Nicole Mordant of Reuters reports that, despite predictions of an ENSO-induced drought, heavy rains are leading to healthy crops across the region, but that crops remain at risk of drought for another eight weeks. Before 24 December, dry conditions in South Africa and Zimbabwe had raised the prospect of reduced maize harvests. The region's farmers had cut back maize plantings and had switched to more drought-resistent crops based on the ENSO forecast. Mozambique and Botswana also have reported healthy rains.