sa has to import tons of maize
27 July 2007

South Africa will probably have to import between 1 400 000 and 1 800 000 tons of maize this marketing season to supply the local demand. It would be the biggest import since the de-regulation of maize marketing in 1997, Grain SA Chairperson Neels Ferreira said in a statement.

South Africa normally used in the region of 8 900 000 tons of maize a year, he said.

However, the National Crop Estimate Committee (NCEC) expected a maize harvest of only 6 904 000 tons this year because of the drought in the country's summer crop producing areas.

The actual amount delivered to the market could be even lower with farmers holding back grain with which to feed their cattle over the long winter.  The cattle producing area was also mainly within the summer crop producing area.

Ferreira said the drought had affected the North West, the whole of the Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, a small percentage of maize producers in Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal, to a certain extent.

While the NCEC earlier this year put its maize crop estimate at seven million tons, it revised that figure 146 000 tons downwards at the start of this week. It also revised the expected soya crop down 3750 tons.

That leaves 21.7 percent, or 1 496 000 tons, to be delivered until the end of February 2008 when the new season's early deliveries start.

At least part of this could come from the small percentage of the crop not yet harvested and farmers' own silos, from which they were able to deliver late into the market.

However, Ferreira emphasised that the expected shortfall would occur irrespective of future deliveries.

Sapa, www.iafrica.com