South Africa faces a hotter, drier summer as an intense El Niño raises risks for farmers, although planting is progressing well. A record 17.7-million-tonne maize harvest and ample grain stocks should help cushion consumers against potential supply pressures and rising prices in 2027. El Niño could trigger severe droughts and threaten global crops like maize, rice, coffee, and palm oil, boosting food security risks worldwide.