Government has taken steps to increase local wheat production, minister says
Agricultural Research Council is conducting breeding programmes for the grain, MPs told
High production costs, fluctuating commodity prices, climate change and outbreaks of pests and diseases have caused a significant drop in wheat production in SA. Wheat is the second-most important grain crop produced in SA after maize. However, local production averages 2.3-million tons, far below the levels of consumption. To meet demand, SA imports about 1.7-million tons of wheat annually. The department of agriculture, forestry & fisheries is concerned about the low levels of local wheat production. The department “supports wheat producers with technical advice, which includes [that about] cultivar choice, production site selection, soil preparation, cultivation practices, pest and disease control measures, harvesting, as well as post-harvest practices”, agriculture minister Senzeni Zokwana said in a written reply to a question from African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) MP Cheryllyn Dudley. Dudley had asked the minister whether the government is concerned about the increasing...
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