Agricultural economist Dr Kobus Laubscher says inflation on the five most popular items in the basic food basket increaed by nearly 22% year-on-year in October. 

He says maize prices increased between 30% and 64%:

“The price of super maize meal in 1kg packaging increased year-on-year by nearly 30%, while the 5kg product increased nearly 38%. I’m not too sure how those sums work because you should actually be paying less per kg for larger quantities.

“Special maize meal in 2,5kg packaging increased by nearly 64%.”

He also highlighted other increases, with bread up nearly 14%, cooking oil up 20% and potatoes up 25%. He says sadly these increases do not filter through to the producers:

“Potato farmers are reporting prices that do not result in profits. Wheat farmers don’t want to market their product at prices that are more than R1000 per ton down on last year’s prices.

“The local poultry industry is fighting for its life against cheaper imported products. However, with increases for chicken meat in excess of 50%, a lot will have to be done to convince consumers that the implementation of an import tax of more than 35% is necessary to protect the local industry against imports.”  

- OFM News