Though SA is a net exporter of some grains, such as maize and barley, the country is not insulated from developments in the global grains market.

Deputy President David Mabuza has learned with shock and dismay, of the brutal murder of farmers, Glen and Vida Rafferty.

Regulations are soon to be promulgated to give effect to the provisions of the Film and Publications Act, which was amended last year. It will break the internet, and require a censorship bureaucracy of which the Apartheid government could only dream.

The Zimbabwean government made an important statement about its maize production ambitions last week, which if fulfilled, would have implications on South Africa’s maize exports.

Although South Africa is a net exporter of some major grains such as maize and barley, the country is not insulated from the global grains market developments.

SA’s agricultural sector had a solid start to 2020, with first-quarter gross value-added growing 27.8% quarter on quarter on a seasonally adjusted and annualised basis .