Improved rains seen as South Africa summer maize planting season begins

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Wetter conditions are seen over much of South Africa as the summer maize planting season begins and previous forecasts of warmer-than-normal weather persisting have "subsided somewhat", the national weather service said on Monday. In its monthly update that looks five months ahead, the service said there was still uncertainty around the forecast as a La Nina weather pattern, which usually brings wetter conditions to the region, had "not yet strongly manifested." A severe drought that set in last year across the southern Africa region has hit farm output, triggering imports of maize and pushing up food prices. (Reporting by Ed Stoddard; Editing by James Macharia)