Pretoria - Farmers across the country have been advised to be extra vigilant for possible veldfires as rainfall remains below normal.
"The veld is still dry and this poses a fire risk until significant rain falls. Therefore, measures for veldfires in the summer rainfall areas should be maintained," said the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in a statement.
Veldfires have been reported in all provinces except the Western Cape. Rift Valley Fever cases were also recorded in the Northern Cape, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Free State.
The department said while dam levels remained high in most of the provinces and were favourable for irrigation, it was advisable to conserve water and farmers should observe the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act.
Measures should also remain in place to minimise evaporative loss of moisture as temperatures begin to rise during summer.
The department also warned that episodes of heat wave conditions usually occur in summer and contingency measure should therefore be in place.
The warning comes as some winter crops, livestock and veld were reported to be in reasonable poor condition as a result of low rainfall.
