The CEC says the size of the expected commercial maize crop has been set at more than 14.679 million tons, while the area estimate for maize is 2.623 million hectares. The expected yield is set at 5.60 ton per hectare. The CEC further adds that the estimated maize crop is 10% smaller than the 2021 crop. OFM News' Elsabé Richard-May reports the three main maize producing areas are the Free State, Mpumalanga and North West provinces which are expected to produce 81% of the 2022 crop. The sixth production forecast for summer field crops for 2022 will be released on 27 July.

South Africa’s consumer food price inflation accelerated in May this year. South Africans are in a period of elevated prices, and food is at the core of these increases. Wandile Sihlobo, the chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, explains that in May, South Africa’s consumer food price inflation accelerated to 7,8% year-on-year, from 6,3% in the previous month. This is the quickest pace since March 2017. Sihlobo further explains that the disruption in the entire vegetable oils market, the ban on wheat exports by India, and the expected lower wheat harvest in the 2022/23 production season, added upside risks that could sustain prices at higher levels.

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The South African Weather Service has issued a veld fire warning for the Kamiesberg and Garies areas in the Northern Cape. The weather service warns that the fire danger index is above 75 because conditions are of such a nature that runaway veld fires can occur. Residents are warned that veld fires can develop and can spread rapidly under these conditions - which can result in property damage and possible loss of life and/or loss of animal life.

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