Recent storms have no effect on rooibos production in South Africa

Despite the destruction that heavy rain and floods have caused to large parts of the Cederberg in recent weeks, Rooibos fields remain largely intact. The road to Citrusdal, often described as the gateway to the Rooibos valley, had been washed away by torrential rain, leaving many residents stranded with no access into or out of the village for days. Martin Bergh, chairperson of the SA Rooibos Council (SARC), says they haven't had any damage reports on Rooibos fields yet, save some nurseries that suffered losses. "Typical rainfall for the Rooibos production area is 200 to 600mm per year. June has been very wet, and most areas are approaching their full year average.” He says while winter typically marks the start of the Rooibos planting season, as it requires good soil moisture for germination and regular follow up rains to flourish, farmers have to time it right. "It's no good planting new seedlings in waterlogged soil, which is unable to drain. Fortunately, few farmers have ...