Pretoria – With the drought affecting the country’s agricultural output, South Africa might need to import between five and six million tons of both white and yellow maize.
“National conditions are generally poor in the maize triangle (Mpumalanga, Free State and North West), with Mpumalanga showing optimism on maize conditions… There is a possibility of five to six million tons import needs of both white and yellow maize.
“Combined with the predicted regional needs such as Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland, import needs will be at 10.9 million tons, covering other commodities such as soya and wheat,” said Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana on Friday.
The Minister was briefing media on drought relief efforts and the country’s readiness to import maize.
He said ports should be used as throughput areas, and not as storage points to ensure the creation of space.
“Transnet will allocate addition trailers to match the needed capacity… Industry already has a logistics coordinating team, which brings on board members from other (fields) and government is a player in that team.”
He said there is robust commitment between industry and government to work together to ensure better and effective relief and recovery from the drought situation.
Minister Zokwana said there are continuous engagements with all stakeholders regarding the drought.
“Public-private partnership is vital in order for the country to overcome this challenge. We are continuously monitoring the current drought conditions as well as spending of allocated funds by provinces and (we are) providing the necessary advisories to farmers,” he said.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) reprioritised R305.3 million from the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and Ilema Funds towards drought relief.
Government has assisted affected livestock farmers with animal feeds and drilling new boreholes to give livestock water.
In addition to the R305.3 million, DAFF and the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform have committed about R66.4 million to Land Care for 2015/16. Land Care is a community based and government supported approach to the sustainable management and use of agricultural natural resources.
The overall goal of Land Care is to optimise productivity and sustainability of natural resources.
The DAFF, through the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, made a request to National Treasury for additional funds to further assist farmers to deal with the drought. – SAnews.gov.za
