Maize

The funds, which had been placed under the Department’s recurrent budget, were used to pay maize flour millers.

Logistical costs have surged dramatically, with traders reporting that transport costs have jumped by US$15–US$20, nearly doubling compared to earlier in the season.

The government has imposed a ban on maize exports to curb further depletion of national stocks.

South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen welcomed the lifting of the ban, saying that the move marked a return to sound economic principles in the Southern African region.

The rebound in production comes amid significant government investment in the agricultural sector for the current season.