AGRICULTURAL NEWS - Nonetheless, she said in the latest Grain SA Perspective newsletter, the industry benefited from the positive political, economic and financial developments of the past two months.
Despite the expectation of good rains in the 2017/18 production season, producers had to cope with drought that continued from last year.
Farmers across the major maize production areas could not plant their intended hectares. The full effects of the drought remained uncertain, however.
The drought had not affected maize prices “because of the big carry-over stock from last season’s bumper harvest.
"The strong rand of R12,04 to the US dollar also kept prices down,” she said.
“Agriculture is the most important sector to achieve that,” said Kriek. “Farmers must not become despondent. They play a crucial role in job creation, food production and creating stability in the rural areas of the country.”
