Warnings of food shortages

South Africa faces a five-million-ton maize shortage as the drought tightens its grip and experts are warning that the country is at risk of becoming a grain importer.

 

University of the Free State agriculture economist Johan Willemse said the winter crop would be five million tons less than was needed. “It is a dire situation, the price of white maize has already doubled. Another problem is that in 2016-2017 there will not be enough white maize. People will not have sufficient food and maize meal will be expensive,” Willemse said.

 

“Farmers are having huge losses. They cannot get credit to plant new crops so we run the risk of becoming an importer of grains.”

 

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