Maize imports may cost R20bn

SOUTH Africa, the continent’s largest producer of maize, may have to pay as much as $1.2 billion (R19.56bn) for imports of the grain this season as an El Niño-induced drought damages crops in the main producing areas. It would cost R17bn to R20bn to import 5 million tons of maize, Wandile Sihlobo, an economist at the Grain SA farmers’ lobby group, said yesterday. That’s almost half of what is required for domestic demand, which is forecast at 10.5 million tons by the Grain and Oilseed Supply & Demand Estimates Committee.