South Africa to import 2m tonnes of maize

South Africa needs to import more than two million tonnes of maize in 2016/17 as a severe drought hits farm output, the National Treasury said on Wednesday.

The National Treasury presented the document at the parliament during Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s three-year budget outlook in Cape Town.

It said the requirement was necessary although “exports of certain fruits, nuts and beef products have remained resilient, supported by the weaker rand, global demand and market diversification.”

The worst drought in a century has scorched farm lands in South Africa affecting some 2.7 million households and pushing up food prices as five provinces were declared disaster areas.