Grain prices were relatively stable this week, suggesting that the market was adopting a wait-and-see approach amid efforts to eradicate the crop-destroying fall armyworm that has invaded parts of Limpopo, North West and Gauteng. The pest can cause crop losses of up to 73% in certain conditions and is difficult to control with a single type of pesticide, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. The threat to crops comes as South Africa tries to recover from last year's drought that contributed to a 12% spike in food inflation. Food inflation is expected to decline in the coming months thanks to good rains, which have enabled farmers to expand summer crop production. The size of the harvest could hinge on the extent to which the government and farmers can forge a co-ordinated response to fall armyworm, which has left a trail of destruction in other countries in Africa. The SADC is holding an emergency meeting in Zimbabwe this week to discuss the pest. The Department of ...
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