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Maize Production Faces Uncertain, Volatile Future

Farmer's Weekly

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August 30, 2019

The Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) recently presented its South African Baseline Agricultural Outlook for the period 2019 to 2028, which provides a comprehensive summary of the agriculture sector and its projected growth over the next decade.

- Pieter Dempsey

Maize Production Faces Uncertain, Volatile Future

Speaking at the report’s launch in Pretoria, Dr Tracy Davids, manager of commodity markets and foresight at BFAP, presented the outlook for summer crops, such as maize, and outlined the challenges faced by the industry during the past few years, as well as the projected growth over the next 10 years.

“Locally, white maize faces increasing competition from regional markets [over the long term]. As a result, we see exports declining over time, and we also have domestic factors influencing that.

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