BROKEN: The collapsed remains of a bridge leading to Hoedspruit, Limpopo, after heavy rains ravished the area last week PICTURES: RAYMOND PRESTON

Consumers will continue to pay more for food because of high international commodity prices - but not because of shortages resulting from heavy rains which are destroying summer crops and damaging farming infrastructure in Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

''Yes, some of the crops such as tomatoes, green peppers and subtropical fruits and vegetables will be affected, but not other crops like maize and wheat. The reason we are paying high prices is because of rising input costs such as energy, labour and logistics," said John Purchase, CEO at the AgriBusiness Chamber.

In Limpopo, which supplies about 70% of South Africa's vegetables and most of its citrus fruit, heavy rain wreaked havoc. Along with crop losses, damage to dams, roads and other farming infrastructure was preliminarily assessed at R30-million.

Stephan Mohale, a farmer in Giyani in Limpopo, said persistent rains could affect his crop of green peppers, tomatoes and chillies.

Mohale, a regular supplier to the Johannesburg and Tshwane fresh-produce markets, said the falling price of tomatoes and rising transport costs were bigger problems.

Johan du Preez, chairman of the Mango Growers Association, said assessing losses was difficult because of damaged road infrastructure and the major mango-growing area being without electricity for the previous five days.

''Water is a big problem because the pump stations have been washed away and that's needed for irrigation. This could lead to even bigger problems in the long term because it could affect the quality of our products," he said.

Shelboy Sedutla, marketing director at the Tshwane fresh produce market, said: ''We are concerned about potatoes because our biggest supplier was severely affected.

"We were also concerned about mangoes, but luckily, the fruit season is almost about to end. The Hoedspruit area intensively produces bananas, and we are concerned about that. We haven't had a thorough analysis, but our supplies are in order for now," Sedutla said.

Clive Garett, marketing manager of ZZ2, the biggest tomato producer in the southern hemisphere, said his company's operations were not affected.

''There has been no impact at all on our production. The rains have caused problems for some people but for us it has been a blessing. It has meant a little more water and our dams are full," he said.