Basket costs R14 less than last year

R16.90 to R13.50, a decrease of R3.40;

Butternut dropped from R13.99 to R12.99, a decrease of R1;

Chicken decreased from R56.99 to its new price of R49.90, a R7.09 saving;

Brown bread cost R11.69 and is now R10.29, a decrease of R1.40;

Maize meal went from R10.49 to R11.99 this year, an increase of R1.50;

A litre of milk went from R10.49/l to R10.99, increasing by 5c; and

Eggs went from R24.00 down to R21.98, a decrease of R2.02.

National Agricultural Market Council’s Christo Joubert assured consumers that maize meal prices were dropping. “They are starting to go down, not as fast as we expected though, especially on grain prices.”

In a story, which appeared in the Saturday Dispatch in February, local retailers said they used to buy a ton of maize at R5 000 in the past, but this year a ton cost a lower R3 000.

“The good news is that vegetable prices are also down because of the good grain.

“I know that some consumers are complaining that the prices of bananas and avocados have increased but that is because the demand of these items is high, which then affects the price.

“Consumers also need to note that these are seasonal fruits and when they are out of season they are bound to cost more.”

Senior executive at the South African Poultry Association, Charlotte Nkuna, said the drought had spiked the price of chicken feed last year, ultimately resulting in higher egg prices.

Nkuna added that despite the high production costs farmers were faced with, the price increases lay with the supermarket chains.

“Remember that what you see in the supermarket doesn’t reflect what's happening in the farms. The farmers don’t really have a say in the prices charged in