mirror managed to photograph three ladies busy ploughing. “When it doesn't rain, it's a challenge to us,” said Mrs Selinah Khosa (66). “I've never used mealie meal from the shop in my life. Most of us here depend on rain for growing crops.”