By Nomonde Mafu
The farming season is anticipated to kick off on a good note this year.
Eswatini is expected to experience above-normal rainfall during the upcoming festive season, according to the latest Seasonal Forecast Outlook (October 2025 to March 2026) released by the Eswatini Meteorological Service under the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs.
The forecast indicates that from October to December 2025, most parts of the country will receive between 200mm and 500mm of rainfall, with a strong likelihood of normal to above-normal rains continuing through to March 2026.
The outlook attributes this to a potential La Niña phase developing in the Pacific Ocean, which typically enhances rainfall over Southern Africa.
Speaking on the forecast, Eswatini Meteorologist Sifiso Nzalo said the country should prepare for a wetter-than-usual summer season.
“Farmers and communities are encouraged to take advantage of the expected rains while also remaining alert for possible localised flooding.”
Nzalo added that the Eswatini Meteorological Service will continue to provide monthly updates and short-term forecasts to help guide agricultural planning and disaster preparedness.
Residents are advised to stay informed through official weather updates as the country enters what is shaping up to be a rain-abundant festive season.
According to reports from the Daily Maverick, the La Niña weather pattern is back and that heralds hope for South African maize and other grain farmers this summer season.
“La Niña conditions emerged in September 2025,” the US National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Centre said.
La Niña typically brings above-average rains to southern Africa, and this one is expected to persist into early 2026,coinciding with most of the summer grain-growing season. This can also be a mixed blessing since the risk of flooding events is also significantly raised.
La Niña is caused by cooling sea-surface temperatures in the tropical areas of the eastern Pacific Ocean. Its polar opposite, El Niño, is triggered by a warming of these waters and usually scorches this region with drought.
The publication reported that last season, South African maize farmers reaped a bumper crop in large part because of the rains unleashed by the last La Niña. That harvest is now forecast to reach 16.12 million tonnes, 26 per cent higher than the 2023-2024season, which was hit hard by El Niño.
Like the previous event, this La Niña is forecast to be relatively weak, a stark contrast with the last El Niño, which was one of the strongest on record.
