Is rain too late to save crops?

OPTIMISM: MIELIES ARE TOUGH AND WILL RECOVER GIVEN THE CHANCE - TLU SA CHAIR

- Marizka Coetzer

Farmers are hoping the recent downpours of rain will help crops recover. TLU SA chair Bennie van Zyl said Eastern Highveld farmers' crops were damaged, especially soya beans, which were destroyed.

"Some of the soya beans might recover once we get rain.

"Mielies are tough plants, and they recover well when they have the opportunity.

"So we have faith that the crops will recover before harvest," he said.

Van Zyl said traditional planting time was mid-November but there was still a window for farmers to plant more.

He added that if production for the season fell, it was not only problematic for the farmers, but also for the country.

"Business isn't good currently in South Africa. There is economic pressure and we don't have a lot of buying power currently.

"It is not just farmers struggling but other business owners, too. If there's no food on the table you can't work and your business won't work either," he said.