Agriculture module
Crop recommendations
Suitability scores that combine the rainfall outlook, monitored dam storage in the province and each crop's water requirement profile, for the next planting window.
Drought status
Watch
3 months in deficit
Rainfall deficit
27%
Dam storage vs baseline
-39.1%
Monitored dams in this province
Recommended crops
2
Eastern Cape is in Watch drought status, so drought-tolerant, short-season crops score higher in this outlook.
Suitability for Eastern Cape — next 6 months
Millet
RecommendedSuitability score 84/100 · drought tolerance high
Needs about 280 mm and tolerates dry spells highly — fits the 6-month outlook for Eastern Cape.
Cowpeas
RecommendedSuitability score 81/100 · drought tolerance high
Needs about 300 mm and tolerates dry spells highly — fits the 6-month outlook for Eastern Cape.
Dry beans
MarginalSuitability score 65/100 · drought tolerance medium
Viable only with supplementary irrigation: 350 mm requirement against a 27% rainfall deficit.
Sorghum
MarginalSuitability score 64/100 · drought tolerance high
Viable only with supplementary irrigation: 400 mm requirement against a 27% rainfall deficit.
Sunflower
Not advisedSuitability score 52/100 · drought tolerance medium
Water requirement of 430 mm is too high for current Eastern Cape rainfall and storage conditions.
Wheat (winter)
Not advisedSuitability score 48/100 · drought tolerance medium
Water requirement of 450 mm is too high for current Eastern Cape rainfall and storage conditions.
Maize
Not advisedSuitability score 24/100 · drought tolerance low
Water requirement of 550 mm is too high for current Eastern Cape rainfall and storage conditions.
Potatoes
Not advisedSuitability score 20/100 · drought tolerance low
Water requirement of 600 mm is too high for current Eastern Cape rainfall and storage conditions.
Guidance is decision-support only and should be combined with local extension advice, soil suitability and market conditions.